Dang. Well, if I had to predict, they'll first want you to run through the "it's a bad USB cable" thing, so you might want to have a brand-spanking new cable to try out....when you're on the phone with them.
Don't ask....
Any chance you experienced any nasty static shocks on approaching the machine? Have you noticed any unexpected static build-ups?
Does the control software see the control box AT ALL? If it does, then there's hope
.
Some things to try, in increasing levels of "invasiveness" (and "inappropriateness")
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That new USB cable, I suppose
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Plug the PC-end of the USB into a different USB port
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Reboot the machine (presume you've done this already)
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Open Device Manager, locate the OEM ncPod controller, and uninstall it. Don't worry, the software drivers will still be there; "installed" in this case means
"loaded" by Windows. Then, unplug-and-replug the USB cable and see if it installs properly.
(Right Click on My Computer, choose Manage, then in the left-hand tree, locate "Device Manager", and then you should see the OEM ncPod entry in the ~middle)
*
Uninstall the Shark control panel software, reboot, then re-install the control panel software, reboot, and run it again.
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Check that the power-wiring for the entire system isn't putting the controller "far" away from the computer, etc. Good grounds make safe systems,
for the people AND for the machines.
*
Buy a real controller...
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Convert that Windows PC to a Linux machine running LinuxCNC, and Buy a real controller
*
Take that controller apart, remove components via soldering, re-route the ground wiring around the USB plug, then order another board to test the modifications
....oh, no, wait...that's what **I** did....don't do that. That way leads to madness. (but, it DOES get the machine finally off the dining room table!)
Hopefully it's a simple, FAR less-invasive fix than my initial experience.
Regards,
Thom