SCAL 1 not working. Please help!

[bamomma]

Help! I have had SCAL 1 for more than a year. I went to cut something the other day and it won't work. When I go to cut it says "Cricut machine could not be found. Please make sure it is connected and turned on." I have an Expression with version 2.32 and a Personal with version 1.32. I have been able to use both until the other day. I have made sure the machine is turned on and plugged in. I have tried two different USB cords thinking maybe something was wrong with my cord. I have tried all the USB ports on my laptop. I even tried a friends cricut who also has SCAL 1 and it still says the same thing. Has this happened to anyone else and does anyone know how to get this problem fixed. I have Windows Vista on my laptop if that helps. Please, please help! I am lost without SCAL. Oh, and by the way, I am pretty computer tech challenged. So please be kind and very specific. Thanks, in advanced.

[Sweetness4713]

After you open your SCAL try turning your cricut off and then back on .. I had this happen today but all is well now..

[bamomma]

I just tried your suggestion. No luck. Still said the same thing. Thanks though.

[kelsie94]

I had the same problem a little while ago. When I clicked on the 'cut' button the box that pops up states 2.3 as the firmware. I changed it to 2.1 (click the drop down beside it) and it cuts great now!

[bamomma]

I changed the version to 2.1. It didn't work. It froze on the "checking mat" screen. Strange thing happened though. After that when I changed it back and then tried to cut on my Personal it cut. But..........still not on the Expression. Then when I turned off my computer and on again neither one worked again. Saying the same thing. Still need help if anyone has any to offer. I emailed Craft Edge but haven't heard from them yet. Thinking with the holiday I won't hear from them too soon. Hoping though!!!! Does anyone think doing anything with "preferences" would help/hurt?

[Sweetness4713]

I wish I could help you out here.. HOpefully they respond soon.. So sorry this is happening...

[HeatherM]

Since it told you that the Cricut couldn't be found, I would try re-installing your usb drivers. There are directions on the CE website if you need them. http://www.craftedge.com/products/driver.html If you need to manually install the driver Scrappingtable has directions here. http://www.scrappingtable.com/f/Windows ... lation.pdf

[bamomma]

I am hoping too! Does anyone know what would happed if I used the Restore Default setting in "Preferences"? Would I lose anything? I'm afraid to try it for fear I would be messing something else up.

[bamomma]

Heather,
I followed the directions from the craft edge site to see if the driver was installed. It says driver installed. I wonder if I should uninstall the driver and then reinstall it again. What do you think about that?

[Deloris]

Have you updated your Cricut firmware lately? If so you need to change the firmware version in SCAL to match what the new updated number is.

Also, try turning off your Virus software and/or Windows Defender before you load and while your are using your SCAL software.

Leo mentioned on the svgcuts.com website that some virus checking software programs are conflicting with the SCAL software. I had to stop using Windows Defender. It kept causing my computer to lock up or crash. Hasn't happened since I turned off the Defender software.