Problems with small basic

Question

We've recently started using small basic to teach programming to our year 8 and 9 students (13-15 year olds)

I think the language is great for teaching kids and the syntax wheel (that's what we call it anyway) is really helpful, especially with the kids who struggle with literacy.

We've had some problems though, occassionally small basic will stop working on our machines and just hang on the splash screen until program not responding eventually shuts it down.

Uninstalling and reinstalling does nothing to solve this. Each time the only solution has been to remiage the machine from scrath and install over again. This is too drastic a solution for how often this is happening.

Has anyone else had similar issues? Does anyone know of a solution.

We're running Windows 7 32bit, core i3, 4GB ram.

Thanks

Answer 1

I've sometimes a similar problem. After clicking somewhere outside the SBwindow the program hangs and does not respond even to mouseclick on the shutcross in the upperright corner. I run this on windows XP with a threecore processor. When I do ctrl-alt-del I see SB.exe 33%. I can shut this down and afterward start SB again.

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Jan [ WhTurner ] The Netherlands

Answer 2

Sorry just to clarify because I wasn't clear. Once a machine "breaks" small basic hangs every time it loads, even after system restart, small basic reinstall etc. The only solution i have found is to reimage the whole machine and start from scratch.

Answer 3

Is Small Basic installed on a network share or on each computers' hard drive? I have heard of people having problems before with network installations.

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Answer 4

SKnite,

I have used windows 7 and am now using windows 8 and have not seen this problem. 

I have a couple of suggestions to keep you from having to reimage the drive though.  Have you tried uninstalling the Small Basic program from the Control Panel under Programs and then reinstalling?  Also, you can try deleting the Small Basic folder (c:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\Small Basic).  If either of these work you might be able to determine what is getting corrupted.

JR

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JR

Answer 5

Thanks for the responses,

The .msi is saved to a network share but the program is installed on the local machine.

I have tried uninstalling from the control panel and deleting the small basic folder in program files/Microsoft/small basic and then reinstalling after a reboot but the problem persists.

I have also noticed (though not sure if it is relevant) that the msi only installs shortcuts for the account that installs the software not for all users. We've had to setup a shortcut via group policy to let students use it.

Answer 6

Sknite,

Wow!  I don't have a clue as to how that is happening.  I'm thinking that somehow something is getting clobbered in the registry.  Maybe LitDev would have some suggestions on how to troubleshoot this.

JR 

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JR

Answer 7

Sorry, not much I can add.  I assume there is no error call stack or anything that may be useful to diagnose. 

If it works for a while and windows is 7, all the .Net stuff must be OK.

Uninstall with installation directory removal usually solves any installation issues.

The only other thing that has occasionally caused problems is if the %temp% folder gets over full which some Small Basic programs can do by mistake.

I assume it isn't a particular SB file or extension that causes the issue.

Perhaps on a failed machine, rather than running the interface, try just running a previously compiled exe.

Answer 8

Sknite,

One other suggestion is to try and do a restore from a prior restore point.  I believe that by doing that the system files will get restored.  Also, you wouldn't lose any of the kid's programs.

JR

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JR

Answer 9

Thanks for the feedback, I will keep trying and if I manage to find the cause/solution I'll post my findings.

I'll look into the %temp% folder and previously complied .exe and the restore point ideas and let you know if any of them helped.

Thanks again

Answer 10

Perhaps some info on what is being taught or done with small basic when, or just before, it starts freezing?

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Allen