If you need assistance in getting the Commander unit working...

I have link commander, many cooling nodes and a lighting node for a short while now. Initially for my build it was a bit frustrating to get commander to firstly show up in the link software and secondly to work with all the nodes.

 

The following will hopefully help if you are experiencing issues.

 

Before you begin.

 

Some obvious steps:

 

-- Remove ALL fan controlling and monitoring software from your machine ---

-- Clean your registry, I use Webroot for this but ccleaner will also do fine--

-- make sure your motherboard USB drivers are up to date!--

 

Check your motherboard manufacturers website, if in doubt update the drivers providing you are certain it is your motherboard.

 

 

The Corsair link software doesn't see commander.

 

Remove the link software.

 

Then go here:

 

%APPDATA%\Roaming\Corsair

 

Might also be here

 

%APPDATA%\Corsair

 

Delete the entire corsair folder.

 

Now go to add remove/programs and remove the USB driver.

 

Clean your registry and reboot.

 

Option 1) I want to keep my Windows OS and I won’t be doing a fresh install.

See option 2 if you are willing to reinstall your OS.

 

First things first, windows updates of the .net framework seem to cause issues with the link software not seeing the commander. I do recommend you reinstall windows but if thats something you are not willing to do, then follow these steps.

 

--Create a system restore point--

(google this for your OS if you don’t know how)

 

What you need to do is remove .net framework updates, later on you can update it.

 

Go into windows updates and remove all the .net updates.

 

I found some of the following .net updates especially problematic

 

KB2742595

KB2836939

KB2656368

KB2468871

KB2656351

KB2736428

KB2487367

KB2533523

 

You can try by just removing these updates but personally I would remove them all.

 

Clean your registry, reboot your machine.

 

Go to this post and get version 2.2 of the link software

 

http://forum.corsair.com/v3/showthread.php?t=111405

 

Note: my OS asked me to trust/always trust during the following installation below, tick always trust.

 

Install software - version 2.2 will tell you that you need the .net framework before proceeding, accept this and allow the installation to complete. Version 2.2 will also install the USB driver required.

 

If you are not being told you need .net framework, do you want to install? then you haven't removed it all.

 

At this point you should also see the USB taskbar notification pop up, allow all this to complete

 

reboot your machine, load up the software. You should now see the commander unit. Do not touch any software options or save any profiles.

 

Go to options and then devices and start updating the firmware

 

Go and get the commander firmware

 

http://www.corsair.com/en/media/cms/drivers/CorsairLinkUSBFW_2.0.6.zip

 

Update it

 

Cooling node firmware here (V1.2.5):

 

http://forum.corsair.com/v3/showthread.php?t=105156

 

Update it/them

 

--Keep this file, if at any point your cooling nodes act up just apply the firmware again.--

 

Remove version 2.2 of the software via the section after “before you begin” part of this post.

 

Now install the commander software version 2.3.4

 

http://forum.corsair.com/v3/showthread.php?t=118618

 

Now you can play with the software by setting up groups and rules etc.

 

You can now update .net

 

Option 2) I want to or I’m willing to reinstall my OS.

 

Upon just installing your OS do the following:

 

---DO NOT allow windows to install or update the .net framework----

 

Do this first before any other installations of software.

 

Go to this post and get version 2.2 of the link software

 

http://forum.corsair.com/v3/showthread.php?t=111405

 

Note: my OS asked me to trust/always trust during the following installation below, tick always trust.

 

Install - version 2.2 will tell you that you need the .net framework before proceeding, accept this and allow the installation to complete. Version 2.2 will also install the USB driver required.

 

At this point you should also see the USB taskbar notification pop up, allow all this to complete

 

reboot your machine, load up the software. You should now see the commander unit. Do not touch any software options or save any profiles.

 

Go to options and then devices and start updating the firmware.

 

Go and get the commander firmware

 

http://www.corsair.com/en/media/cms/drivers/CorsairLinkUSBFW_2.0.6.zip

 

Update it

 

Cooling node firmware here (V1.2.5):

 

http://forum.corsair.com/v3/showthread.php?t=105156

 

Update it/them

 

--Keep this file, if at any point your cooling nodes act up just apply the firmware again.--

 

Remove version 2.2 of the software via the section after “before you begin” part of this post.

 

Now install the commander software version 2.3.4

 

http://forum.corsair.com/v3/showthread.php?t=118618

 

Now you can play with the software by setting up groups and rules etc.

 

Finish updates including .net

 

 

My cooling node doesn't keep my settings or my fan speeds change randomly

 

Reapply the cooling node firmware as above (you can do it in version 2.3.4 of the link software).

 

If this doesn't work flash the commander firmware again.

 

This is something I'm still trying to figure out, occasionally my fan speeds will increase randomly on boot up. I found reapplying the cooling node firmware will correct this after I adjust the fan speeds manually in the software.

this is a very good article for the link,very thorough and complete.

ive always suggested for best results,a registry clean is best.

thx for taking the time to do this,im sure many will benefit from this...

Hi if i reinstall my OS and install Link RC v2.5.5176 will i get the commander unit to show then? read that these latest versions auto update firmware fore you?

or do i have to do it the hard way as you said here? if so some of the links are broken :/

It may work, i can install firmware now.

Were can i get the Lightning Node firmware?

Cant seem to find it anywere.

Excellent description on how to get this working.

However - if this is really needed, the software should never have been released. We are now in 2014 and there is no excuse for releasing software that is so poorly supported and packaged. The public should be protected from wasting time on a product that has serious deficiencies in installation and seems pretty full of bugs.

 

But cudos to vandist for doing this bit of research and posting it.

is Cooling Node F/W 1.2.11 newer than 1.2.5? If so, is there a reason why you're recommending the older version? I'm a little confused, as my cooling node currently says the version is 1.2.8 - yet I cannot find that 'download' or release notes anywhere.

1.2.11 is newer than 1.2.5.

 

Not sure about 1.2.8, 1.1.12 should be the shipping firmware.

 

The only ever updates for the Cooling node was 1.2.5 and 1.2.11.