Network Configuration Errors – Why Your GC and PC Can’t Communicate
- Chromperfect
- Nov 3
- 2 min read
Watch the Video
🎥 Chromperfect : Network Configuration Error – PC and GC on Different Networks
Watch the full walkthrough on our YouTube channel to see these steps in action and learn how to prevent this issue in future setups.
Introduction
If you’ve ever seen the message
“No connection could be made because the target machine actively refused it,”
you’re not alone. This is one of the most common errors reported by Chromperfect users — and the cause is nearly always the same: the GC and the PC are on different networks.
In this short Chromperfect View video, we explain why this happens, what those error messages really mean, and how to fix it in minutes.
Common Symptoms - network configuration error
Users typically encounter one or more of these messages:
“No connection could be made because the target machine actively refused it.”
“The write operation failed, see inner exception.”
“Unhandled exception – this application will close.”
When these appear, Chromperfect is unable to reach the instrument because the computer and the GC are operating on different IP networks.
Understanding the Cause
Each device on your network — including your GC and the PC running Chromperfect — uses an IP address made up of four groups of numbers, separated by dots.
For two devices to communicate:
The first three groups (for example, 192.168.1) must be the same.
The last group must be different — this identifies each device individually.
If your PC is set to 192.168.1.100 and your GC is set to 192.168.2.151, they are on different networks and cannot communicate.
How to Check Your IP Address
Open the Windows Command Prompt.
Type ipconfig and press Enter.
Look for IPv4 Address — that’s your PC’s network address.
Compare it to the IP address assigned to your GC inside Chromperfect’s configuration utility.
Both should start with the same first three numbers. Only the final group should be different.
Inside Chromperfect
In the Instrument Configuration panel, you’ll see two key settings:
Common Device Properties — refers to the computer or host PC.
Selected Unit Properties — refers to the instrument itself.
Ensure both use the same network range to avoid mismatch errors.
ICF vs Native Drivers
This issue mostly affects Chromperfect’s native Ethernet drivers.
ICF-based instruments, such as Agilent GCs, are less prone to this problem because the ICF Configurator verifies the IP address before allowing configuration.
How to Fix the Problem
If your IP addresses don’t match:
Update either your GC or PC so both share the same network range — for example, 192.168.1.xxx.
Confirm with your IT department if your network uses fixed IP assignments.
Restart Chromperfect and confirm the instrument connects successfully.
Once aligned, Chromperfect will communicate normally and acquisition errors will disappear.
Final Notes
These errors can be frustrating, but the solution is simple once you understand how IP addressing works. Keeping your instruments and workstations on the same network will ensure stable communication and reliable data acquisition.
Subscribe to the Chromperfect YouTube channel for more free 24-hour training and support.
Comments