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Problem with NINA loosing pre set settings, and mount connection issues!

Stefan Berg Nighttime Imaging 'N' Astronomy (N.I.N.A. / NINA) Green Swamp Software Green Swamp Server Help Needed
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Mark C. Helton avatar
Mark C. Helton avatar

Hi,

I have been a NINA user for quite some time, and very much like the program. I am not a software expert, and after a fairly long learning curve, I have been using this program pretty successfully. That was until last night. FYI, I am using the Beta versions. When I upgraded to the lasted edition, 3.2 a lot of my settings disappeared, and even when I try to go back an reset them, they seem to not stick. Some do, some don’t. I have a skywatcher wave 150i, which I was using with Green Swamp Server with good success. Now I can’t get GSS to connect the mount to NINA. GSS starts up in Simulation mode in NINA and won’t let me talk to the mount. I have gone back to using EQmod, which seems to work, but is not as user friendly as GSS. Has anyone else had this issue with loosing settings after an upgrade, or connection issues? Any thoughts will be greatly appreciated!
Thanks, and Clear Skies

Mark

Engaging
Tom Marsala avatar
Tom Marsala avatar

Oh no. I hope not, Mark. I just updated to 3.2 yesterday and haven't had a chance to try and connect yet. I hope others can chime in soon!

Tom

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Tom Marsala avatar
Tom Marsala avatar

What settings disappeared?

Mark C. Helton avatar
Mark C. Helton avatar

Tom Marsala · Nov 18, 2025 at 06:23 PM

What settings disappeared?

I had to reset the camera and mount settings. Those went away. It was not talking to GSS but I seem to have figured that out. That seems to have been a comm issue with Windows. However I had not done anything for the computer to change those comm settings. My rotator is not connecting again, but focuser, filter wheel, camera, and PHD are. It seems like the main window went back to a default setting, and didn't save the way I had it set up. Again, maybe I did something wrong, but I don’t think I did!!

andrea tasselli avatar
andrea tasselli avatar
First, one should always save their own setup/options as precautionary measure, as major updates may disrupt the windows layout. Secondly, I just installed the update on two different PCs and nothing of that sort happened. Thirdly, COM ports assignments are somewhat variable depending on the OS you're using so any ASCOM drivers that relies on a fixed COM port assignment may going to draw a blank upon connection at first. Best way around this issues is to connect to each device one at the time and note down what COM port is assigned to it. If you are using native drivers then this shouldn't happen.
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Tom Marsala avatar
Tom Marsala avatar

Very interesting. My window dock settings remained. One thing I did notice was that the camera connect is now anticipating my camera (it lists it as not connected) whereas on 3.1 I had to search for the camera each sequence run. I'll have to try and connect to everything else to see. Keep us posted.

Tom

SonnyE avatar
SonnyE avatar

Hi Marc,

You may just have to work inside of NINA and help it re-find your equipment.

I sometimes have to do that with my focuser, for example.

Also, you might find Cuiv’s NINA videos helpful. I sure did a few years ago when I went remote (75 feet 😅) with my equipment. Now I get it going and wake up to a pile of files.

Also, I kind of shy away from updates, at least until they’ve matured a bit. Buggy updates will drive you crazy.

Mark C. Helton avatar
Mark C. Helton avatar

andrea tasselli · Nov 18, 2025 at 07:21 PM

First, one should always save their own setup/options as precautionary measure, as major updates may disrupt the windows layout. Secondly, I just installed the update on two different PCs and nothing of that sort happened. Thirdly, COM ports assignments are somewhat variable depending on the OS you're using so any ASCOM drivers that relies on a fixed COM port assignment may going to draw a blank upon connection at first. Best way around this issues is to connect to each device one at the time and note down what COM port is assigned to it. If you are using native drivers then this shouldn't happen.

Thank you. I am not totally aware of all of the settings spots in NINA yet, and how to save them, but will research that. Appreciate your comments!
Mark

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Daemon de Chaeney avatar
Daemon de Chaeney avatar

Is there a way in NINA to save all your settings &c, in one file that can be reloaded? How is this done?

andrea tasselli avatar
andrea tasselli avatar

Bottom Right
Daemon de Chaeney avatar
Daemon de Chaeney avatar

Thanks Andrea, does that include the various settings or just the layout?

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andrea tasselli avatar
andrea tasselli avatar
Whatever is in the layout. You load the right profile with the settings for the gear you're using at start-up.
Mark C. Helton avatar
Mark C. Helton avatar

Although NINA did change some of my settings, and yes, I should have tried to save them before the update, I think that the main problem might be a comm port problem with windows. This is also a very frustrating problem that I have had with windows before. It does not seem to be assigning a comm port to my mount, and I can’t seem to create one no matter what I do. I know this leads to a totally different topic. I will learn to be more careful in saving my settings in NINA before I upgrade. I am a Mac users, and really wish that NINA ran on a Mac! I love the program, and so I am having to learn how to tolerate MS again, which I gave up years ago. Mac is not perfect, but it is a lot more user friendly. Thank you for all of your thoughts and comments.

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Mark C. Helton avatar
Mark C. Helton avatar

One last comment. Windows has a bad habit of upgrading to whatever the latest version of their OS, in the case 11, is, without asking. I have a funny feeling that that upgrade has created issues with my comm ports problems. I really like NINA, and I now do not think that NINA is the issue anymore. For a ”free”, software, it is amazing. But the platform it is running on, the MS OS, leaves little to desire. Clear skies

Tom Marsala avatar
Tom Marsala avatar

I have been pausing Windows update for five weeks at a time, then updating during non imaging times - gives me more control.

Tom

SonnyE avatar
SonnyE avatar

Mark C. Helton · Nov 19, 2025, 01:24 AM

One last comment. Windows has a bad habit of upgrading to whatever the latest version of their OS, in the case 11, is, without asking. I have a funny feeling that that upgrade has created issues with my comm ports problems. I really like NINA, and I now do not think that NINA is the issue anymore. For a ”free”, software, it is amazing. But the platform it is running on, the MS OS, leaves little to desire. Clear skies

Windows does NOT like anything that does not come from the Windows Store.

I’ve had their updates blow holes in my drivers often. It’s their little tantrum against our Astronomy programs.

Like others, I try to stay ahead of them blocking their incessant updates. I bought the computer, and the software, so I own it. I did not give Windows permission to invade my computer with their buggy updates. And most certainly not to damage my software.