Electrical Engineering & Electronics Design

My recommendation is to use a SSD boot drive for windows (i use M.2) and place all apps on another drive (SSD, rotating, whatever).

In addition, place all data on at least RAID level 1 (mirror) with a minimum of 2 drives.

Backups should be daily for heavy workloads and at least weekly for casual workloads. These can be as simple as to USB flash drives.

That should prevent any losses and also minimize any time lost from rebuilds (e.g. RAID) distracting you from productive work.

That is an interesting option Steven, I will look in to that.

I have a couple of spare SSD drives. I normally just do a file system backup.

Having this same issue, as it seems a lot of people have.

And so far, nobody has provided a fool proof truly working fix for this.

I tried installing the pcb services by itself as well, as administrator, and made sure to turn off everything related to firewall/virus/whatever (I'm on a stand along windows10 install that will never be in contact with the net), and I still get that same error, and there is no other info provided to figure out what is really going on.

This is major league B.S.! No end user should ever have to put up with such crap and be forced to dive deep troubleshooting this.

I did try to figure out some more, digging into the log files.

I know the service was installed and apparently up and running, as when accessing it via a browser, I do get its login screen, so it's serving that, at least. But then when trying the default login, ERROR!

Digging through the numerous logs, most of it being totally irrelevant to the issue, I think I can see that there may be no database created, or perhaps all the tables in that database, so the error, I suspect, it caused by the database tables not existing.

Why do we have to put up with this???

I run those win10 installs as virtual machines, with no network enabled, so I can turn off all protections like firewall and whatever, plus the win10 install is fresh off its installer, with no other apps, and then I just go in there to turn off whatever could interfere, and yet, it still won't work!

WHY?

I think it a user privilege issue when installing.

As mentioned above try this:

Transfer all your installation files to a temp folder in C:/ drive.

Then try re installing the solid works installation. or :

I already had solid works installed at this point so I transferred all installation files to temp folder in C:/ drive then simply went to Solid works PCB services folder and ran the PCB services setup.

This worked for me.

Well, just tried it that way and the error is still there.

We shouldn't have to go digging into logs and more, to troubleshoot and fix what's been done wrong.

They made a broken installer years ago and have yet to fix it so it runs properly for everyone.

So I'm still stuck with a non functional pcb services, which makes it useless.

Here's a log snippet that I figured is likely pointing out what type of error it may be:

00:00:52: DEBUG [TID=5580] INFO: ---- Testing data source connection...  

00:00:52: DEBUG [TID=5580] ERROR: EXCEPTION (EIB_ISCError) at "TDataConnection_Firebird.GetObjects [select first 1 IDS_User.*, IDS_Organisation.Points AS AltiumLivePoints, IDS_Organisation.Name AS Organisation, IDS_Organisation.Active AS OrgActive FROM IDS_User LEFT JOIN IDS_Organisation ON (IDS_Organisation.GUID = IDS_User.OrganisationGUID) where IDS_User.Active = 1;]": ISC ERROR CODE:335544569

ISC ERROR MESSAGE:

Dynamic SQL Error

SQL error code = -204

Table unknown

IDS_USER

At line 1, column 154

00:00:53: DEBUG [TID=5580] INFO: ---- Testing access control connection...  

00:00:53: INFO OnStart event completed (ServerMode=Plugin)  

00:00:53: INFO Startup Completed

That came from the log in the IDS folder in the main logs folder. There are so many, and none are explicit enough in naming, to know what they actually pertain to, so it's a bit of a shot in the dark.

But in any case, from what I gather, it looks like missing tables, so either an empty database was created but nothing was created in it (tables) or maybe the database wasn't created at all. I don't know much about firebird, so I can't troubleshoot this properly. Too bad they used that open source database that I know nothing about...

Try a system reboot,

Disable antivirus.

Then transfer entire copy of the solidworks installation to C:\

Now go to C:\pcbservices\setup.exe and run as administrator ?

If not work try:

C:\pcbservices\SOLIDWORKS PCB Services.exe and then run as administrator ?

Rebooted many, many many times. Makes no difference whatsoever.

As I mentioned, I went through all the "security" stuff I could find, to disable whatever is there, firewall, anti-virus.... you name it.

I need to find what's preventing the pcb services from working properly, and I did try to copy that part of the install stuff to the main drive in a temp folder and did try running it as admin, and that didn't change anything.

The pcb services doesn't depend on anything else to function, and it should be accessible via a browser, which it is, once installed, except that apparently it didn't properly create its database. That's what I gather, from logs.

Now if a fresh clean install of win10, followed by a new install of solidworks, with nothing else whatsoever, doesn't work, obviously something is badly wrong with the solidworks install process. And the part failing to install properly is the pcb services. Everything else installs properly and runs with no issues, just that pcb services that just won't work.

This is a wide spread issue and many are having it, and I have yet to find the right solution to fix it.

Hello again Didier,

I just wanted to make sure you have done everything you are supposed to.

1. You have installed the main solidworks installation package.
2. Then you restarted the solidworks installer setup and installed the solid works server products (Solidworks PCB Services)

Only tick the Solidworks PCB Services from the server products.

I tried many variations on theme.

I tried first to install solidworks, then add the pcb services afterwards.

Then tried it the other way around. Same difference, same results.

Tried installing only the pcb services and tried accessing it via a browser, to make sure it was responding, which it did, but giving the dreadful error when trying to log in.

Installing from a copy to a temp folder made no difference, and yes, I did start the installer as admin.

Also tried it all again in a fresh virtual machine with a win10 install from scratch, making sure to turn off as many "security" things as possible, hoping that's what could be interfering. But no luck there.

Having found where the log files are, I've been trying to find some useful clues, but so far, all I can see is it seems the database wasn't created, so as far as I can tell, the error comes from a non existing database/tables..

Tried doing a "repair" with the pcb services installer (the one copied to a temp folder), after having changed an "N" to a "Y" in the installer's config file for the "LogResults" option, which I was hoping would tell it to log something, at least more than what it's supposed to be doing.

But it didn't seem to be logging anything more and although the repair process looked like it worked, it didn't report any errors, it didn't fix the issue with the database. In the pcb services logs, in the IDS folder, the logs show that the error seems to be related to missing tables, so I don't see anything else that could be the real issue. I must assume something goes wrong when it's supposed to be populating the database, and it doesn't happen, and why oh why isn't it reporting this, or at least logging the problem...

I haven't seen any useful info from googling about this wide spread issue. Many are reporting this same issue, but no fool proof fix posted anywhere. Finding out what the problem really is and posting the fix here would surely help many others.

With so many users having this same issue, and obviously at least some have gotten this fixed somehow, possibly by getting the support folks at SW to point to the problem fix, it's odd that no actual fix has been posted anywhere.

And I've been trying out versions for the past 3 years or so, and although now no more errors are reported during the install process, it still fails to successfully install, so to me it looks like the errors would have just been suppressed but not actually been fixed.

It's odd that after all this time it's not fixed.

By the way: One of the "potential" solutions one user had proposed on one of the threads from other user's posts on that issue, consisting in restarting the firebird server process, followed by restarting the IIS server, doesn't fix the issue.

Database tables are missing, so I don't see how restarting the processes would help that.

And I don't even understand why 2 databases systems are being used!?!?!? Why use both firebird AND IIS??? makes no sense to me. One should suffice.

But hey! Why make things simple when they can be made more complicated????

Hello again Didier,

I would like to dig in to this problem however at the moment I am quite unwell and can not seem to concentrate. I keep wondering if you have some sort of file corruption in your Solidworks PCB Services folder. I am guessing there is not much difference between the new version 2020 solidworks PCB Service and like a 2018 version when it comes to Solidworks PCB Services. You could try a solidworks 2018 copy of Solidworks PCB Services and do a file transplant. Install 2018 PCB services from the c:\ temp folder as admin. Just thinking may be worth a shot. I know solidworks has had issues with installers for years. The main problem I found with solidworks pcb is finding components. It is a nightmare, it used to be linked to altium vault but this feature is now not part of the solidworks pcb. Anyway keep us up to date if you solve this issue.

I can relate to being unwell, and it's been too much for myself as well to dig into troubleshooting this thing. Especially since I've tried this before, several times, with earlier versions and never could find a fix.

It can't be something like file corruption or anything specific to a system install in particular, as I've done this many times from scratch and always get the same end result.

I've tried the 2016 and 2017 versions quite some time ago, and there were errors reported, as opposed to now, where no errors are reported until we get the one showing it doesn't work when we try testing it.

I've tried the older versions back then with various system installs of win8 and win8.1, then later with early win10 installs as well.

Being done in virtual machines, I can start everything from scratch, and this is the case right now, as I did it again lately with the latest 1909 incarnation of win10.

I go through turning off all protections, firewall, virus, etc...

Running installers as admin, and now even trying to copy over the install stuff to a temp folder, and always get the same end result.

There is something consistent about it, but nothing points to the real issue. I've tried digging through logs, but I think there may be other logs somewhere else that "might" have more info, but couldn't find those.

I've been wanting to give a try to this pcb stuff for a few years now and have yet to see it functional.

I even tried lately to get a front end for firebird (turbobird), hoping to have a peek into what's there in the database (or not), but bumped against more trouble with the firebird client library not being found. I tried of course copying over that library, that does exist, into various locations where it's supposed to be able to be found, without success.

So, back to square one, with a non functioning pcb services and no clue as to why the database tables can't be found.

I know for sure the pcb services server software is indeed installed and does work and respond, as it does provide the login web page in a browser when accessing it, but then the same error keeps coming up when using the login credentials.

The pcb services server software doesn't have dependencies other than the database beneath it, so it doesn't require any other solidworks software to be installed, not even the sw pcb software, to be able to work. It can be stand alone and respond via a web interface in a browser.

Besides, that server software can be installed all by itself on a separate machine/server, and it can then be accessed across the network, and be administered via its interface in a browser.

I looked for firebird specific logs, hoping to find more clues, but couldn't find anything useful.

I had experiencing this several time, but finally i found the solution, Solidworks PCB services won't create a database if IIS are not running, by default they're partially enabled in windows 10.

I enabled them by:

-> control panel -> programs -> Turn Windows features on or off -> Internet Information Services.

Enable it and all sub cores services. REBOOT

Then, repair Solidworks PCB services then login using the default credentials

http://localhost:9780

UserName: admin

Password: admin

Hope it helps you as it did 😉👍

I read your post a while back but did not have time to reply.

I will certainly give that a try next time I install solidworks. many thanks.

2020-06-07 20:56:30.3503|13|ERROR|UserManagement.Controllers.AccountController|

 Message: Failed to retrieve User. Error retrieve data from database

 Source: mscorlib

 Method: Void HandleReturnMessage(System.Runtime.Remoting.Messaging.IMessage, System.Runtime.Remoting.Messaging.IMessage)

 Stack Trace: 

Server stack trace: 

  at System.ServiceModel.Channels.ServiceChannel.HandleReply(ProxyOperationRuntime operation, ProxyRpc& rpc)

  at System.ServiceModel.Channels.ServiceChannel.Call(String action, Boolean oneway, ProxyOperationRuntime operation, Object[] ins, Object[] outs, TimeSpan timeout)

  at System.ServiceModel.Channels.ServiceChannelProxy.InvokeService(IMethodCallMessage methodCall, ProxyOperationRuntime operation)

  at System.ServiceModel.Channels.ServiceChannelProxy.Invoke(IMessage message)

Exception rethrown at [0]: 

  at System.Runtime.Remoting.Proxies.RealProxy.HandleReturnMessage(IMessage reqMsg, IMessage retMsg)

  at System.Runtime.Remoting.Proxies.RealProxy.PrivateInvoke(MessageData& msgData, Int32 type)

  at Altium.Sdk.DxpAppServer.IDSServiceProxy.IDSPort.Login(LoginRequest request)

  at Altium.Sdk.DxpAppServer.IDSServiceProxy.DSPortClient.Altium.Sdk.DxpAppServer.IDSServiceProxy.IDSPort.Login(LoginRequest request)

  at Altium.Sdk.DxpAppServer.IDSClient.Login(String userName, String password, String identity, Boolean secureLogin)

  at Altium.Sdk.DxpAppServer.Web.IDSMembershipProvider.ValidateUser(String userName, String password, String identity, IDSLoginResult& loginResult)

  at Altium.Sdk.DxpAppServer.Web.IDSMembershipProvider.ValidateUserAndCreateTicket(String userName, String password, Boolean isPersistent, String identity, TimeSpan lifeTime)

  at UserManagement.Controllers.AccountController.Login(LoginViewModel model, String returnUrl)

it's really worked. thank bro so ! i am stucked on this two days before reading your commend.

I just joined in grabcad just to say Thank you very! much it worked! I was trying for months to find a solution but no luck until your post. I had to check every nested child services until the "Internet Information Services" shows a tick mark instead of black square and it's done.

Glad to see people finding their way around this issue now.

Solid works can be a real pain on occasion.

Thank you man. This solution work wonderfully.

Ok, after several years trying with various versions of solidworks, I just tried again, this time with SW2022, and I've been digging deeper, trying to understand some more about all the hidden stuff, but my understanding is still too limited, with the limited info I could find.

I installed windows10 21H2, from scratch in a blank virtual machine, not connected to internet, to keep everything in a sandbox.

This time the install appears to succeed, including the solidworks pcb with the main solidworks and some other add ins, but I found out it doesn't even install the sw pcb services along with sw pcb, which is rather stupid, as it just can't work without it. bad installer.

So I had to install after the fact, separately, the pcb services server.

With the bits of info I could find about what's going on behind the scene, I managed to test certain things systematically, one at a time.

For example I know IIS does work and runs, because I went to localhost:9780 in a browser, and got the pcb services login screen, so at least there's that.

But as before, a login, with admin/admin does not succeed, neither in the browser at the localhost:9780 address, or directly from sw pcb's login.

But that's where the standing problem is, there is an error "failed to retrieve user", so login can't succeed.

Now one more thing that I was able to verify, manually, is proper operation of the firebird database server, by using that isql utility that I just found out about, so I was able to issue sql commands, created a new database, and so I know that both IIS and firebird are running and working, plus sw pcb runs, but login just won't work.

I did do all those things as mentioned earlier in the thread.

• disabled windows defender
• disabled virus protection
• made sure the windows features required are turned on
• 
• even turned on some not needed

and login won't succeed

obviously I also rebooted, many times, when I changed something. No luck.

I don't know firebird well enough to look if the sw pcb services database was actually created. that might be one more hint at something. maybe the pcb services install process fails to create its database, or something like that, silently, zero errors reported.

So now what? how do we check on the pcb services database being there and working? what is actually causing the login to fail?

More info about what's going on with solidworks pcb (2022).

Since I try this in virtual machines, I can test more things. The virtual machines have zero internet connection, so turning off all that virus and firewall stuff is no problem. So I made a blank new virtual machine, with a fresh w10 install (21H2), and I turned off firewall, anti-virus, and made sure the windows features required are enabled.

So I should have a clean slate to install.

I installed ONLY the sw pcb services server part, nothing more, which should work fine, as it's stand alone and doesn't even require any licensing or whatever.

That thing takes for ever to install. The installer starts slowing down seriously when around 87% is done, that first part being reasonably fast, compared to what follows, and then it's all downhill from there, slowing down as it's approaching the end, the last 2% takes over a couple of hours (damn!!!), so the sw pcb services server ends up taking well over 3 hours total install time. Something ain't quite right, but what?

Then once installed, having only that server component, the only thing to do is access its panel via a browser, which I did, at its standard localhost:9780 address, and got the login screen just fine, so IIS and the pcb server thing are running, and as I tried previously, firebird is also there and runs.

But there we go again, always giving back that same error "failed to retrieve user".

So, is it actually talking to firebird and maybe some privilege or something like this is interfering, or is it not even reaching firebird at all?

I've been trying to get such a thing installed for years, trying I think with the sw2015 edition, and things have evolved since, but it never worked for me. WTF?

For anyone who keep trying. Here is how I solve installation of PCB services in VMWare virtual machine (quest Windows 10 21H2). Do not disconnect network card to prevent access to internet, just set it to "Host only" mode in VM settings. Be patient, installation takes around 7 min (probably depends on hardware).

thanks all for your assistance. this is what seems to work for me. i'd install it from freshly installed windows 10. please read all the comment above before doing this step. make life much easier.

SYSTEM MUST CONNECT TO THE INTERNET AND DOING THIS IN ORDER

1. open Windows Features

- turn on .NET Framework 3.5 (include . NET 2.0 and 3.0)

- turn on Container

- turn on Internet Information Services

- turn on Internet Information Services Hostable Web Core

*make sure everything is check ✅ not just a filled box, then OK windows will install it for a little while

2. restart windows, after windows come back on, open your browser and type "localhost" on the url then enter, to check if the IIS working or not

3. make a folder on C: to place your installer (like the OP did)

4. then install the setup.exe, run as administrator

5. choose only "Solidworks PCB Service" then install without changing anything

the installer is pretty fast, not take more than 10-20minutes if your system didn't do that better abort it and start over (reset your pc) than wasting your time (don't ask me why i know...)

6. when the installer finish check using your browser "localhost:9780" enter username "admin" password "admin"

7. voila!

i'm doing all of this on freshly installed windows 10. i have no personal data on it so i can freely reset it if im screwing things up. in total of 3 times reset it works like a charm. goodluck everybody

OMG... after days of trying to get solidworks pcb to set up services..

Gwiza Henry  simply posted a fix to the problem... Simply turn on the right windows 10 features.. this worked for me following his exact way of doing it... Thank you Gwiza Henry... Helping people will help get you into Heaven..lol

Glad you got it working Dan,

Cant believe they stopped selling licences for solidworks PCB.

I no longer use solidworks PCB. I mainly use Altium with NI multisim for simulations now.