ABC Reader Check Tool Help


Contents

1. Introduction

1.1. General

1.2. Supported Operating Systems

1.3. Running the AB Circle Script Tool

2. Usage

2.1. Welcome Screen

2.2. Checking Screen

2.3. Summary Screen

3. Warnings, Errors and possible Resolutions

3.1. Reader Devices

3.2. Device Drivers Files

3.3. Smart Card Resource Manager

3.4. Smart Card Readers

4. Contact

4.1. Support



1. Introduction

1.1. General

The ABC Reader Check Tool is an application that will check the system for updated drivers and correct functioning of any AB Circle smart card readers present on the system.

The tool effectively checks the following areas:

  1. Proper configuration of all AB Circle devices present on the system
  2. Proper installation and properties of device driver files used by AB Circle smart card readers
  3. Smart card resource manager and smart card reader listing
  4. Proper functioning of the listed AB Circle smart card readers

The results of above checked areas will then be presented in a summary which clearly tells of any issues that might exist together with hints on how to solve them.


1.2. Supported Operating Systems

The ABC Reader Check Tool supports all Microsoft Windows editions starting from Microsoft Windows 7 (x86 and x64).


1.3. Running the AB Circle Reader Check Tool

In order to run the AB Circle Reader Check Tool, double click the ABCReaderCheckTool.exe and the tool will start.
Alternatively:


Please also plugin the AB Circle reader(s) you want to be tested and for the most accurate results present a card if available.


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2. Usage

2.1. Welcome Screen

Usage of the AB Circle Reader Check tool is straight-forward. After starting the program, a welcome screen is shown.

Welcome Screen
On the screen, choose for manual or automatic card testing using the checkbox and press the button [Next] to start checking.

2.2. Checking Screen

During checking, the screen below will show:

Checking Screen
During checking and after checking is complete, the screen will indicate the four areas checked and show the results together with one of three icons indicating the severity.
These icons are:

Icon Description
OK icon All checks were completed successfully and no issues were found.
Warning icon All checks were completed successfully but some issues were found.
Error icon Not all checks were completed successfully and errors were found.

Next to that, if manual card testing was enabled on the first screen, a card status popup dialog will show in order to present a card on the available readers for checking.
Note: SAM slots do not have active card detection, so the card check is done depending a card is present already in the readers' SAM slot

Card Status Dialog

After checking has completed, press button [Next] to continue to a summary screen.

2.3. Summary Screen

The summary screen is the screen where the results of the tests are presented together with additional system information.
The information can be copied or saved by a menu opened by a mouse right-click on the summary text.

Summary screen

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3. Warnings, Errors and possible Resolutions

During checking it is possible one or more issues were detected. Depending on the severitity of the issue detected, these are catogerised into errors or warnings.
As a general rule, errors will prevent the application of continuing checking the readers, and warnings usually indicate a possible issue with the checked readers.

The following paragraphs list the possible warnings and errors the application produces and possible ways to solve them.

3.1. Reader Devices

Severity Warning / Error Explanation Possible resolution
Error An error happened while enumerating devices Something went wrong enumerating devices on the system. This error is often followed by a windows system error code. Close all applications and re-start the PC, then try checking again
Error No devices found! Please connect an AB Circle smart card reader first. No AB Circle device was found on the local system. Connect an AB Circle smart card reader and install the appropriate driver, then try checking again.
Error No connected AB Circle reader found! Please connect an AB Circle smart card reader first for the best results. No AB Circle device was connected to the local system. Connect an AB Circle smart card reader and install the appropriate drivers, then try checking again.
Warning No issues found but device not connected!. An AB Circle device was found and its properties has no issued, but the physical reader itself is not connected. Connect the AB Circle smart card reader and install the appropriate drivers, then checking try again.
Warning Not all AB Circle readers are connected! Please connect all AB Circle smart card readers for the best results. There were more than one AB Circle devices found on the local system, but not all were connected. Connect all AB Circle smart card readers and install the appropriate drivers, then try checking again.
Warning Skipped bootloader device for testing. An AB Circle bootloader device was found on the local system, this is a hidden device used for firmware updates. This is an informational warning only, no need for action.
Warning The device class does not match the expected class (SmartCardReader) An AB Circle smart card reader was found on the local system, but its device class from its properties is not the expected SmartCardReader class. This can happen when the wrong driver has been installed for this reader. Please install the appropriate driver using the AB Circle Installer, then try checking again.
Warning The reader name does not match the expected readername An AB Circle smart card reader was found on the local system, but its reader name from its properties is not the expected reader name. This can happen when the wrong driver has been installed for this reader. Please install the appropriate driver using the AB Circle Installer, then try checking again.
Warning The device has a problem code (please run the AB Circle Installer to repair the issue) An AB Circle smart card reader was found on the local system, but it has a problem code in Device Manager. This can happen for various reasons. Usually though, either the device is disabled, or the wrong driver has been installed. In any case, please run the AB Circle Installer to try to repair the issue, then try checking again.

3.2. Device Drivers Files

Severity Warning / Error Explanation Possible resolution
Error No driver information was found for the current device. No driver information was registered for an AB Circle device. This often happens if a wrong driver has been installed for this device. Please install the appropriate driver first using the AB Circle Installer.
Error No installed driver was found for the current device. No installed driver information was registered for an AB Circle device. This often happens if a wrong driver has been installed for this device. Please install the appropriate driver first using the AB Circle Installer.
Error Wrong manufacturer name found in the this drivers binary file, expected: ... A wrong driver has been installed for this AB Circle device. Please install the appropriate driver using the AB Circle Installer, then try checking again.
Error An outdated driver binary was found for the current device, please update to the latest version An older version of the AB Circle driver is installed as driver for this AB Circle device or when updating the device the old driver binary was in use and did not get replaced. Please close all applications, then update the reader driver to the latest version using the AB Circle Installer, then try checking again.
Error The driver binary was not found for this device, please re-install the reader driver! The driver binary registered as driver for this AB Circle device is not present on the system. Please install the appropriate driver using the AB Circle Installer, then try checking again.
Error An unrecognized signature was found in the driver binary for this device, please update to the latest (Microsoft signed) driver! The driver binary registered as driver for this AB Circle device has a invalid or not recognized signature. Please repair or re-install the appropriate driver using the AB Circle Installer, then try checking again.
Warning An inbox driver from Microsoft is used; reader can only be used in single-slot mode and without escape commands! The inbox driver from Microsoft is installed as driver for this AB Circle device. Although it will work, the reader can only be used in single-slot mode and without escape commands. Please install the appropriate driver using the AB Circle Installer.
Warning An outdated driver was found for the current device, please update to the latest version. An older version of the AB Circle driver is installed as driver for this AB Circle device. Please update to the latest version using the AB Circle Installer, then try checking again.
Warning Unexpection inf-file section found reported as origin for this driver. A wrong driver has been installed for this AB Circle device. Please install the appropriate driver using the AB Circle Installer, then try checking again.
Warning Wrong provider name found for this driver, expected: ... A wrong driver has been installed for this AB Circle device. Please install the appropriate driver using the AB Circle Installer, then try checking again.
Warning Wrong manufacturer name found for this driver, expected: ... A wrong driver has been installed for this AB Circle device. Please install the appropriate driver using the AB Circle Installer, then try checking again.
Warning The driver reader name does not match the expected driver reader name. A wrong driver has been installed for this AB Circle device. Please install the appropriate driver using the AB Circle Installer, then try checking again.
Warning An unsigned driver was found for this device, please update to the latest (Microsoft signed) driver! An older version of the AB Circle driver is installed as driver for this AB Circle device. Please update to the latest version using the AB Circle Installer, then try checking again. Alternatively, if this warning is shown on Microsoft Windows 7, please update to Windos 7 Service Pack 1 and make sure all windows updates are installed also before trying again.
Warning A driver signed with a test certificate was found for this device, please update to the latest (Microsoft signed) driver! An older version of the AB Circle driver is installed as driver for this AB Circle device Please update to the latest version using the AB Circle Installer, then try checking again.

3.3. Smart Card Resource Manager

Severity Warning / Error Explanation Possible resolution
Error A smart card resource manager context could not be established, testing stopped. The smart card resource manager service is not running on the local system. Please make sure that at least one AB Circle smart card reader is connected. Then check if the "Smart Card" service is running by using the Service application. This application can be started from Start, then typing : Services. Once the application opens, search for the "Smart Card" service. If its status is not 'Running', then try to start it using the menu. If it does not want to start, please reboot the PC and try again.
Error No smart card readers were found. No smart card readers were found when trying to enumerating the readers. Please make sure that at least one AB Circle smart card reader is connected and its drivers are installed properly, then try checking again.
Error SCardListReaders failed. A call to SCardListReaders failed. This call tries to enumerate all smart card readers on the local system and is often followed by an system error code. Please reboot the PC and make sure that at least one AB Circle smart card reader is connected and its drivers are installed properly, then try checking again.
Warning This device was not listed as smart card reader, please re-install the latest reader driver. A wrong or corrupt driver has been installed for this AB Circle device. Please install the appropriate driver using the AB Circle Installer, then try checking again.

3.4. Smart Card Readers

Severity Warning / Error Explanation Possible resolution
Error Could not obtain the card status of the reader, please install or update to the latest AB Circle driver. A call to SCardGetStatusChange failed. This call tries to get the latest card status of the current smart card reader but failed, this error is often followed by an system error code. Please reboot the PC and make sure that this AB Circle smart card reader is connected and its drivers are installed properly, then try checking again.
Warning Could not connect to the reader, please re-plugin the reader or install or update to the latest AB Circle driver. A connection to the AB Circle reader or a card could not be established. Please make sure that the AB Circle smart card reader is connected and its drivers are installed properly. Also present a card to the reader, then try checking again.
Warning Could not disconnect from the reader, please re-plugin the reader or install or update to the latest AB Circle driver. A connection to the AB Circle reader or a card could not be disconnected. Please make sure that the AB Circle smart card reader is connected and its drivers are installed properly, then try checking again.
Warning Could not send a test escape command to the reader, please install or update to the latest AB Circle driver. This means that either the test command is incorrect (the ini file changed) or that not the AB Circle driver is used (probably the Microsoft inbox CCID driver instead). Please install the appropriate driver using the AB Circle Installer, then try checking again.
Warning Card found on reader, but could not get the card ATR. There was a card detected on the reader, but the ATR could not be obtained. Please check the placement of the card in case the reader is a PICC reader, or check if the card is inserted properly on an ICC reader (e.g. not upside down).
If the card is presented properly and the warning still shows, please repair or re-install the appropriate driver using the AB Circle Installer, then try checking again.
Warning Card state unknown, could not get the card state. The card state is unknown, this could happen if the card has been removed before a state could be obtained. Please present a card and check the placement of a card in case the reader is a PICC reader, or check if the card is inserted properly on an ICC reader (e.g. not upside down).
If the card is presented properly and the warning still shows, please re-plugin the reader and repair or re-install the appropriate driver using the AB Circle Installer, then try checking again.
Warning Card found on reader, but its unresponsive. There was a card detected on the reader, but it could not be accessed. Please present a card and check the placement of a card in case the reader is a PICC reader, or check if the card is inserted properly on an ICC reader (e.g. not upside down).
If the card is presented properly and the warning still shows, please re-plugin the reader and repair or re-install the appropriate driver using the AB Circle Installer, then try checking again.
Warning Not all smart card readers had a smart card detected, thus reader checking might be incomplete. This is an informative message to indicate smart card testing was not performed on all checked smart card readers or reader slots. In case of manual card testing, please present a card on all smart card readers when asked; or in case of automatic card testing, please present a card to all smart card readers before starting the checking. Then try checking again.


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4. Contact

4.1. Support

Website: https://www.abcircle.com/

E-Mail: info@abcircle.com


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