Hi Mike,
A driver timeout means that the instrument did not respond to a command request within some time period, the default is 30 seconds.
After off-line discussion with Paul carpenter he wrote:
"Try restarting PFE, if it will not connect then the ethernet link is either not working or still hung waiting for the PC to provide something.
My first recourse is to cycle the OP power and completely restart the Jeol software (login again), and confirm that the Jeol software is working (I use present positions window and verify that cup retraction is being shown on that window). If not, "reconnect to epma" from the Jeol menu.
Then launch PFE and all should be well.
The other simple issue may be that the power to the ethernet switch got somehow interrupted or yanked out of the switch assembly."
Does this help...?