I am trying to save some Tektronix TDS series field adjustment software disks. Most are 3.5 inch 1.44 MB, with a few 5.25 inch 1.2 MB. I have a USB connected 3.5 inch floppy drive that my computer recognizes (Bytecc BT-144), and I see it on my COMPUTER screen. But all of the 3.5 inch disks, when inserted, it tells me format is unrecognizable and wants me to format them (which I don't). The drive supposedly see 1.44 MB format size. And the 3.5 disks appear to be 1.44 MB. Either they are all damaged, or there is some operating system compatibility issue, I think. I have Windows 7 on a late model Dell quadcore computer.
If anyone has experience with this particular problem, help will be appreciated. Maybe I need to put them in an older platform or something.
I would try using an XP or older OS for copying the disks over, I have noticed with vista and 7 that some older floppies with old MFR programs, HP, Fluke, Tek etc they just simply would not read the disks. The programs cannot be executed using windows 7 anyway, there is no backward compatibility.
NTFS versus FAT 32 type thing, I think all those disks were formating with a OS that had a FAT 32 data structure.
I assume you are simply wanting to make copies for safe keeping and not running them on PC using 7?
The older Hp programs are fairly simple you can download a HTBasic demo and run them there, 30 min time limit but it works. The whole developers version of HTbasic is $1250, not too pricey compared to most MFR software prorgam utilities.
Anyway hope this helps, like I said I am not certain this is your prorblem but I could not get them to copy using anything newer than XP, that was 2 or 3 years ago however.
I was trying all of the same things as well, and had a lot of the same or similar thoughts. I acidentally happened upon the solution. I was re-trying some of the disks, and one of the bad ones worked. My razor sharp analytical mind surmised that the disks or drive were either just a little off in a tolerance, or there was crud on the disk (or reading head), or some such thing. So I went back through all of the "bad" disks and tried re-seating them each five or six times or so. And Voila! they started working. So I now have them safely dumped to a hard drive.
And yes, I was and am aware that I need to run them on an old OS. We have an old platform we use for some National Instruments PCI cards that might just do the trick.
So after all that effort, it is just cruddy disks. I'm not sure if it is a mechanical tolerance on something or surface crud. I truly don't care. I am just happy to have saved these valuable old disks. I have eight different ones.
And by the way, there is still one remaining unsaved as it is in 5-1/4 inch format. I have yet to scrounge up a drive. We actually might have one in house somewhere.
Thanks for the inputs. It might well have been something like that. I honestly, as I said, was having those same sorts of thoughts.
Off subject but are the National Instruments pretty easy to calibrate? We had a few and were considering calibrating them in house but we would have needed to buy a Fluke 5700 at the 5520A was not accurate enough for the calibration.
The calibration itself is not too difficult. It is the setup that is all over the map. I do a few of the VXI cards with a big mainframe, and they are a pain to set up. I have done quite a few of the PXI cards at customer sites, and you need to use Cal Executive SW for many of them (around $3K or so - can't remember). We also have a platform for doing PCI cards (the long cards that go into old PC mainframes. I haven't done those yet, but you have to set the software up to do them. Some are more and less difficult. Pick a model of interest and go to the NI website, and download one of the PDF manuals and take a look. Depending on which type card(s) you have, and how many, may determine which direction you should go in supporting them. We have 5720A's here. I know some of the DMM cards have pretty tight uncertainty needs for their calibrations, and I believe require Cal Executive SW.
They are about as easy as doing any MetCal calibration, except that you have to shut down the computer to put in & take out the card...
I do most of them at the NASA/JSC Lab using a 5700A/EP.
Hawaii596, would you happen to have a copy of the TEK TDS694C
adjustment that I could get from you? Finding out it isn't a common
software out there. Or if there is anyone else out there that has it, I
would appreciate a copy of it.
I looked through my library of software that I saved. Unfortunately , the TDS694C wasn't included. The bad news is that we own a TDS694C, and support a couple more. Very nice old scope (especially after we added the retrofit color LCD for dim display). So if we ever have to align it, we'll have to send it out to the unnamed 3rd party service company in the northwest, staffed by ex-Tek people. They are a good business, I just don't like mentioning companies by name on the internet.
ONE MORE THOUGHT- You might consider sending an email or calling Tektronix to find out if they could provide you with the adjustment software. Sometimes things that aren't on the website may still be available by asking. If you do that and are successful, I'd appreciate a copy. I can get you all of what I have.
Yeah I contacted the people up in the NW yesterday and they turned
me down. That's okay, I'll remember them. They need stuff from me
once in a while and the next time I'll turn them down. I've contacted
TEK on this and they came up empty to. But I've got my request out
to several hundred other people, so hopefully I'll get lucky with that.
If I do, I'll pass it on to you.
Thanks for checking.
And just for the record, here is what I have in my little library:
TEK TDS 400A ADJ
TEK TDS 500A ADJ
TEK TDS 500C 700C ADJ
TEK TDS 500D 700D ADJ
TEK TDS 600A ADJ
TEK TDS 600B ADJ
TEK TDS 620 ADJ
TEK TDS 644A ADJ
TEK TDS 684A ADJ
TEK TDS 700A ADJ
TEK TLS216 ADJ
TEK AWG2021 PERF/ADJ
Thats about it.
Would like to get a copy of adj400 software for a TDS460A scope. I tried to get a copy from www.tek.co, not available.
Thanks in advance for in help you can provide.
Send me a pm with your email.
I`m in the same situation with TimK. I would like also to get a copy of adj400 software for a TDS460A scope. I tried also to get a copy from www.tek.co, still not available. My TDS need it.
Thanks in advance for all help you can provide.
I had similar problems with my old Tektronix disks. I ended up using a USB 3.5 in external floppy drive, and re-inserting the disks over and over again. After sometimes a dozen or more re-insertions, I think I eventually got every single disk to read. But I backed them all up to a server. Then, when anyone needs to use any of them, we make a fresh disk as needed or applicable. I am on the road this week. But if you wait until early next week and send me a private msg, let me know which one you want. I believe I have the one you mentioned (just can't get to it until next week).