R&S SFU - broadcast test system "adjustment missing"

[PawelC]

Hi everyone
I have R&S SFU signal generator with one main problem. First i have made ravopy of my hdd to new one to play more. System is Windows XP (SP2). After computer boot when the soft is already loaded always i have monit „adjustment missing” however all files are on the machine C/…/R&S/LevelCalData Inside that catalogue is some files
ChannelA_Attenuator_CalData.dat
ChannelA_ExtCal_UsedCalData.txt
ChannelA_IQOP3_Baseband.txt
ChannelA_IQOP3_Baseband.dat.txt
ChannelA_IQOP3_IQ_Adjustment.txt
ChannelA_IQOP3_IQ_Adjustment.dat.txt
ChannelA_IQOP3_Zero.txt
ChannelA_IQOP3_Zero.dat.txt
ChannelA_RFM_UsedCalData
ChannelA_RFM_V20_LevelPreset_CalData.txt
ChannelA_RFM_V20_LevelPreset_CalData.dat.txt

So i realized ok lets make „factory default system backup/recovery” – procedure was fine after that i have got two errors
1.   Absolute external calibration missing
2.   Adjustment missing
(In rslog files i couldnt recognize what file is missing [&&*&&^& etc.])
In factory default system i coudnt make any adjustment it was locked – state of the soft the same without any extra „service mode”. Ok Lets back to the newest software (Factory defaults is version 1.7 the newest one 2.92)
After instalation new firmware show up only one error
1.   Adjustment missing
So i visit catalogue then i codunt fin dany of IQOP3_IQ/Baseband adjustment that i saw in Catalogue before (i just copy all of them into) in rslog file i didnt find eny error about IQOOP3. But still something is missing. Ok so lets check what is exactly hided in recovery partition. Using  recovery tools i get into the LevelCalData catalogue i then i have found one more file „IQOOP_ListFreq.txt” (it contains exactly the same freqencies that are used in IQOP3 adjustment. Copy, Paste to new backup and check. However every single time when i run a software this particular file is automaticaly erased/deleted from hdd which is quite strange. Even more strange is that when i try to make factory backup i have got one more big error „External Calibration missing”.
In geenral i have checked the files in RAW Copy of the factory backup - there is copied different file for Attenuation - after that file is reloaded for new one.
Ok so lets try get into the level protecions, Looking around i have got 4/5 protection levels
L1 123456
L2 261339
L3 710845
L4 593748
L5 - ?
Only L4 open one extras witch is HW Test – however that test looks unusual – there i have an acces to the coder or interface board witch two options „read bar code” or write bar code. Few numbers with hex/decimals/octal numbers and thats it. I havent change any option yet.
Machine for sure wasnt open before ( had still R&S stamp in a back of shielding) for sure some mess was done with a software. CW is working - i have checked it by power meter.
What i discover – Bios battery was empty – i chenged for new one and nothing has changed (and yes was booting  without battery before). I have check all voltages on main rails – they are fine.
I have found in SMC/SMUA200A/SMJ Service manuals that „adjustment missing” can occour with faulty hdd drive (malware?) – hdd is new copy of the old one/ no bad sectors
From my point of view is some software problem, however its only my assumptions. Does anyone have similar problem ? or have any clue what can be done?
Someone exist with the same machine and can provide reliable HDD mirror ? or even structure of the catalogue with firmware / mayby even someone has different one ? someting between 1.7 and 2.92?
R&S suggest me to send stuff to the factory (yeah to Germany). I am based in Bali - Indonesia, shipping cost for two ways will cost more  rather than machine so i try to fix it by myslef for now. BTW we know how looks repair procedure by R&S.

I can provide more pictures for further  investigation. Keep you updated with the progress.

Regards,
Pawel

 

[alm]

I don't have any experience with R&S gear, but my next step would be, thinking this could be about a missing file, is to run Process Monitor and see what files it's trying to open, and which files it's not finding. You might need to track down an older version (maybe even FileMon) to run on Windows XP.

If I wanted to go even deeper, I might try my hand at debugging and disassembling the code near where the error message is generated, and go from there. But that could be a substantial reverse-engineering effort.

[YetAnotherTechie]

For some other R&S device i read a service manual a long time, can't remember what, the calibration data was stored on eeprom on each board and was transfered to disc if not there. Maybe this is what's happening to you, i have no idea how to do the oposite (read from disc-write to eeprom), but there might be other people that know.

[PawelC]

Thank you Guys for your advices. i will try to investigate both ways and let you know how is it going.
Right now i assume why i cannot rollback system back to factory defaults. I read in one of the SM for broadcast R&S stuff that after some version above 2.10 that "corruption data block in EEPROM" shows when you try to rollback firmware. In general when i erease files for attenuator or for calibration they are getting back after restart - but not those from IQOP3 module - i will be focuse on this specific module now.

Regards,
Pawel