Agilent Infiniium Checksum Error

[Wallace Gasiewicz]

I did try a search for this, but did not find anything helpful. .My 54820 boots to a screen that states there is a checksum error and press F1 to boot. Boots just fine after this. This only occurs after the unit has been OFF for a few hours. If I turn it off and back on a few min later the unit works fine.
I imagine this means there is a battery dead somewhere. Probably on motherboard.
Before I go poking around does anyone know what the problem is?

[m k]

My guess is that the problem is what you described.
After turning power off it takes a moment before memory becomes corrupted.
On next boot computer part then rewrite default values to that memory, normal procedure.
It has been quite possible for quite some time that PC doesn't have any really unknown parts.

It's also possible that the machine has a rechargeable battery that has its better days long gone.
Though Dallas clock chip with integrated coin cells has been popular, but its usage has been beyond what regular PC does.

[stretchyman]

 Replace the bios battery.

[Wallace Gasiewicz]

Thanks for reply. I replaced the battery and all is well.  The old battery reads 1.3 Volts rather than 3.3 of the new one .   I think some of these units may have mother boards with  Dallas Chips?  I really do not know. I believe there are different mother boards and different power supplies in various Agilent units.

[bostonman]

I have a 54831M and not sure of the differences.

Mine has a CMOS battery and believe a battery (with solder terminals) on one of the boards (maybe the video board).

I don't remember seeing a Dallas EEPROM, but, due to it being mentioned in this thread, thinking that maybe I have seen one; or a similar chip.

If your scope is similar to mine, the bottom board is the Acquisition Board and that doesn't contain any batteries. Any batteries would be on the mother board and the boards plugged into the mother board.

[stretchyman]

Like most 'Winstruments: is just a PC motherboard with A/Ds to do the work.

The bios battery will be on the motherboard.

J.

[Wallace Gasiewicz]

The battery I replaced was a big coin cell on the motherboard. I had to remove one of the plug in boards to get to it.  It just snaps in.

[bostonman]

Yes... I don't remember which board, but remember having to remove one to access the battery.

Look on the boards too, I believe one is on there as well. Mine measured fine, so I didn't bother replacing because I believe it's soldered.