Author Topic: Activate options for TDS5xx,6xx,7xx C/D, using floppy!!  (Read 2102 times)

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Offline silence00Topic starter

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Activate options for TDS5xx,6xx,7xx C/D, using floppy!!
« on: August 28, 2019, 10:32:24 am »
Many posts have talked using GPIB to activate the options for Tektronix TDS500/600/700 scopes. But playing with GPIB is not very easy (the right card, driver, old computer, settings, and cost) for me.
Recently, during using the 'TDS500/600/700 NVRAM floppy backup and restore tool' to backup the NVRAM for my TDS540C, I found a way to activate the options by using this tool to write the revised backup to NVRAM through floppy. Quite easy! So, post it here, hope can help the TDS owners who is interest in this.

Note: The 'TDS500/600/700 NVRAM floppy backup and restore tool' is developed by flyte, posted at 'https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/tektronix-tds500600700-nvram-floppy-dump-tool/'. Thanks flyte for developed this great tool!

How to activate the option by floppy:

When the NVRAM was dumped, use a hex editor to open it. Then refer to below table, to change the related bit from 00 to 01, save. Use floppy to write it back, restart the TDS, the option will be enabled.

NVRAM Addr    Addr in Hex Editor  Value  Option on/off  Option
0400081D                0000081D        00   Off       TV Trigger
0400081F                0000081F        01   On       Option 1M
04000821                00000821         00   Off       N/A
04000823               00000823        01   On           Option 13
04000825                00000825        01   On           Option 1F
04000827                00000827        01   On           Option 2F
04000829                00000829        00   Off           N/A
0400082B                0000082B        01   On           Option 2C
0400082D                0000082D        00   Off           Option 3C
0400082F                0000082F        00   Off           Option 4C
04000831                00000831        00   Off           Option 2M

Please note, some option need hardware to be installed (TV trig, 13, 3C, 4C, 2M). Option will not appear if you not install them.

Much more easy than GPIB process, right?  Have fun!
 
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Offline Tantratron

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Re: Activate options for TDS5xx,6xx,7xx C/D, using floppy!!
« Reply #1 on: December 25, 2019, 09:16:22 am »
Two topics in response to the initial post.

To activate options seems not too difficult now, in my case using a NI-GPIB-USB-HS interface connected to my Macintosh and TDS540C
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/repair/gpib-usb-control-between-macbook-air-(macintosh)-and-tds540c/

However I'm still on my learning curve to see if possible to dump and reload the NVRAM via GPIB.

In the meantime, would it be possible to know exact steps to copy one TDS540C nvram content to another TDS540C nvram (I've two of these) only through the floppy disk drive - 1.44Meg disk

Happy New Year
 

Offline grabdexter

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Re: Activate options for TDS5xx,6xx,7xx C/D, using floppy!!
« Reply #2 on: June 17, 2020, 07:54:27 am »
I have the NVRAM image from a TDS544A with options 1M and 2F. I'm not sure what FW version, or how close the options bits are to the TDS540.



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Offline eKretz

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Re: Activate options for TDS5xx,6xx,7xx C/D, using floppy!!
« Reply #3 on: October 12, 2020, 06:00:18 pm »
I used this method the other day to add option 2C to my TDS754D, worked just fine. I did need to flip the NVRAM protect switch to get it to write correctly. Check the other thread if you have any confusion about how to read and write to the NVRAM via floppy. It's all laid out in there and the info file in the ZIP from flyte (who is awesome!)
« Last Edit: October 12, 2020, 06:02:05 pm by eKretz »
 

Offline flistereight

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Re: Activate options for TDS5xx,6xx,7xx C/D, using floppy!!
« Reply #4 on: February 12, 2021, 02:01:48 pm »
I have the NVRAM image from a TDS544A with options 1M and 2F. I'm not sure what FW version, or how close the options bits are to the TDS540.

Offline noxplayer

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Re: Activate options for TDS5xx,6xx,7xx C/D, using floppy!!
« Reply #5 on: March 17, 2021, 05:14:25 am »
However I'm still on my learning curve to see if possible to dump and reload the NVRAM via GPIB.
« Last Edit: January 27, 2022, 02:43:19 am by Halcyon »
 

Offline ajakvid

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Re: Activate options for TDS5xx,6xx,7xx C/D, using floppy!!
« Reply #6 on: January 26, 2022, 08:04:35 am »
Check the other thread if you have any confusion about how to read and write to the NVRAM via floppy.


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