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Products => Test Equipment => Topic started by: Kronkulus on May 09, 2023, 09:56:06 pm

Title: USB Drives that work with equipment?
Post by: Kronkulus on May 09, 2023, 09:56:06 pm
Hey folks,

We have a lot of devices in our lab at work with USB ports meant to capture measurements or screenshots and whatnot. We cannot get a flash drive to consistently work on any of the devices. Some drives work with some, and not with others. Some drives don't work with any of them. Granted these are no name flash drives that have been in use for a while in our lab.

For example, just today I was trying to capture data from an E4980A LCR meter, and after 6 flash drives, I wasn't able to to get any to be recognized. Does anyone have one they recommend for compatibility with test equipment like that?

Also yes, the flash drives are all formatted with FAT32. That is supposed to be what's compatible according to the equipment manuals.

Thanks!
Title: Re: USB Drives that work with equipment?
Post by: isometrik on May 09, 2023, 10:26:48 pm
Could it be that the VUSB (5V) supplied by the test equipment is too whimpy (limited current output) ?

Maybe you could try inserting a powered USB hub between the test equipment and the flash drive, and see if there are any improvements ?
Title: Re: USB Drives that work with equipment?
Post by: Kim Christensen on May 09, 2023, 11:00:48 pm
From the manual:
Quote
Saving to USB memory fails
Some USB memory does not work on the E4980A/AL with firmware A.xx.xx.
See the section on “USB interface port” in data sheet.

Quote
USB Memory Notes
Attention should be given to the following points when using a USB memory
device with the E4980A/AL
• Use a USB memory whose interface is USB 1.1.
• Use a USB memory that is USB mass storage class compliant and
formatted with FAT16 or FAT32.
• Use the USB memory solely for the E4980A/AL. Otherwise, other data
previously saved in the USB memory could be erased.
• If you cannot save into or recall from the USB memory, use another USB
memory device.
• Keysight Technologies shall not be responsible for nor assume any liability
for data loss in your USB memory device after using it with the E4980A/AL.

Sounds like they are quite aware that some USB drives won't work...
Title: Re: USB Drives that work with equipment?
Post by: Kronkulus on May 10, 2023, 02:49:53 am
Yes that is specifically for the E4980A, but all of our tektronix scopes have the same issue. As well as any of the other equipment I've tried to pull data from. It's always a hassle to find a drive that works with the device. Just trying to see if I can cut out some frustration in my day to day.
Title: Re: USB Drives that work with equipment?
Post by: Someone on May 10, 2023, 03:22:44 am
Quote from: Kronkulus on May 10, 2023, 02:49:53 am
Yes that is specifically for the E4980A, but all of our tektronix scopes have the same issue. As well as any of the other equipment I've tried to pull data from. It's always a hassle to find a drive that works with the device. Just trying to see if I can cut out some frustration in my day to day.
a) have a drive of the same vintage as the device
b) format with MBR and a single FAT16/32 partition

Step a) usually isn't needed as most devices will fall back into backward/legacy support modes. Its step b) that is mostly the problem since various OSs/device manufacturers want "extras" and add things which are incompatible.
Title: Re: USB Drives that work with equipment?
Post by: nctnico on May 10, 2023, 08:33:18 am
First: buy quality brand USB sticks. Like Kingston. I never have issues with the A brand USB sticks. They just work in any equipment as long as they are formatted as FAT32
Title: Re: USB Drives that work with equipment?
Post by: Fungus on May 10, 2023, 10:34:33 am
Quote from: nctnico on May 10, 2023, 08:33:18 am
First: buy quality brand USB sticks. Like Kingston. I never have issues with the A brand USB sticks. They just work in any equipment as long as they are formatted as FAT32

Nah, that won't be it.

It will be the boot sector or something. Windows doesn't do the boot sector when it formats so if it comes with a "wrong" boot sector then formatting will do nothing. For that you need diskpart.

I have no idea what Macs do but it's probably worse.
Title: Re: USB Drives that work with equipment?
Post by: kripton2035 on May 10, 2023, 11:56:06 am
on old devices, the SIZE of the usb stick matters.
if you buy recent usb drives, they will be at least 2GB or more
pretty sure your problem comes from the size. can you try some 1GB or less usb drive ? formatted as FAT32 and one partition and MBR
it should work
you could also try if you haven't to format a >2GB usb stick with the first partition of less than 1GB.
some old device simply can't recognize more than 2GB soze usb sticks.
also it says in the manual USB 1.1. but it will be very difficult to get one of these today.
good luck.
Title: Re: USB Drives that work with equipment?
Post by: tszaboo on May 10, 2023, 12:12:16 pm
Quote from: kripton2035 on May 10, 2023, 11:56:06 am
on old devices, the SIZE of the usb stick matters.
if you buy recent usb drives, they will be at least 2GB or more
pretty sure your problem comes from the size. can you try some 1GB or less usb drive ? formatted as FAT32 and one partition and MBR
it should work
you could also try if you haven't to format a >2GB usb stick with the first partition of less than 1GB.
some old device simply can't recognize more than 2GB soze usb sticks.
also it says in the manual USB 1.1. but it will be very difficult to get one of these today.
good luck.
Yes, this.  I found 4GB USB 2.0, drives, formatted to FAT32 has the widest compatibility.
I haven't tried partitions, because once you see a drive work, just order half a dozen and you are set. I'm personally actually using swag drive for these things.
Title: Re: USB Drives that work with equipment?
Post by: Fungus on May 10, 2023, 12:38:15 pm
Quote from: tszaboo on May 10, 2023, 12:12:16 pm
Yes, this.  I found 4GB USB 2.0, drives, formatted to FAT32 has the widest compatibility.
I haven't tried partitions

4Gb would probably give smaller cluster sizes so that might be it, too. Partitioning would do the same thing.

What you need is somebody with a working stick to show their cluster size with chkdisk (or equivalent).

eg.
Code: [Select]

C:\WINDOWS\system32>chkdsk u:
The type of the file system is FAT32.

...
        4,096 bytes in each allocation unit.
      502,817 total allocation units on disk.
      256,379 allocation units available on disk.

Me? I just start the ftp server on my Micsig and access the files/screenshots directly over the built-in WiFi.  :P
Title: Re: USB Drives that work with equipment?
Post by: thm_w on May 10, 2023, 10:48:37 pm
Quote from: nctnico on May 10, 2023, 08:33:18 am
First: buy quality brand USB sticks. Like Kingston. I never have issues with the A brand USB sticks. They just work in any equipment as long as they are formatted as FAT32

For computer use and modern equipment, sure.
For arcane obsolete electronics? not really.

Used to use Kingston drives (1,000's), failures were high (in terms of industrial use), changed to SLC. You can find some models on digikey: https://www.digikey.ca/en/products/filter/usb-flash-drives/504 (https://www.digikey.ca/en/products/filter/usb-flash-drives/504)
Will they work with old devices? Maybe, as they are available in smaller sizes, but there is no guarantee.