Ok everyone. A big update! (LeCroy WaveRunner 6100)
I installed xstream software version 6.5.0.5 (the latest I could find on lecroy) and the scope works! It lives again! I realized that the intel graphics utility (that came with the latest video driver) allowed me to select external video, internal video or both. I think the LCD wasn't working because I had "external" video selected.
The scope works. A few things I noticed. First was the message about the missing calibration data (I had not yet restored those files). Secondly, when the xstream started up, I was seeing a message about missing MASK database.
After taking another image of the SSD, I then upgraded to 8.1.0.1 as recommended. Now, the mask database error has gone away and the calibration message is still there.
I then restored the zip file that was originally created after backing up "critical files" from the scope under win2k before I killed the HD. It appears that the scope did do something. If I attempt to restore the files with the zip file not present where the scope expects it, it complains. But when I do a restore with the zip file there, it does not complain. But strangely, there is absolutely no message, no acknowledgement that the scope successfully imported these critical files. This is very unusual. I would have expected a "FILES RESTORED" message or something.
So I am not certain but I think they imported. One other reason I believe they restored properly is that I can see all of my software options listed. Unfortunately, I forgot to check this before I did the restore. Had I done that I would have known 10000% that the files imported properly.
However, as Albertr reported previously, the message when the scope starts up it
still complains about the calibration data. I know that Albertr solved the problem by installing win7 which, unfortunately, is not an option for me with this motherboard. When xstream starts up and gives this message about the calibration data, it does give me the option to "don't display this message again" effectively suppressing the message. I wonder if the correct thing to do would be to allow it to suppress this error. And I wonder, if I had paid lecroy to upgrade me to XP (if such a thing was ever possible) if they would have done the same thing. Restore the critical files and then turn off the message. Kind of like the "service light" on your car. After the service has been performed, the light must be manually turned off by the technician. I wonder if this is the same case.
Let me review the beginning of this saga. The scope worked fine, but I found the xstream UI sluggish. I would click on a menu option and it would take 1/2 second to 1 second for the screen/menu/options to appear. In addition, browsing the web was impossibly slow. Even with chrome (which I generally find speedy).
Here are the list of upgrades I performed:
Hardware Upgrades1.6 GHz Celeron --> 3.06 GHz Pentium 4
512MB RAM --> 2GB RAM
36 GB IDE HD --> 60 GB IDE/PATA SSD
CDROM Drive --> DVD-RW Drive
Much quieter and better CPU fan (I should have replaced the fans on the acquisition board too, but oh well).
Software UpgradesWindows 2000 --> Windows XP Pro
X-Stream 6.3.x.x --> X-Stream 6.5.0.5 --> X-Stream 8.1.0.1
All calibration data and other critical data restored
And now I'll tell you my impressions.
This scope now FLIES! I can't believe how responsive it is! It is a real dream. I must say, I was not expecting a lot of performance improvement. Maybe a little. I have never had much luck upgrading a system and seeing real improvement in speed. It seems as soon as you upgrade the hardware, the software upgrades (gets slower) to counteract any improvement in the hardware
I am very, very happy. Here is a picture of the results in the utilities screen..
So what is next? Here are the next things I will tackle.
1. I'd like to try to add a 1Gbps ethernet card. I think it might make using WaveStudio faster. Although it is possible that the PCI bus speed might be the limiting factor here. The scope has a small window at the rear for the GPIB connector (which mine does not have). I am hoping that the ethernet card RJ45 port will line up with this little window.
2. Enable Hyper Threading. I will use the upgraded keyboard drivers for XP that will hopefully allow me to use HT which this new P4 supports. I have also read up about how to enable XP to see the second logical core since it normally won't see it once it installs with only one core (in addition to enabling it in bios). There are ways to do it and I'll try them.
All in all, this upgrade was extremely successful. A big thank you to everyone who has helped me here. DXL, Albertr, and Converter.
As a side note, I just acquired a LeCroy HDO 4024. I will be very curious to see how it performs. Having been a little emboldened doing this upgrade to the WR6100, I wonder if I will be foolish enough to try to upgrade the HDO too!
Eugene