Medmax,
Does the camera boot sequence get further with the SDCard fitted than when the SDCard was missing ?
Are you aware that an SDCard can have a bootable partition written to it, yet still not be seen as a boot device by the host ? A bootable SD card has a different low level identification than a standard SDCard. If the SDCard ID is not correct, it will not be seen as a bootable memory device.
The FPGA file is very important as it sets up the FPGA to suit the hardware configuration in which it is installed. The TiR3 is a very different camera to the Ti45. I would very much bout that the FPGA file is compatible between the two.
Your best chance is to find someone willing to let you clone a Ti45 SD card onto an industrial SDCard that is pre-configured to be a boot device. Finding someone willing to open their camera and send you such a valuable and easily corrupted memory card could be a problem however. Sorry the news is not better.
As to serial number locking, I am sorry that I cannot be certain of such a requirement in the Ti45. There is more memory in your Ti45 than just that on the SDCard. Memory is used to store the boot loader and essential information like the Microbolometer calibration files that are uniwpque to each camera. I just hope that the calibration data does not reside on the SDCard as basically that would be 'game over'
Have you considered finding a Thermal camera Hire company that you can hire a Ti45 from ? I will say no more on that route of exploration but I am aware of others who have accessed firmware on hire cameras to investigate content.
I hate to say it, but this may be an unrepairable camera. FirmwRe is not easy to come across and, as you know, it is essential for the camera. Without it, the camera is really just an embedded computer that has no idea of its purpose..... a paperweight. You may need to consider recovering any investment in it and selling the camera as a parts donor on eBay. At least you can describe the situation and someone with a Ti45 may be willing to risk buying it as spares or repair.
As a side note:
I have to wonder why the camera had been effectively 'erased' by removal of the SDCard. One common cause is data protection or classification. Many manufacturers now provide detail of where user created data is stored within an appliance and how it may be removed. I have seen specific IC numbers detailed so that they can be destroyed as part of a data purge operation at time of disposal. The type of memory is also detailed, either voltatile, with battery life support, or non-volatile, such as flash.
If your camera came from a company that has strict data purge requirements on disposed equipment, it is quite possible that the camera suffered a power related fault and before disposal had its flash SDCard removed to remove the customer data and effectively declassify it. Evidence of such an act is lack of care in opening and re-assembling an appliance. It is going for disposal so no one cares if it is roughly put back together with ribbons disconnected , screws missing and dust covers not re-fitted.
The old trick of smashing an appliance with a hammer blow through the screen is ineffective if the Flash memory remains intact. Hence the effort to remove the data repository from the appliance rather than going to the expense of appliance shredding by a specialist company.
An example of data sanitization protocols from Fluke is to be found here:
http://assets.fluke.com/manuals/9640A___mveng0000.pdfFraser