Preventing Hard Disk Drive Problems

The hard drive is divided into three partitions:

The C: partition contains the Windows operating system (OS) and the PXB firmware installed by Agilent Technologies. It is an open system wherein the installation of additional software is permitted.

The installation and use of other software is not warranted, and may interfere with the operation of the PXB firmware. If a PXB repair is ever needed, the Agilent version (OS and PXB firmware) of the C: partition is the only part that is restored by the Agilent Recovery System Procedure. You will need to reload any other software that you have added in the PXB.

The D: partition is reserved for data storage. The User Accounts that are configured by Agilent Technologies have their My Documents folder mapped to the D: partition. This allows you to back up user-created waveforms or user-defined configurations on an external device to restore the data if you ever need to replace the hard drive.
The E: partition is reserved for Agilent Technologies' use and contains the self test data and the log files of the last self test performed.

Do not change or overwrite the files on this drive. This could cause your instrument to not meet specification or, in the worst case, stop functioning correctly. Do not use this drive for data storage.

If you are experiencing problems with your PXB's hard disk drive (HDD), see Recovering from Hard Disk Drive Problems. These problems are usually preventable, and in many cases, recoverable. Following the tips below could save you from costly HDD repairs.

The Microsoft Windows operating system has been modified and optimized by Agilent to improve the performance of the PXB.

Do not modify or reconfigure the operating system.
Do not install a standard version of the Windows operating system on the PXB.
Do not change advanced performance settings or group policies.
Do not add or delete any HDD partitions on the PXB.
Do not delete the Agilent user account.
Do not modify any of the Agilent firmware registry entries.

Shut Down the PXB Properly

Remove AC power from the PXB only when the Power LED is yellow (in Shutdown mode). Removing power while the LED is green may permanently damage the instrument. The LED will remain yellow for several seconds after the power cord has been removed. Learn more about powering the PXB On and Off.

Do Not Change HDD Power Options Settings

The PXB has been sent from the factory with its HDD set to shut down after three minutes of inactivity. To minimize HDD failures, do not change the HDD Power Option's setting.

Run Error-Checking and Disk Defragmenter Utilities Routinely

These programs recover HDD space that is lost from unexpected power shutdowns. See Error Checking and Disk Defragmenter Utilities.

Install Antivirus Protection

The PXB does not have antivirus protection installed when shipped. Use of an antivirus program is strongly recommended if you intend to connect the instrument to the Internet. The use of a firewall could also help to protect the PXB from viruses.

Install Windows Critical Updates

The PXB is shipped with the latest service packs and critical updates that were available at the time that the instrument was manufactured. We recommend that you maintain the latest available protection for your PXB by automatically accepting and installing the latest critical security patches from the Microsoft Windows Update website: http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com.

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