Windows OS

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Windows OS

CERTIFICATE of AUTHENTICITY

The Windows "Proof of License / Certificate of Authenticity" sticker is attached to the instrument's rear panel. This sticker indicates that a valid copy of Windows is installed on the instrument.Supp

On your DCA-X, you can access Windows just as you would on your personal computer. Use Windows to manage files and folders, add, remove, and setup printing, configure networking, and install additional applications. If the DCA-X is connected to a network, it is recommended that you keep Windows updated using the Control Panel's Automatic Update feature. Some firewall applications might block SICL/LAN communications.

If the DCA-X is mounted in a rack or cabinet, do not use the system power switch to disconnect power from the instrument. Instead, use the DCA-X front-panel power switch. Using the system power switch may corrupt the Windows registry requiring you to perform the recovery procedure to restore normal operation to the DCA-X.

Do Not Change These Windows Settings

There are many Windows system settings that can be changed to suit your own personal preferences. However, there are some system settings that you should avoid changing because they will interfere with the proper operation of the instrument.

  • Do not change the Power Options. The Power Plan should be set to the highest performance plan.

User Accounts

Windows is configured with the following two user accounts: dca-admin and dca-service. Both accounts are password protected. The dca-admin account is for customer use and has the following password: N1000A.

The password for dca-service is only provided for factory technicians. This account is not customer accessible.

User Account Administration

Auto-Logon

Auto-logon is disabled/off by default on the N1000A and N1002A instruments, but this can be changed so that a login is required when Windows restarts. To require a login,

  1. Click the search icon in the Windows taskbar.
  2. Enter Run.
  3. In the displayed dialog, enter "control userpasswords2".
  4. Click OK.
  5. In the dialog, locate the Users must enter a user name and password... field. Select this field and click OK. This selection forces the instrument to require a login. Contact your systems administrator for further information.

Passwords

You can change the instrument account passwords to unique, strong passwords. To change the password of an account, press ctrl-alt-delete and select Change a password.

Changing the password on the service account dca-service may eliminate the ability of Keysight Customer Support personnel to assist with instrument issues. If your changed login information is lost, a factory image recovery may need to be performed on the C: drive of the instrument for proper operation to be restored.

Adding a User Account

To add a user,

  1. Click Start > Computer Management > Local Users and Groups > Users.
  2. Right click on New User and set the username and password.

Attempting to add a user account via Settings > Accounts > Family & other users will not be able to add a user on N1000A instruments running Windows 10 version 1809, and a false “password complexity error” will be given.

To check which Windows 10 version is running on your instrument:

  1. Click the search icon in the Windows taskbar.
  2. Enter Run.
  3. In the displayed dialog, enter Winver.

Deleting a User Account

Deleting the default accounts dca-admin or dca-service may eliminate the ability of Keysight Customer Support personnel to assist with instrument issues. If your changed login information is lost, a factory image recovery may need to be performed on the C: drive of the instrument for proper operation to be restored.

To delete a User Account:

  1. Click Computer Management > Local Users and Groups > Users.
  2. Right-click on the account name and select Delete.

Installing Windows Applications

Although the DCA-X is an instrument and not a personal computer, the operating system is accessible. This makes it possible for you to install applications such as virus protection software. If the performance of the FlexDCA application decreases while running other applications, you may need to close those applications that are demanding processor resources. It is also suggested that you schedule automatic virus scans for times when you are not making measurements.

If you install an application, it is possible that the application may not run properly. Installing an application may also disrupt the FlexDCA application, which may require you to recover the FlexDCA application.

If you install an application, select the D: drive for installation, to preserve space on the C: drive for the Windows Operation System updates.

Before installing any software, you should exit the FlexDCA application. Click File > Exit.

Screen Saver

By using the screen saver, you can extend the life of the display's backlight. This is useful if you are using remote measurements or leaving the instrument unattended for long periods of time. To use the Windows 10 screen saver:

  1. Click Settings > System > Power & Sleep.
  2. Select the duration in the When plugged in, turn off after dropdown menu (the default is Never).
  3. To reactivate the screen:
    • touch the display screen
    • move the mouse (if applicable)

Networking, Printing, and Files

All network configuration tasks (including printing and file sharing) are performed directly from Windows. From Windows, you can configure networking for your DCA-X as well as printing for networked printers. You can also share DCA-X folders with computers in your network making file transfers easy. The following information will help you to learn about the Windows. For detailed information, refer to the many excellent books available at your local bookstore.

Because the network setup is different for every company, always have your company's network administrator configure your instrument for your network. This includes setting up the appropriate client, protocol, and configuration for your local area network (LAN) as well as setting up printing and file sharing.

  1. Click File > Exit to close the DCA-X application.
  2. Click Start to view Windows Administrator.
  3. Click Help and Support to get detailed information.
  4. Click Search to locate files, folders, and computers.
  5. Click Printers and Faxes to install a print driver. For printers with Plug and Play capability, this will not be necessary as Windows will automatically recognize and install the printer.
  6. Click My Computer to set up a network connection, map a network drive, or share an DCA-X folder. You can share any folder on the USER (D:) drive.

Screen/Touch Calibration

Click here to learn how to calibrate the screen for touch accuracy.

Supplied Windows Versions

Supplied Windows Versions
Item Windows
N1000A Microsoft Windows 10 Enterprise 2016 LTSB version 1607 (before Nov 2022)
Microsoft Windows 10 Enterprise 2019 LTSC version 1809 (after Nov 2022)
86100D 1
MY5415 and Above Microsoft Windows Embedded Standard 7 (WES7 64 bit)
Below MY5415 Microsoft Windows XP Pro

86100D instruments may have been upgraded from WinXP to Win7 or Win10, and from Win7 to Win10.