HP 8510C Operating System, corrupted disc - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: xerxes
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: April 23, 2020, 11:59:19 am
content: Hi,I recently bought a 11575J Firmware upgrade kit,the 85101-80114 security key works fine, not so muchthe Firmware Floppy Disc (81501-80116). There is a disc error and thePG_8510C File is corrupted.Could somebody be so nice and send me a copy of the content of this disc, or any8510C V7 operating system?with very kind regards,Gerhard.

author: jjoonathan
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 23, 2020, 02:44:52 pm
content: Ah, maybe we can help each other! I've got an 8510C with OS version 07.14 and a floppy drive and I would like to back up the OS. Unfortunately, I haven't figured out how. I'd be happy to share the image, naturally.// Sanity check (does the floppy drive work?)DISC > SETUP DISK > INITIALIZE DOS DISK > YESDISC > STORE > MORE > DATA > STORE FILE (implicitly chooses name "DD")insert floppy into USB floppy drive, plug into Windows or Ubuntudrive mounts, the file "DD" is visible and accessible and has datacool, everything as expected// Trying to save an OS image onto a DOS formatted disk fails:DISC > SETUP DISK > INITIALIZE DOS DISK > YESSYSTEM > MORE > SERVICE FUNCTIONS > TEST MENU > 20 RECORD PROGRAM DISC > STORE FILE==> DISC READ ERROR// Fine, there's an init option next to "RECORD PRORAM DISK", maybe it wants that format, and then I can send the raw floppy contents as an iso.SYSTEM > MORE > SERVICE FUNCTIONS > TEST MENU > 21 INITIALIZE DISCSYSTEM > MORE > SERVICE FUNCTIONS > TEST MENU > 20 RECORD PROGRAM DISC > STORE FILE==> DISC OPERATION COMPLETEinsert floppy into USB floppy drive, plug into Ubuntu computer(/dev/sdb appears)$ sudo dd if=/dev/sdb of=~/Desktop/8510C_fw.iso conv=sync,noerrordd: error reading '/dev/sdb': Input/output error0+0 records in0+0 records out0 bytes copieddd: error reading '/dev/sdb': Input/output error0+1 records in1+0 records out512 bytes copied(repeats)// Try on Windowsinsert floppy into USB floppy drive, plug into Windows computerwaitclick on A:The disk media is not recognized. It may not be formatted.I repeated the sanity check to ensure that the problem wasn't with the floppy or floppy drive. There's something on linux that's preventing me from doing a raw copy of the floppy using dd. Ideas?

author: jjoonathan
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 24, 2020, 11:22:52 pm
content: To clarify, if you can figure out how to write the OS to a floppy and then image that floppy on a computer -- mac, windows, or linux -- I'd be happy to try the procedure on my 8510C and post the image. I also have GPIB, if there's a way to do it over GPIB.

author: kn-dima
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: January 17, 2022, 07:35:31 am
content: You can use LIFUTIL to copy files from LIF disk to DOS disk and back, and to format LIF disk.https://www.keysight.com/us/en/lib/software-detail/computer-software/lifutil--reading-keysight-lif-disks-on-msdos-1000000786epsgsud.htmlI am trying to update 8510C program from v6 to v7.Found v7 floppy disk image at ko4bb site, but couldn't write the image to the floppy. I cant find a PC compartible with Dave's Dunfield Imagedisk.

author: kn-dima
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: February 07, 2022, 06:36:24 am
content: v7 firmware disk image from ko4bb site is unusable.(http://www.ko4bb.com/getsimple/index.php?id=download&file=HP_Agilent/HP_8510_Network_Analyzer/HP_8510C_Operating_System_Discs_EPROM_V6_and_V7.zip)Last tracks of both v6 and v7 disks was corrupted by the testfdc utility before the images was made, so disks cant be read by 8510C or lifutils.Can somebody help me with 8510C v7 program?

author: 4x6uj
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 10, 2023, 04:53:50 pm
content: Dima,Did you manage in the end to find a working floppy image for the 8510C?Thanks,Serge

author: kn-dima
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: July 10, 2023, 08:35:19 pm
content: You can download firmware there:https://groups.io/g/HP-Agilent-Keysight-equipment/files/All%20HP,%20Agilent%20and%20Keysight%20instruments%20in%20folders%20by%20part%20numbers/8000%20to%208999/8510C%20Vector%20Network%20Analyzer/Firmware