● Covered by 1 source · 1 reportLow impact1 neutral
Refurbishing a Tektronix TDS7104 Oscilloscope
Key points
- Tektronix TDS7104 oscilloscope acquired with dim screen and CMOS error.
- Refurbishment included hard drive imaging and CR2032 battery replacement.
- Windows 2000 Pro was reinstalled with specific drivers and firmware.
- The oscilloscope was restored to working condition, including license re-enablement.
Acquisition and Initial Assessment
A Tektronix TDS7104 oscilloscope was purchased at a flea market for $300. The unit was in good cosmetic condition but presented issues upon closer inspection. Initially, it powered on and booted into the scope application, but the screen was dim. A subsequent power-up attempt resulted in a BIOS screen freeze due to a CMOS battery error.
TDS7104 Specifications
The TDS7104 is a 4-channel oscilloscope featuring a 1 GHz bandwidth and a maximum sample rate of 10 Gs/s when using a single channel. Sample rates decrease to 5 Gs/s for two channels and 2.5 Gs/s for three or four channels. This model, weighing 39 pounds, uses BNC connectors, distinguishing it from more advanced TDS7xxx models that utilize custom Tektronix connectors.
Refurbishment Process
The refurbishment involved several steps to address the identified problems. This included making an image of the existing hard drive, replacing the CR2032 backup battery to resolve the CMOS error and improve display brightness, and reinstalling the operating system. Windows 2000 Pro was chosen for reinstallation, requiring specific drivers, Tektronix firmware, and TekFonts to be set up. An attempt to switch to an SSD was unsuccessful, leading to the reinstallation of the original hard drive with the new OS.
Restoration and Final Steps
After the operating system and necessary software were installed, the oscilloscope was confirmed to be working. The existing license was re-enabled, and the unit underwent a final cleaning. The process successfully restored the Tektronix TDS7104 to full operational status, demonstrating the viability of refurbishing older, high-specification test equipment.
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Reporting from
A Tektronix TDS7104 oscilloscope, purchased at a flea market, was refurbished to address issues including a dim screen and a CMOS battery error. The process involved hard drive imaging, battery replacement, operating system reinstallation, and driver setup to restore full functionality. This refurbishment demonstrates the steps required to bring older, high-end test equipment back into working order.