Document Number: APL-00207 Updated 3/2/2015 Rev-A How to Upgrade NIC OS to Windows Embedded Standard 7 NIC units built between October 2010 and February 2015 were shipped with Windows Embedded Standard (2009). Microsoft announced that this operating system s product lifecycle would not end until January 8, 2019. However, because this Operating System was based an embedded version of the commercially available Windows XP platform, whose product lifecycle ended in April of 2014, many Digital Lightwave customers expressed concerns about using their NIC units with a Windows XP based Operating System. Therefore, as of February 2015, NIC units purchased between October 2010 and February 2015, containing the System Controller 3 module, are now eligible for upgrade to Microsoft s Windows Embedded Standard 7 operating system. Overview: This document describes how to upgrade the Microsoft Operating System in a NIC unit from Windows Embedded Standard (2009) to Windows Embedded Standard 7 (a.k.a. Windows 7 Embedded). The OS upgrade process involves replacing the System Controllers compact flash card System Drive, which will be provided by Digital Lightwave, followed by upgrading the software on the unit s Circuit Pack(s). The System Drive contains the Windows Operating System, as well as the Graphical User Interface (GUI) needed for the specified Feature Set software version. Eligibility: Only NIC units containing a System Controller 3 module (as pictured below with three USB ports) may be eligible for field upgrade to Windows Embedded Standard 7 Operating System System Controller 3 Module Face Plate NIC units built prior to October 2010, containing a System Controller 2 module (as pictured below with one USB port), will need a System Controller 3 module hardware upgrade (as well as a new chassis upgrade) in order to support the Windows Embedded Standard 7 Operating System System Controller 2 Module Face Plate New NIC units built after January 2015 are automatically shipped with Microsoft s Windows Embedded Standard 7 Operating System. Copyright 2015 Digital Lightwave, Inc. 1 of 5
Warning: The compact flash System Drive not only contains the NIC test set s Operating System and Graphical User Interface software, it also contains all user-saved test results, settings and other saved data files. Those saved data files will no longer be available on the NIC unit after the current System Drive has been replaced. Tools Required: A replacement compact flash System Drive (provided by Digital Lightwave), preloaded with the Windows 7 Embedded OS; contact Digital Lightwave Technical Support for details Software Upgrade CD-ROM, with the same Feature Set as loaded on the System Drive One pair of steel tweezers whose tips can be spread open to at least 43 mm (1.7 ), with the tips angled slightly inward Two small flat-head screwdrivers whose heads are 3.3 mm (0.13 ) wide, can be used as an alternate to the tweezers For NIC EP units, an External VGA Monitor and a USB mouse needs to be connected during the reboot Procedure: Step 1 Remove existing System Drive: 1) To remove the compact flash System Drive, the test set must be turned off. 2) Use the tweezers or the two small flat-head screwdrivers to clamp onto the System Drive and lift it out of the socket by putting inward pressure on the two edges of the card when lifting it up. For NIC EP units, put upward pressure on the card when lifting it out. Step 2 Inserting new System Drive: 1) To insert the replacement compact flash System Drive, the test set must be turned off. 2) Orient the replacement 4GB compact flash System Drive so the connector holes are facing toward the NIC and the Green, Blue and White Swissbit Label is facing away from you, towards the back of the unit. Copyright 2015 Digital Lightwave, Inc. 2 of 5
For rack-mounted NIC EP units, the Swissbit Label should be facing upward. The barcode side of the label should face the front of the NIC (facing down for NIC EP units). 3) While holding on to the top edge of the card, apply a small amount of pressure on the card as if pushing the top of the card towards the back of the unit (top for NIC EP), so that it stays pressed up against the PCB during the installation process. a) If this light pressure is not applied, the card can easily fall into the slot without engaging the compact flash connector. 4) While the compact flash System Drive is being inserted, it will be able to rock back and forth which is why you are able to apply pressure to it. Once the card actually engages into connector pins, the card will not easily rock back and forth, and then downward pressure (inward pressure for NIC EP) needs to be applied to fully insert the card into the slot. a) Note that the card is recessed slightly, so a small screwdriver or other blunt instrument may be required to push the card fully into the slot. 5) Note: For portable NIC units, if the compact flash card happens to fall into the slot (behind the connector pins), just turn the unit upside down and gently shake it until the card falls back out. Since NIC EP units are essentially laying facedown, the chances of the card falling into the slot are minimal. However, if the card is pushed into the slot above the connector pins, then it may need to be removed from the rack mount in order to shake the card back out of the slot. Reboot: 1) Turn the NIC unit back on. 2) The initial reboot time will be slightly longer than normal, during which time several messages will appear on the screen as the Windows 7 OS automatically adapts to the new system. Windows will automatically reboot a second time, and continue to update settings. 3) Please be patient and do not power cycle the unit, nor leave the unit unattended during the reboot process. 4) Eventually you will be prompted to Calibrate the touch screen. a) Do not walk away from the unit during this reboot process, or you will miss this opportunity to calibrate the touch screen. b) If you do miss the touch screen calibration, then use a USB mouse to continue, and Calibrate the touch screen from the System tab when the GUI becomes available. c) For NIC EP units, which do not have a touchscreen, simply wait about one minute for the touch screen Calibration to time out. 5) When the touch screen calibration appears, use your finger or a touchscreen stylus to press and hold your pointing device as close to the 25 target areas (the red dot in the center of a blue-cross) as possible. 6) The blue-cross icon changes to a green check icon when the calibration for that specific target is complete. 7) Press Accept to complete the calibration process. 8) The system is initializing, please wait! message appears, and the unit will then continue to load the Graphical User Interface (GUI). Copyright 2015 Digital Lightwave, Inc. 3 of 5
Upgrade the Circuit Pack Software: 1) When the GUI appears, the Circuit Packs may not work correctly if there is a software mismatch between the GUI version on the new System Drive, and the software version previously loaded on the Circuit Packs. 2) In order to upgrade the software on the Circuit Packs to match the Feature Set version on the GUI, you will need to configure the system s I/O settings with an IP Address that can be accessed by your PC. 3) Select the System tab on the GUI, and choose I/O settings and Ethernet. 4) Configure the unit s IP Address, Subnet Mask and Router (if needed). 5) You will need to reboot the NIC unit one more time if you have made any changes to the I/O settings. Be sure to use the Reboot option at the bottom of the I/O Settings window instead of cycling the power switch. 6) Insert the CD-ROM that came with the compact flash card. The Digital Lightwave software application utility should launch automatically. a) If the utility does not launce, browse the CD-ROM folder and double-click on DliInstall.exe. 7) Select Upgrade NIC Software, and click the Install button to launce the Software Upgrade utility. 8) When the Software Upgrade utility opens, enter the NIC unit s IP Address, and click Ok. 9) Click the Upgrade button on the toolbar, and wait for the upgrade to finish, which should take about 5 minutes or so. 10) When the upgrade is done, click the Reboot button to reboot the NIC. Copyright 2015 Digital Lightwave, Inc. 4 of 5
Windows 7 License Sticker: 1) Included with the Windows 7 OS System Drive is a Windows Embedded Standard 7 (WS7E) license key sticker. 2) Each Windows 7 license key is registered to a specific NIC unit, based on the unit s unique Serial Number. For this reason, it is very important that you attach the supplied Windows 7 license key to the NIC unit being upgraded to Windows 7. a) Note: The Windows license key sticker on new NIC and NIC Plus units is attached to the inner chassis. 3) Before attaching the license key sticker, clean the area where the license key sticker will be attached with isopropyl alcohol. A pre-saturated isopropyl alcohol cleaning wipe is recommended. 4) Please attach the Windows 7 license key to the area specified below, for the unit type being upgraded. NIC Plus NIC & NIC BP NIC EP Finish: 1) That s it! The compact flash System Drive has been replace with Windows 7 OS, and the unit s software has been fully upgraded to the latest Feature Set release. 2) Verify that the touch screen has been calibrated and is working properly. 3) Verify that all of the Circuit Pack tabs are being displayed and working correctly. 4) To remotely connect to this unit via Ethernet, use the same CD-ROM to install the newest version of the DLI Remote Client software application; and verify that you are able to successfully remote to the NIC unit. 5) However, if you have any questions, or if you had any problems during this process or need any help along the way, please call DLI Customer Tech Support at 1-877-929-4357, or email to support@lightwave.com. Copyright 2015 Digital Lightwave, Inc. 5 of 5