R E L E A S E N O T E S Waters ACQUITY QDa Instrument Component Software version 1.54 The ACQUITY QDa Detector is a single-quadrupole mass detector. The instrument component software (ICS) adds the capability of controlling the instrument by means of Waters' Empower software. These release notes explain important information about the system and software requirements as well as known defects in this release. System and software requirements... 2 Operating system... 2 Client and server compatibility... 2 Driver pack compatibility... 3 Empower Workstation and LAC/E 32 support... 3 Installing the ACQUITY QDa ICS... 3 Verifying the installation... 4 Uninstalling the ICS... 4 System considerations... 4 Updates in version 1.54... 5 Issues fixed in this release... 5 Fixed in version 1.54... 5 Fixed in version 1.53... 5 Fixed in version 1.52... 7 Fixed in version 1.51... 7 Known issues in this release... 8 Installation... 8 Console... 8 Instrument and instrument system management... 9 Acquisition... 10 Anti-virus considerations... 11 Empower, QDa, Waters, and "THE SCIENCE OF WHAT'S POSSIBLE." are registered trademarks of Waters Corporation. LAC/E 32 is a trademark of Waters Corporation. All other trademarks are the sole property of their respective owners. Copyright 2016 Waters Corporation *716004090* *Rev.K* Page 1 of 12
Compliance recommendations... 11 Instrument update classification (minor update)... 11 Instrument requalification options after software/firmware change... 11 Requalification with Waters' Total Assurance Plans... 11 Contact Waters Technical Service... 12 System and software requirements The ACQUITY QDa ICS is supported by Empower 2, FR5 and later, and all versions of Empower 3. See also: The Empower 2 and Empower 3 release notes for further details about supported operating systems, service packs, hot fixes, and Internet Explorer compatibility. Operating system The following table lists the application software, feature release, and operating systems required for use with the ACQUITY QDa ICS. In this table, Windows XP means Microsoft Windows XP Professional and Windows 7 means Microsoft Windows 7 Professional; SP means service pack, and FR means feature release. Application software Minimum FR Operating system Empower 2 FR5 Windows XP SP3, 32-bit Empower 3 Supports all feature releases Windows 7, 64-bit Windows XP SP3, 32-bit Client and server compatibility The client and server applications must be version 1.53 or version 1.54. See the table below for compatible versions. The LAC/E must have version 1.54 installed in order to have the issues fixed in this release. The issues fixed in version 1.54 are listed on page 5. Citrix LAC/E 1.53 1.54 1.54 1.53 1.54 1.54 Page 2 of 12
Driver pack compatibility Requirement: The client and server must have the same version. The following driver packs are compatible with version 1.54: ACQUITY UPLC Systems June 2011 Driver Pack (DP3) ACQUITY UPC 2 System May 2014 Driver Pack ACQUITY Arc Driver Pack version 1.65 Waters Driver Pack 4 (DP4) through DP4 Supplemental Release 1 (DP4 SR1) See also: Driver Pack 4 Installation and Configuration Guide (part number 715004344). Empower Workstation and LAC/E 32 support An Empower Workstation or LAC/E 32 can support four systems, where a total of one ACQUITY QDa Detector and one PDA detector are recommended. Installing the ACQUITY QDa ICS Recommendation: Back up all of your Empower projects, library information, and databases before installing this software. In addition to providing software for the QDa, this driver pack includes software for the isocratic solvent manager (ISM). The ACQUITY QDa ICS can be upgraded to version 1.54 from any previous version of ICS or firmware. You can install this software release from the software DVD. Alternatively, if you have a support plan, you can download the software from the Waters Web site. To do so, visit http://www.waters.com/waters/home.htm, and click Services & Support > Support > Software Downloads. To install ACQUITY QDa ICS: 1. Save all data, exit all applications, and then restart the computer. 2. Log in to the computer using an account with local administrator privileges. 3. Insert the DVD-ROM into the drive. 4. If the DVD-ROM executes the Autorun program, go to step 5; otherwise, browse to the DVD drive in Windows Explorer, right-click Setup.exe, and select Run as administrator. Note: If the DVD or download includes a zip file, double-click it, extract the files to a temporary folder, and then run Setup.exe as described in step 4. 5. On the Welcome page of the Deployment Manager, click Next, and then select Install/Upgrade. 6. Confirm that you have read the release notes, and then click Next. 7. Accept the Waters Software License Agreement, and then click Next. 8. Select Typical. Result: A list of the instrument drivers that will be installed on the computer appear along with a list of the firmware files that will be deployed to the computer. Page 3 of 12
9. Review the list of instrument drivers for accuracy, and then click Next. Tip: To change settings before installing, click Back. 10. After installation is complete, click Finish. 11. Restart the computer. Verifying the installation To verify the installation, select Start > All Programs > Empower > Empower Installation Log. The installation of any option or service pack is documented in the checksum.txt file on your Empower computer. This file indicates the installation of any option or service pack. It also verifies the integrity of disk files by comparing their current CRC and sizes with original values recorded during installation of the base software and any installed option or service pack. The checksum.txt file is created when you run the Verify Files utility by selecting Start > Programs > Empower > Verify Files. To display the checksum.txt file, navigate to the \Empower\Script directory, and then double-click the checksum.txt file. Uninstalling the ICS To ensure successful file verification following the removal of the ICS, you must reboot the computer before you uninstall the ICS. To remove the ACQUITY QDa ICS from the system: 1. Reboot the computer. 2. Log on to the computer using an account that has local administrative privileges. 3. Insert the ACQUITY QDa ICS media in the media drive. 4. Follow the prompts to remove the control software from the system. The registry and new CRC checksums are updated for the Empower installation. No Oracle or system files are affected. System considerations When you click Stop Flow in the control panel for a module, only the flow for that module stops. You can stop flow for all pump modules in the system via the Console window. Page 4 of 12
Updates in version 1.54 This release adds support for a new embedded PC (EPC) in the QDa mass detector. The new EPC board can be identified by its part number, 700011090. The obsolescence of the previous EPC prompts this update, which introduces no change in functionality. If an old QDa board is replaced by a board with the new EPC, you must upgrade the ICS to version 1.54. Issues fixed in this release This section lists the software defects corrected in this release. The defects corrected in version 1.51, 1.52, and 1.53 are also shown, for completeness. The SCR numbers identify software issues that Waters personnel monitor within a system change request tracking tool. Fixed in version 1.54 SCR Number 34001 User mass scale calibration is now applied for SIR data channels instead of factory mass scale calibration. 34003 The IntelliStart Resolution Check algorithm has been improved further in relation to fast scanning of peak widths. 34004 Limits for the Critical Readback Turbo Power check are changed to accommodate hardware improvements made to the pumping block. 34005 The Turbo Startup Healthcheck status is now displayed via the LED on the instrument s front panel. 34006 The Low Turbo Power Healthcheck is now recorded in the console logs, if activated. 34007 The resolution expiration date is removed when a resolution setup is required. Fixed in version 1.53 SCR Number 29303 Previously, when the QDa ran a sample list, the Operate control in the QDa instrument panel in Run Samples and in the console was enabled. Now the control is disabled. 29327 Previously, the Recalibrate menu was enabled when the software reported operational problems involving the QDa (referred to as health problems). Now the Recalibrate menu is disabled when such a problem is reported. 29536 Previously, the tooltip for the QDa image in the console showed the firmware version as unknown. Now the tooltip shows the correct firmware version. 29551 Previously, Connections INSIGHT support for the QDa was unavailable. Now such support is available when Waters Driver Pack 4 is used. 29592 Previously, the resolution- and calibration- check report was unavailable on Chinese, Japanese, and Korean systems. Now the report is available in [install drive]:\empower\instruments\log\ms Reports 29757 Previously, the QDa was not visible in the console when the SQ and TQ were also installed. Now the QDa appears in the console when the SQ and TQ are also installed. 30228 Previously, the VxWorks folder was not included in Empower s Verify Files utility. Now the folder is included. 30450 Previously, the QDa acquired data only when a dot was used as the decimal separator in the Windows regional settings. Now a comma can also be used. Page 5 of 12
30461 Previously, the message This is a message appeared in the QDa post-run report. Now the message does not appear. 30514 Previously, recalibrating the instrument following an error state caused the embedded software to crash. Now the embedded software continues to run normally. 30516 Previously, a printout of the Tune Page showed an incorrect value for the nominal rod polarity. Now the correct value appears. 30520 Previously, when the QDa was in Standby mode, its status LED flashed red. Now the LED is unlit during standby mode. 30521 Previously, the Turbo Power checks limit was 38W. Now the limit is 37W. 30523 The WatersFileService Health Monitor Check has been added, to verify that the QDa starts up successfully. 30525 Previously, when the instrument was allowed to operate at 600 C with no sample, a message stating Source Temperature Fail inappropriately appeared. Now the message does not appear. 30526 Previously, when you saved the target registry, the nominal rod polarity value was not saved. Now that value is saved. 30528 Previously, when the QDa was correcting errors, you could put the instrument in Standby mode. Now the Standby button is disabled when the instrument is correcting errors. 30529 Previously, on Chinese, Japanese, and Korean computers, the image in the console showed an SQD, not a QDa. Now the image is correct. 30530 Previously, the unit for the Set Rotation Speed was Hertz. Now the unit is revolutions per minute. 30531 Previously, the High Voltage PSU LED in the Tune Page failed to show green when the QDa was in Operate mode. Now the LED shows green when the QDa is in Operate mode. 30941 Previously, the Japanese channel name included a double-byte colon. Now the channel name includes a single-byte colon. 30980 Previously, the Tune Page failed to display the user name, user group, and Empower project. Now these items appear in the window s title bar. 31078 Previously, when an alternative calibrant was used, the calibration report stated only that an alternative calibrant was used. Now in addition to stating that an alternative was used, the report names the alternative calibrant. 31079 Previously, the software did not recall the last successful alternative calibrant when switching from an alternative calibrant to the internal calibrant and, finally, to an alternative calibrant. Now the software recalls the last successful alternative calibrant. 31221 Previously, when it acquired a single SIR data channel in mass-detector mode, the detector produced a noisy signal. Now the signal is acquired correctly. 33587 Previously, following re-calibration of the QDa mass scale, the existing calibration continued to be applied. Now, the new mass scale calibration is applied. Page 6 of 12
Fixed in version 1.52 SCR Number 30348 Previously, when you rebooted the LAC/E 32 without rebooting the QDa and then attempted to run samples, the message Preparing for injection persisted indefinitely. Now, the system runs normally after a LAC/E 32 reboot. Fixed in version 1.51 SCR Number 29650 Previously, if you deselected Operate on the General tab of a QDa instrument method in Mass Detector mode, switched to Advanced mode, and then ran the method, the QDa transitioned to Standby mode, which stops flow and sample injections. Now, the QDa remains in the Operate mode, and sample injections can proceed. 29749 Previously, if Empower software was installed to a drive other than C:\, the QDa did not function properly. Now, the QDa functions properly regardless of the drive to which Empower software is installed. 30018 Previously, when you rebooted the QDa, the QDa settings could be erased or corrupted. The QDa settings are no longer susceptible to erasing or corrupting. 30019 Previously, when you changed control software from MassLynx to Empower, the instrument settings could be erased or corrupted. The settings are no longer susceptible to erasing or corrupting. 30020 Previously, when you rebooted the QDa, the Tune Page Ion Mode tab, used by Waters field service engineers, was sometimes unavailable. The tab is now available to service engineers. 30021 Previously, for some QDa detectors, a problem involving the internal calibration beam saturated the internal calibration benchmark test that is performed when the QDa is powered-on. This prevented accurate Full Width Half Height (FWHH) measurement. Now, saturation no longer occurs when the FWHH measurements are taken. 30022 Previously, the QDa did not receive the radio-frequency value during startup when the instrument was optimized to the default value, 1.136 Mhz, causing radio-frequency amplitude failure. The defect is corrected. 30045 Previously, settings specified in a QDa instrument method for the SIR cone voltage were ignored, and a voltage of 30 was universally applied. Now, the specified cone voltage settings are applied. 30059 Previously data was, by default, acquired using the continuum mode. Now, the default for data acquisition is the centroid mode. Thus, when you develop a new method in the mass detector mode, the resulting data are acquired using centroid mode. If you run an existing method without changes, data acquisition continues in the continuum mode. When you save the method, however, the data collection mode is updated to centroid. You can nevertheless override the data collection mode in the QDa instrument method when the instrument is in the advanced mode. To do so, click a channel in the table, and then click Show Functions Details. The Function Details dialog box, which includes the Data field where you can specify continuum or centroid mode, appears. Note, however, that the continuum mode collects many more data points than the centroid mode, and continuum data require more time for the software to process. Page 7 of 12
30094 Previously, only the words Positive and Negative were used to identify ionization mode. Now, a plus sign ("+") or a minus sign ("-") appear in the channel description, for example, QDa Positive (+) Scan. 30244 Previously, the source pressure test, performed when the QDa is powered on, sometimes incorrectly reported a failed result. Now, when the QDa checks the vacuum system, its reported results are correct. 30282 Previously, when you updated an expired resolution and calibration, the error Instrument Calibration has expired persisted, even though the expiration date was properly updated. Now, the error does not appear after correctly updating the resolution and calibration. Known issues in this release The following tables contain a list of the known software issues and workarounds for this release of the ACQUITY QDa ICS. The SCR (software change request) numbers identify software issues that Waters personnel monitor within a system change request tracking tool. Installation SCR Number 29584 After installing the QDa Driver Pack, the autoloader opens and can occasionally crash. This issue occurs infrequently. If it occurs, relaunch the autoloader software. 30180 After installing the UPC 2 and QDa driver packs, you cannot uninstall Empower software. Uninstall the ELS driver before the other drivers. Console SCR Number 29303 Whilst a sample set is running, the Operate control in the QDa instrument panel of the console remains available for use. Whilst a sample set is running, do not click Operate within the QDa instrument panel of the console. Switching the instrument out of operate during the running of a sample set will result in the sample set being aborted. 29324 In the Chinese and Korean console, the plot x-axis label Mins is not displaying properly. None. 29327 On the QDa Detector console page, when you click Maintain > Recalibrate, in some circumstances this does not recalibrate the system. Before attempting to perform a Recalibrate, ensure that there are no issues reported in the QDa health status. Page 8 of 12
SCR Number 29623 The console plots can occasionally fail to update. The instrument data collection is not affected and the plots will resume as normal after a short period. 29623 Clicking between the ACQUITY log entries can cause an error in the Console. None. 29623 Cancelling a print of the ACQUITY logs can cause an error in the Console. None. 29623 Printing from the ACQUITY logs will print all entries. To print a single log, it should first be printed to PDF and then the relevant log selected. Instrument and instrument system management SCR Number 28546 You cannot differentiate between the ACQUITY Binary Solvent Manager and ACQUITY Isocratic Solvent Manager data channels in the method editor. Avoid using the same data channels for the two pumps. If all the channels are required for diagnostic testing, it is recommended to use the instrument console application. 28686 If the ACQUITY Isocratic Solvent Manager (ISM) is configured as part of a system being run, but is not included in the instrument method used, the ISM automatically turns on at a flow rate of 1 ml/min when the run begins. It is recommended the Empower instrument method editor feature for turning the instrument off is not used for any pump defined within the system. If you want to remove the instrument from participating in the acquisition, it is recommended that you remove the instrument from the chromatographic system s definition. 29434 When you select the wet prime function when running a sample set, both the ACQUITY Binary Solvent Manager and ACQUITY Isocratic Solvent Manager pumps prime. You cannot specify which pump to prime. None. 29523 The QDa Detector status is shown as Unknown. This issue occurs infrequently. To recover, reboot the QDa Detector. 29623 Non OS Admin users cannot run ACQUITY Plot Viewer from C:\Program Files (x86)\waters Instruments\Bin folder. None. Page 9 of 12
SCR Number 29623 The Rear Panel Event Out 2 will not pulse, it will only allow the output to be closed or opened when triggered. None. 29623 If a Source Pressure Test fails during the startup process then the Critical Readback Check will not be carried out. If the Critical Readback Check had previously failed, it will still show as having failed once the Source Pressure Test has passed. At this point the instrument will need to be rebooted to allow for a new Source Pressure Test. 31196 When you are operating a LAC/E 32 acquisition server using a standard Windows user account, two error messages indicating that the AcquityISMServer and the KestrelUI application stopped working can appear when you submit an ihelp request using the newly supported Connections INSIGHT facility (see 29551). You can dismiss these messages without adversely affecting data acquisition. Use an administrator account on a LAC/E 32 to submit an ihelp request. 31453 The newly supported Connection INSIGHT facility (see 29551) does not report error messages on Japanese installations. 31710 During evaluation of version 1.53, it was found that the QDa would not start up correctly when connected to a particular computer running the Japanese version of Windows XP. Other computers did not exhibit this problem. If this issue occurs, re-install version 1.52. 33842 You cannot properly save the QDa event table in Mass Detector mode. Use Advanced mode for timed events. Alternatively, you can save the method events in Advanced mode, select Mass Detector mode, and then reenter the other method parameters. Acquisition SCR Number 29435 During a long run, an error message appears stating Unhandled Exception has occurred in a component in your application. If you click Continue, the application will ignore this error and attempt to continue. Out of Memory. This issue occurs infrequently. If it occurs, close the Run samples window and then reopen it. Page 10 of 12
Anti-virus considerations If you are using real-time virus scanning, exclude the data system and instruments folders and subfolders; usually C:\Empower and its sub-folders for Empower 2 and Empower 3 installations. Some realtime virus scanners can mistake normal data acquisition and instrument control for virus activity and thus interfere with proper operations. Full-system scans and live updates can be network-intensive, diskintensive, and CPU-intensive, and they can also interfere with normal data acquisition. Schedule scans and updates for idle times when data acquisition does not occur. Certain anti-virus program features like "intrusion prevention" and "tamper protection" can also interfere with normal operation. Disable them as well. Compliance recommendations Any time you install, change, or uninstall software or system modules in a regulated environment, Waters recommends that you follow your organization's approved standard operating procedures. A risk-based review may assist you in a regulated environment to evaluate changes detailed in the release notes. Using company SOPs, determine if any documentation updates and requalification of the system modules, chromatographic system, or chromatographic data system (CDS) are required. Instrument update classification (minor update) Waters considers this update to be a minor change from previous versions. This update is designed to not alter the physical specifications of instruments or systems. Waters expects that methods run and data generated on instruments before and after the update will be consistent. As with any change, you should evaluate the impact of this update to your instruments or systems. Instrument requalification options after software/firmware change Consider using the requalification options outlined below to verify hardware installation and correct instrument operation: To confirm that the firmware files on the system modules were installed correctly, compare the checksum values in the product release notes to the checksum values displayed in the console. To confirm instrument system operation with any newly loaded software, driver, or firmware, consider performing an operational qualification for the updated instrument system. To confirm performance, control, and communications of the instrument system, consider conducting a performance qualification (user or vendor) or system suitability test. When multiple, identical instruments are involved, consider a risk-based approach to qualification activities. Requalification with Waters' Total Assurance Plans The Waters' Total Assurance Plan (TAP) with System Qualification Option covers upgrades and requalification of the instrument driver, software, firmware, or hardware in these cases: During yearly requalification, as provided in the plan. If installing this release is required for operation of a new module or system, where qualification of the new module or system is covered by the plan. Requalification of the CDS software and computers after a driver upgrade may or may not be included in your TAP. Review your TAP to determine which services are covered and which are not covered. For situations not covered by the plan, Waters can perform the qualification, but additional charges will apply. Page 11 of 12
Contact Waters Technical Service If you are located in the USA or Canada, report malfunctions or other problems to Waters Technical Service (800 252-4752). If you are located elsewhere, phone the Waters corporate headquarters in Milford, Massachusetts (USA), or contact your local Waters subsidiary. Our Web site includes phone numbers and e-mail addresses for Waters locations worldwide. Page 12 of 12