Batch Will Not Open in ICP-MS MassHunter Data Analysis: Attempt to Recover

Answer

This Information Applies To: ICP-MS MassHunter 4.x and 5.x

Issue

Unable to open a batch in offline data analysis, or the batch is empty.

If the ICP-MS MassHunter software closes unexpectedly, there is a power outage, or the ICP-MS and computer lose communication during data analysis, the batch may become corrupt. You may face errors when attempting to open the batch in offline data analysis or the batch may open, with no results in the full quant table. 

Steps to follow

Note: There is no guarantee that a corrupt batch can be recovered. The following steps are best effort.

Click Here for MassHunter 5.x instructions

Click Here for MassHunter 4.x instructions

For MassHunter 5.x:

1. Open Offline Data Analysis
2. Create a new batch
   1. On the File Tab (Figure 1; Item 1) click New Batch Folder (Figure 1; Item 2).
      

      
      
      Figure 1. Offline Data Analysis MH 5.x
      1. File Tab, 2. New Batch Folder
      
      

   2. Enter a new batch name (Figure 2; Item 1) and click Create Batch (Figure 2; Item 2).
      

      
      
      Figure 2. New Batch window MH 5.x
      1. Batch name 2. Create Batch button
      
      

3. Import a DA Method from a 'sister batch' with identical Data Analysis setup - such as analytes and calibration standards/levels.
   1. On the Home Tab (Figure 3; Item 1), click Import DA Method (Figure 3; Item 2).
      

      
      
      Figure 3. Offline Data Analysis MH 5.x
      1. Home Tab 2. Import DA Method
      
      

   2. Browse to a batch folder with identical Data Analysis Method setup. It is important to not select the corrupt batch, in case the Data Analysis Method setup is the corrupt component. 
   3. Select the *.batch.bin file (Figure 4; Item 1) and click Open (Figure 4; Item 2).
      

      
      
      Figure 4. Open Method window MH 5.x
      1. Batch File 2. Open button
      
      

4. Import All Samples from the corrupt batch.
   1. On the Home tab (Figure 5; Item 1), click Import Samples (Figure 5; Item 2) then Import All Samples From Batch ... (Figure 5; Item 3). 
      

      
      
      Figure 5. Offline Data Analysis MH 5.x
      1. Home Tab 2. Import Samples 3. Import All Samples from Batch ...
      
      

   2. Select the corrupt batch (Figure 6; Item 1) and click Open (Figure 6; Item 2).
      

      
      
      Figure 6. Import All Samples from Batch window
      1. Batch Folder 2. Open button
      
      

5. Process the batch.
   1. On the Home Tab (Figure 7; Item 1), click Process Batch (Figure 7; Item 2).
      

      
      
      Figure 7. Offline Data Analysis MH 5.x
      1. Home Tab 2. Process Batch
      
      

6. If the batch recovery was successful, you should be able to view all results in this newly created batch.
   
   
   

For MassHunter 4.x:

1. Open Offline Data Analysis
2. Create a new batch.
   1. Click the arrow next to Batch (Figure 8; Item 1) and click New Batch Folder ... (Figure 8; Item 2).
      

      
      
      Figure 8. Data Analysis MH 4.x
      1. Arrow next to Batch 2. New Batch Folder ...
      
      

   2. Enter a new batch name in the Folder Name field (Figure 9; Item 1) and click Create Batch (Figure 9; Item 2).
      

      
      
      Figure 9. New Batch Folder window
      1. Batch name 2. Create button
      
      

3. Import a DA Method from a 'sister batch' with identical Data Analysis setup - such as analytes and calibration standards/levels.
   1. Click the arrow next to Method (Figure 10; Item 1) then click Import DA Method (Figure 10; Item 2).
      

      
      
      Figure 10. Offline Data Analysis MH 4.x
      1. Arrow next to Method 2. Import DA Method
      
      

   2. Browse to a batch folder with identical Data Analysis Method setup. It is important to not select the corrupt batch, in case the Data Analysis Method setup is the corrupt component. 
   3. Select the *.batch.bin file (Figure 11; Item 1) and click Open (Figure 11; Item 2).
      

      
      
      Figure 11. Open Method window
      1. Batch File 2. Open button
      
      

4. Import All Samples from the corrupt batch.
   1. Click the arrow next to Batch (Figure 12; Item 1) then click Import All Samples from Batch (Figure 12; Item 2).
      

      
      
      Figure 12. Offline Data Analysis MH 4.x
      1. Arrow next to Batch 2. Import All Samples From Batch ...
      
      

   2. Select the corrupt batch (Figure 13; Item 1) and click Open (Figure 13; Item 2).
      

      
      
      Figure 13. Import All Samples from Batch
      1. Batch Folder 2. Open button
      
      

5. Process the batch.
   1. Click the Process Icon (Figure 14).
      

      
      
      Figure 14. Offline Data Analysis MH 4.x
      1. Process icon
      

6. If the batch recovery was successful, you should be able to view all results in this newly created batch.

Learn how to effectively troubleshoot your Agilent ICP-MS System:  Agilent 7800/7850/7900 ICP-MS with MassHunter Agilent 8900 Triple Quadrupole ICP-MS with MassHunter e-learning courses available from Agilent education