Performing a Full Reset of a Quadrupole Time-of-Flight (Q-TOF) LC/MS System

Answer

This Information Applies To: Agilent 6500 Series Q-TOF LC/MS systems, MassHunter Workstation 10.1 or below and MassHunter Workstation 11.0.

Issue

Fully reset the Q-TOF LC/MS system via a power cycle without venting.
For users who experience slow or lagging performance of the MassHunter software, communication issues or to troubleshoot error messages.

Steps to Follow

For MassHunter 10.1 or below

For MassHunter 11

MassHunter 10.1 or below

1. Put the Q-TOF into Standby (if possible).
2. Close MassHunter Acquisition.
3. From the Windows taskbar, right click the rocket System Engine icon, then click Shutdown Engines (Figure 1).

   
   
   Figure 1. System Engine Icon from an Expanded Windows Taskbar
   
   

4. Once the rocket icon turns red, click Exit.
5. Run the Remove MassHunter Processes tool found in the Agilent MassHunter Workstation > Acq Tools folder (Figure 2).

   
   
   Figure 2. Run Remove MassHunter Processes Tool   
   
   

   Caution: Do not skip shutting down the engines. Clicking Remove MassHunter Processes without shutting down the engines may cause corruption of tune files and/or methods.

6. Turn off the LC modules via the front power switch.
7. Run the SmartCard Shutdown Tool found in the Agilent MassHunter Workstation > Acq Tools folder (Figure 3). When completed, turn off the Q-TOF via the front power switch within 30 seconds.

   
   
   Figure 3. Run Shutdown SmartCard Tool
   
   

   Caution: Do not skip running the Shutdown SmartCard Tool. Skipping this step may result in permanently corrupting the Q-TOF hard drive. This tool must be used whenever the Q-TOF loses power.

8. Within 10 seconds of turning off, turn the Q-TOF back on via the front power switch.
   
   

   Caution: When power cycling the delay between off and on cannot be longer than 30 seconds. The vacuum pumps will continue to run for 30 seconds before shutting down and venting the system. Agilent recommends a 10 second delay between off and on.

9. Once the Q-TOF is turned back on, two valve switching sounds should be heard from the stream selection valve in the Q-TOF:
   • The first one within a few moments of turning on, and
   • The second one when the firmware loads within a few minutes.
   • It can take several minutes for the Q-TOF to reboot completely.
10. If needed, restart the PC while waiting for the second valve switching.
11. Once the second valve switch is heard, restart all the LC modules via the front power switch.
12. Once the LC has powered on and all modules are initialized, start MassHunter Acquisition.

For MassHunter 11

1. Put the Q-TOF into Standby (if possible).
2. Close MassHunter Acquisition.
3. From the OpenLab Control Panel, navigate to the Instrument tab and click Close Connections (Figure 4).

   
   
   Figure 4. Click "Close Connection" in Control Panel 
   
   

4. Turn off the LC modules via the front power switch.
5. From the OpenLab Control Panel, in Instrument tab, click the Shutdown SmartCard Tool (Figure 5). When completed, turn the Q-TOF off via the front power switch within 30 seconds.

   
   
   Figure 5. Run Shutdown SmartCard Tool  
   
   

   Caution: Do not skip running the Shutdown SmartCard Tool. Skipping this step may result in permanently corrupting the Q-TOF hard drive. This tool must be used whenever the Q-TOF will lose power.

6. Within 10 seconds of turning off, turn the Q-TOF back on via the front power switch.
   
   

   Caution: When power cycling the delay between off and on cannot be longer than 30 seconds. The vacuum pumps will continue to run for 30 seconds before shutting down and venting the system. Agilent recommends a 10 second delay between off and on.

7. Once the Q-TOF is turned back on, two valve switching sounds should be heard from the stream selection valve in the Q-TOF:
   • The first one within a few moments of turning on, and
   • The second one when the firmware loads within a few minutes.
   • It can take several minutes for the Q-TOF to reboot completely.
8. If needed, restart the PC while waiting for the second valve switching.
9. Once the second valve switch is heard, restart all the LC modules via the front power switch.
10. Once the LC has powered on and all modules are initialized, start launch MassHunter Acquisition either via the desktop icon or OpenLab Control Panel.

Learn how to effectively operate your Agilent 6500 Series Quadrupole Time of Flight LC/MS:  Agilent Quadrupole Time of Flight LC/MS with MassHunter Workstation eLearning path available from Agilent education