GE Vivid I: software error after system IDs drop out
What happened
In this reported case, a GE Vivid I portable ultrasound showed an error that, per the engineers' discussion, was linked to system serial numbers (IDs) tied to the software that had dropped out of the unit.
What was checked
- The engineers first separated a software/ID fault from hardware: the error pointed to lost identification data rather than a failed board.
- They inspected the system's startup configuration and found that the entries launching the system software had been corrupted together with the lost IDs.
- They noted, as reported in the case, that ID loss of this kind is a recurring weakness on the Vivid platform.
Cause
The system identification data (serial numbers/IDs) stored in the unit had been lost or corrupted, so the system software reported an error and would not run normally.
The cause is probable and was not fully confirmed.
What was done
The lost IDs were re-programmed and the startup configuration restored using a procedure from the manufacturer's service documentation, done by authorised personnel. The engineers stressed it was a temporary measure: after a major software update the repair would have to be repeated through authorised service, and the outcome in this case was reported as probable rather than fully confirmed.
Safety
Before the unit returns to clinical use, carry out a full electrical safety test — protective earth resistance and patient-applied-part leakage currents — with the covers in place and the system on mains power.
Lesson: When a fault traces back to lost system identification data, treat it as an authorised-service task from the manufacturer's documentation: improvised system edits may get one boot back but rarely hold, so flag any such fix as temporary.
Covered in the course: Ultrasound Service — Level 2: Fault-Finding →
Written from an anonymised case shared by service engineers. It is not a manufacturer instruction and grants no authorisation. Independent note; names are trademarks of their owners.