| 07 Jan 2026
Diagnostic and Recovery Method for Boot Failure in PC/104-Based Geophysical Resistivity Instruments Following CMOS Configuration Loss: On the ABEM Terrameter SAS-1000/4000 Using the PFM-540I Platform
Abstract. Boot failures in embedded geophysical instruments frequently arise from the loss of CMOS-retained BIOS parameters, a condition well documented in legacy computing systems that depend on fixed hardware configurations. The ABEM Terrameter SAS-1000/4000 relies on a PC/104 controller (PFM-540I), CompactFlash (CF) storage, and specialized BIOS settings to load its internal firmware. When the CMOS battery depletes, the BIOS reverts to factory defaults that are incompatible with the Terrameter's required hardware profile, resulting in complete boot failure and a black LCD screen. This paper describes a full diagnostic and recovery procedure involving external VGA/PS-2 interfacing, jumper validation, CMOS clearing and manual BIOS reconstruction. The restored system achieved 100% boot success, persistent CF detection and stable BIOS retention across multiple test cycles. The findings provide a validated engineering method for maintaining legacy PC/104-based scientific instruments vulnerable to CMOS configuration loss.
The reviewed ms describes a method for fixing a certain type of boot failure in a legacy device. The diagnostics and recovery method are described clearly and may be applied to other aging geophysical instrumentation. The topic is within the scope of the journal and is actual and relevant.
Criticism is minor and refers mainly to technical issues that should be easy to correct. It is listed below.
1) With the exception of the appendix, Figures and the Table are not referred to in the text. Please include reference to them in the descriptions given in the text.
2) Figure 1 is blurred and Figure 5 has too small annotations. Please provide Figures of good quality so that they are readable.
3) Punctuation and wording should perhaps be:
-line 22 "Many geophysical instruments, particularly legacy ones still widely used for field measurements, depend on ..." (unless you think that this problem applies only to devices for resistivity investigation),
-line 43 "... the display remained black, an expected result when ...",
-line 47 "These mirrored failure modes can be seen in ...",
- line 78 "The testing procedure consists of three stages as descripbed below."Â
4) A sentence should be added to the introduction to answer the question which purpose the specific instrument you treat (ABEM Terrameter SAS-1000/4000) serves when returned to functionality.
5) The text in general is rather concise and terse and it contains a number of not introduced abbreviations. Since practically all of them are generally known to a reader familiar with IT and computer hardware, this is not incorrect. But I wonder if sections 2 and 3 should not be formulated in somewhat more detail for the sake of better understanding for a wider audience. I leave this question to the discretion of the Editor.
I recommend publication after minor revision.