Chemstation MSD won't start during run, Diag. all OK

[jhtech]

Hello Chromforum! Our MSD won't start during method runs due to supposed files missing, but works just fine in Debug/MSD Tune menus.

Our lab's LC/MS system is a 1260 HPLC Stack with a G1956B MSD, with Chemstation B.04.03-SP1 software running on a Win7 VM. Drivers & Firmware on HPLC, MSD are all up to date with our software.

We are able to pass all tests and pull out readings from within the Debug/MSD Tune menus. Autotune is good, total ion count before bake ~25K, etc. etc.
The 1260 HPLC also runs whole Methods with no issues, DAD Detector signals plot as they should in Run Control menu and come out well in the reports.

But MSD signals never load. The MSD remains idle whenever we start a run, both Single Sequence and FIA, but in debug we can do annything, even print out live spectral plots with no problem. In the Method Editor checkbox for “Use MSD” doesn’t help and any permutation of the MSD method setting pages helps.
We do have a hint though: whenever a run starts we do get these logbook errors:
“Can’t Load MSD TIC, MS File”
“The MSDIAG.REG is incomplete. Msparam.txt … … was not created”

When comparing files with this name in other example method directories a number of these come up, but many are wildly different. We haven't been able to find any generator or export for these, and haven't found any "correct" folder to look for the right ones in.

Any ideas on how we can fix or buypass these missing files?
We've been banging our heads against the wall for several days and are quite stuck.

[MichaelVW]

I'd try creating a new method + new sequence table + new tune file and see if a run works.

If it doesn't, maybe the missing files are a symptom of your problems and not the cause. The MS might not be getting a "start" signal telling it to collect data.

I don't know how your instrument is set up but I had a similar problem with a 6890GC/5973MS a few months ago and needed a new remote start cable. I can't remember if it was a simple serial cable you can easily get to or if it was one of the branching cables that you have to go behind and down near the high vacuum pump to get at.