GE Healthcare MAC 5

Asset Type

Electrocardiograph (EKG) Machine

Manufacturer

GE Healthcare

Model

MAC 5

What This Guide Helps With

This guide helps troubleshoot Failed to Download Digital Signature when the GE Healthcare MAC 5 cannot find or access the required digital signature file in the configured network shared path during a software image download or update workflow.

This condition can prevent the software update from continuing because the device cannot verify the integrity of the software image file set.

Step-by-Step Troubleshooting

1. Ensure Patient Safety First

• Remove the MAC 5 from patient use before troubleshooting software download, signature, update, configuration, or network file access issues.
• Do not continue software loading or update attempts while the unit is needed for active patient ECG acquisition.
• Move patient ECG testing to another available ECG machine if needed.
• A device with an unresolved software image or signature download error should not be relied on for clinical use until the issue is corrected and function is verified.

2. Verify the Reported Error and Behavior

• Confirm the exact message displayed is: Failed to Download Digital Signature.
• Determine whether the error appears during software update, startup, network configuration, shared network access, or after a software image was placed on a server or shared folder.
• Ask whether the error appeared after network path, server, folder, or credential changes.
• Confirm the issue is tied to a software image or network shared path workflow and not to routine ECG acquisition.

3. Confirm Network Connection

• Check whether the MAC 5 is connected to the hospital network by LAN or WLAN.
• For LAN, confirm the Ethernet cable is fully seated, the network jack is active, link lights are present if visible, and the cable is not damaged.
• Try a known-good Ethernet cable or network jack if available.
• For WLAN, confirm wireless is enabled, signal strength is acceptable, the correct wireless profile is selected, and the device is connected to the expected network.
• The device cannot access the shared path or signature file if basic network connectivity is unavailable.

4. Verify the Network Shared Path

• Confirm the network shared path entered in the MAC 5 configuration is correct.
• Check for a misspelled server name, wrong folder name, incorrect slash direction or path format, changed server share name, retired server path, extra spaces, or extra characters.
• Confirm the shared path matches the actual folder location where the software image and digital signature file are stored.
• This error can occur when the device is looking in the correct general network area but the required signature file is not present at the configured path.

5. Confirm the Digital Signature File Is Present

• Using an approved workstation or administrator access, verify that the network shared folder contains the required digital signature file.
• Confirm the expected digital signature file is present in the same required location as the software image or in the manufacturer-specified folder structure.
• Verify that the signed software image and required digital signature file are both present in the shared path.
• The stated failure condition is that the digital signature file is not present in the network shared path.

6. Confirm the Software Image Is the Correct Version

• Verify that the software image placed in the shared folder is intended for the GE Healthcare MAC 5.
• Confirm the image is not an incomplete, renamed, extracted, or partially copied file set.
• Check that the image came from an approved GE source.
• Confirm the signature file belongs to the same software image.
• Verify the file set was copied completely, file names were not changed, and folder structure was not altered.
• A valid software image may still fail if the signature file is missing, mismatched, renamed, or separated from the image.

7. Check Shared Folder Permissions

• Confirm the MAC 5 has permission to access the shared path.
• Check read permissions, network credentials, domain or local account access, firewall restrictions, server access restrictions, recent password changes, share permissions, and folder permissions.
• Work with IT or the system administrator if needed.
• A permissions problem may appear similar to a missing file because the device cannot see the required digital signature file.

8. Test Access From Another Device

• From a networked computer on the same clinical or biomedical network segment, attempt to access the shared path.
• Confirm that the folder opens and the signed software image file set is visible.
• If the shared path is not reachable from another approved device, investigate the server, network share, firewall, or credential configuration.
• This helps separate a MAC 5 configuration issue from a server, share, or file placement issue.

9. Retry the Download After Correcting the File Path or File Set

• After confirming the correct signed software image and digital signature file are present, retry the download or update process.
• Confirm the digital signature download completes without the error.
• If the error clears, document the corrected shared path, restored signature file, or corrected permissions.
• Return the device to service only after normal function checks are completed.

10. Verify Final Device Function

• Confirm startup completes without the error.
• Confirm no related software download, image, network, or signature errors return.
• Verify the ECG acquisition screen opens normally.
• Check that date, time, and network status are correct.
• Complete a test ECG or functional check per site procedure before returning the unit to service.

If the Problem Persists

If the shared path is correct, the digitally signed software image is present, permissions are confirmed, network access is verified, and the MAC 5 still reports Failed to Download Digital Signature, the external causes have been ruled out.

Remove the device from service. Label it Out of Service and send it for GE support, IT/network review, repair, or bench evaluation.

Persistent failure may indicate a configuration issue, network access problem, corrupted software image package, unsupported file set, or device-side software/update failure.

Clinical Use Tip

Never troubleshoot software download, digital signature, or update errors on an active patient. Move the patient to a backup ECG machine first and maintain testing continuity while the MAC 5 is removed from service or evaluated.

Work Order Documentation (CCR Method)

CCR = Complaint, Cause, Resolution

Complaint

What was reported by the clinical staff.

Example:
"GE Healthcare MAC 5 displayed Failed to Download Digital Signature during software/network download attempt. Device could not locate the required digital signature file from the configured network shared path."

Cause

What was observed during troubleshooting.

Example:
"Digital signature file was missing from the network shared path, or the device could not access the correct signed software image file set due to path, permissions, or network share issue."

Resolution

What action was taken.

Example:
"Removed device from patient use. Verified network connection and shared path. Confirmed signed software image and digital signature file placement. Corrected file/path access issue and retried download. Device completed download without error and passed functional check."

Helpful Details to Include (If Known)

• Alarm behavior or exact error behavior
• Accessories swapped, including Ethernet cable or network jack if applicable
• Power behavior during startup, download, or software update attempt
• Environmental factors, including LAN/WLAN availability and network segment used
• Indicator lights, link lights, WLAN status, or other visible network indicators
• Final device status, including whether the unit was returned to service, labeled Out of Service, or escalated to GE or IT support

Final Thought

Digital signature errors should be treated as software integrity and access issues, not routine user problems. Start with patient safety, then verify the network path, required signed files, and access permissions before escalating. Clear documentation helps distinguish a missing file from a device-side or network-side failure.

That is successful troubleshooting.