Upload moves data from the drive to the PC. In STARTER: prove the link with Accessible nodes → Connect to target system → select the drive → Target device → Load to PG → Disconnect → Save the project. Run p0971 = 1 on the drive first. The backup holds the parameter set, not the firmware.
- Load to PG = drive → PC (safe). Download = PC → drive (overwrites).
- Run p0971 first.
- Disconnecting does not save. Save explicitly.
- Name by machine, drive, CU, firmware and date.
Upload Means Drive to PC
| STARTER command | Direction | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Load to PG | Drive → PC | Upload: reads the drive into the project. Safe. |
| Download to target device | PC → Drive | Download: overwrites the drive. Destructive. |
Going Online Before You Can Upload
| Requirement | Where | Common failure |
|---|---|---|
| Physical connection | USB to the control unit, or Ethernet to the PROFINET port | Cable in the power module |
| PG/PC interface | Options → Set PG/PC interface | Still on a previous adapter |
| Accessible nodes | Project → Accessible nodes | PC and drive on different subnets |
Learn STARTER on real drives, not screenshots
Hands-on SINAMICS G120 commissioning, backup and diagnostics — Pune classroom or live online with remote hardware.
Save to ROM First (p0971)
The Upload Sequence (Try It)
Practise the five steps in the trainer below. The demo also shows the two classic mistakes: clicking Download, and closing without saving.
p0305 = — A
p0015 = —
- Drive found in Accessible nodes
- Project online
- Parameters loaded to PG
- Offline again
- Project saved to disk
Simplified trainer, not Siemens software. Try clicking Download or Close before saving to see why the order matters.
What the Backup Contains — and What It Does Not
| Included | Not included |
|---|---|
| Motor data (p0304 – p0311) | Control unit firmware |
| Macro (p0015) and BICO interconnections | Changes not saved with p0971 |
| Ramps, limits, control mode, boost | Fault history and operating hours |
| Communication: telegram, address, baud rate | The physical power module (recorded only) |
| Motor identification results | Live process values |
Record the firmware version with every backup, because a parameter set from one firmware may not download cleanly to a replacement running another.
Naming and Storing Backups
Line2_Conveyor3_G120_CU240E-2PN_FW4.7_2026-09-08 carries everything you need to decide whether a backup is safe to restore.Hands-On Lab: Take Your First Backup
Hands-on- STARTER installed, a powered G120, and a USB or Ethernet connection to the control unit.
- A training rig, not a running production machine. Estimated time: 20 minutes.
Prove the connection
Set the PG/PC interface to the adapter in use, then run Project → Accessible nodes.
Save to ROM
On the drive set p0971 = 1.
Create the project and go online
Name the project for the machine, insert the drive, then Connect to target system.
Load to PG
Select the drive and choose Target device → Load to PG. Leave the cable alone until it finishes.
Disconnect, then save
Disconnect from target system, save the project explicitly, and note the folder path.
Prove the backup
Close STARTER, reopen the project offline, and check p0304/p0305 in the expert list.
You can reopen the project offline, with the drive disconnected, and read the real motor data. If you see factory defaults, the upload didn’t complete or the project was never saved, so repeat from step 3. Next: download and restore the backup.
Frequently asked questions
Does upload mean from the drive or to the drive?
From the drive to the PC. Siemens names both operations from the programming device’s point of view, so “Load to PG” reads the drive into your project and is safe, while “Download to target device” overwrites the drive.
Why should I run p0971 before uploading?
Parameters changed on the keypad may be in RAM only, so RAM and ROM can differ. Setting p0971 = 1 saves them, so the backup matches what the drive runs now and after the next power cycle.
Why can’t STARTER find my G120?
Usually one of three things: the cable is in the power module instead of the control unit, the PG/PC interface is set to the wrong adapter, or the PC and drive are on different IP subnets. Use Accessible nodes to prove the link first.
Does the backup include the drive firmware?
No. It holds the parameter set only. Record the firmware version with the backup, because a parameter set may not download cleanly to a replacement drive running different firmware.
Do I need to save the project separately after uploading?
Yes. Disconnecting from the target system writes nothing to disk. Save the project explicitly, then reopen it offline and check p0304/p0305 to prove the backup is real.
How often should I take a backup?
After every deliberate change, not once at handover. Store copies with the machine documentation and on a server, not only on the commissioning laptop.