Serial port has a big red cross in MAX

[Runner1]

All the serial port in my computer has a big red cross on it when I open MAX and show the "Serial & Parallel Device".  But when I select to "Valid" button, every port pass the validation test.  

Because my equipment was set to 19200, I change the Baud rate to 19200 in the :Setting" Window and it seems to accepted the new setting.  But when I open the VISA test panel, at first, it won't communicate with my test equipment until I change the "VI_ATTR_ASRL_BAUD" under "viSetAttribute" from "9600" to "19200", then the communication works.  But the new baud rate can't not be saved.  Next time, when I open MAX, I have to enter the baud rate into the "VI_ATTR_ASRL_BAUD" attribute again.

My questions are:

1. How can I get rid of the red cross on the comm port icon?  the comm port seems to work properly because it work in hyper terminal and in the VISA test panel after I set the baud rate correctly.

2. How can I save the baud rate setting in the VISA test panel?

Thank you.

[MikhailK]

Hi Runner1,

First, make sure you have all the proper drivers installed on your system. What is the equipment you are trying to communicate with? What are the versions of MAX and NI-VISA are you using? What is the OS?

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1. How can I get rid of the red cross on the comm port icon?  the comm port seems to work properly because it work in hyper terminal and in the VISA test panel after I set the baud rate correctly.

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To eliminate the red cross from MAX, make sure your ports are working properly in Windows (I am assuming you are using Windows OS) Device Manager. Right click on "My Computer" -> Manage -> Device Manager -> Ports (COM &  LPT)

If there are no problems in the Device Manager and your instrument is connected, then the ports work properly and the drivers are properly installed.

Then it might be a MAX issue. You can start isolating the problem by running the Troubleshooting Wizard. Open up MAX and go to Help -> Troubleshooting -> NI-Serial Troubleshooting Wizard

When you do the troubleshooting make sure all of your insturments are connected.

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2. How can I save the baud rate setting in the VISA test panel?

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To save the baud rate simply click on the "Save" button, next to the "Open VISA Test Panel" in the "Port Settings" of one of your serial ports.

You can also modify and save the baud rate from the Windows Device Manager. Open up the Device Manager, and right click on  one of the serial ports. Then select Properties and go to Port Settings.

[Runner1]

Thanks Mikhail for the reply.

MAX version is 4.5.0f0.

NI-VISA version is 4.4.1

OS is Windows XP

I am using COM1 only, ther is no special driver for it.

1. The Device Manager shows that my COM Ports are working properly and no conflict.

2. I tried MAX  "Help->Troubleshoot" and I can only find "NI 488.2 Trouble shooting Utility", there is no NI-Serial Toubleshooting Wizard.  Where can I download this utility?

3. I tried the "SAVE" button in the "Open VISA Test Panel" and the Serial Port setting in the Windows Device Manger was set to the proper baud rate.  But the baud rate in MAX always start with 9600.

4.  In Visual studio, I can set the serial session baud rate to 19200 and connect to my equipment. 

The com port seems to work fine but the big red cross is annoying.