Simple Windows INF and Sys files

[bdaniel230]

I am using a proprietory test bench which we have had on our site for at least 10 years.  We use the PCI GPIB boards as the software was written to use this card.  But the CD which came with the new GPIB card is breaking the proprietory software due to the number and hooks which are written into the device driver for the card.

Is there any possible way to get just a simple INF and Sys file combo for this card so that the PCI bus of the PC will see it and I can use it with our software?

[smercurio_fc]

Are you referring to a National Instruments card? Is the old card also an NI product? What was the software written in? If the old card is not an NI product, and the new one is, it's not likely to work since the software would be using drivers specifically for that card, and these would not work with an NI card.

[bdaniel230]

Yes the old card is an National Instruments PCI-GPIB, basically the same card as the new one.  The old card is actually still in use in another computer, running the same software.  The only change is that, for a few months the computer was idle and the card was removed from the PC I have set up to run the test bench as well as one of the other devices so it required a reinstallation of the software and operating system.  The test bench software is running IVI 2.6 but it works fine with the other card so the problem arises when I use the installation CD for the newer card.  The card shows up just fine in device manager and the software works fine as well but the software cannot talk to the card and if I install the card with the CD the test bench software gives errors referring to the absense of instruments and will not start.

I can query the instruments with MAX when I install using the CD so the instrument driver is alright, all are for 2.6 IVI, but they won't interface with the test bench software.  The test bench originally was written by or for NI but that was a number of years ago and NI no longer supports it. 

I really just need a driver for the GPIB that will install in Windows XP but doesn't have to be installed with other software that corrupts the IVI of the test bench.  I have tried installing the card with the CD then installing the test bench software but that doesn't overwrite the IVI layer and I cannot access the instruments when installed in that manner.  When I install the test bench software then the card, the test bench reports the card presence but doesn't communicate with it at all.

[Swathi B]

Hi bdaniel230,

Do you have further information on the system configuration with the older NI PCI-GPIB card? Do you recall what driver versions you had previously installed so we can possibly identify what is causing this incompatibility?

Message Edited by Swathi B on 05-18-2010 05:51 PM

[bdaniel230]

I no longer have access to the old card, I have been attempting to get the person that has it to give me the info but it is hit and miss contacting him, I know the IVI version is 2.6 so it was compatible with the instrument drivers that were installed.  I can get this card to see the instruments but it is not identifying them like the old card did and if I use the install CD which came with the new card it willl not interact with the test bench software.

[Swathi B]

Hi bdaniel230,

To me, it's still a little unclear how you are using IVI 2.6. Could you please clarify this further? Also, even if you don't know your previous configuration, it would help to see what version of the NI-488.2 drivers came with the CD. In fact, you can generate and attach a MAX technical support report, as detailed in the following KnowledgeBase.

Documenting Measurement & Automation Explorer (MAX) Configuration Information