WaveRunner 6100A GPIB connection

[robert-cz]

Hi,

I used LabVIEW 8.0 installed on the WaveRunner 6100 A Oscilloscope (scope connected to the motion controller through GPIB), but from time to time LabVIEW shut dawn without any error message (probably memory issue). I decided to use external PC to remote control of WaveRunner 6100 A Oscilloscope through GPIB (Windows 7, LabVIEW 2010, PCI-GPIB card). Everything looks fine with the GPIB. I can communicate with our motion controller through the MAX, as well as through our vi for measurements. The problem appears when I try to communicate with scope. There is an error message:

Initialization vi from Lecroy drivers gives the error:

The same problem appeared in the past after some changes in the scope and usually without any reason and disappeared suddenly without any explanation. BTW now the vi, which was working before on the scope gives the same errors.
The one thing which is disturbing is that in the scope there is and message: "GPIB initialize failed", however even with this message everything was working almost fine before. I asked Lecroy support but I still haven't got any answer.
I don't know if there are some drivers missing, but how it is that sometimes it works or not?

Warm Regards

Robert

[Leonard33]

Hi Robert,

I don't know who you spoke to at LeCroy or did you ask via the website? (I am usually pretty good about getting back to folks that request help on our website).

If I missed you somehow, I appologize.

A few items to note:

1. Anything you install on the scope that uses resources takes away from the performance of the scope.

2. LeCroy recommends to never install LabVIEW or any NI software on the unit. (especially NI-GPIB, LeCroy uses a special GPIB driver that keeps the unit from ever being a controller).

3. If you installed a GPIB driver, the GPIB interface will not work anymore and usually the only way to fix it is to perform a recovery on the hard drive. (sometimes, you can uninstall the NI driver and re-install the LeCroy driver but I have found that most times, this does not fix it.  My suspicion is that like all other software, the uninstall does not completely remove everything from the registry.

All that said, I would peform a recovery on the scope first.  You can get the instructions from here: http://www.lecroy.com/Support/TechLib/ProductManuals.aspx?type=2&cat=1&capid=106&mid=528&smid=657

Just expand the WaveRunner 6000(A) section and the first link is the document for recovery.

Once you have done the recovery, the GPIB interface should be OK again.  If you are still having a challenge getting it going, go ahead and give me a call at 1-800-553-2769 (1-800-5LeCroy) and select option 3 for scope technical support and we will be happy to help. (If I am not the person that picks up the line, you may ask for me by name and they will transfer your call to me).

Hopefully, the recovery gets you back up and running.

Cheers,

Leonard Brown

LeCroy Applications Engineer

[robert-cz]

Hi Leonard,

Thanks for the answer. I asked LeCroy via website.

So, when I installed the GPIG drivers, GPIB became a controller and from that moment it is not possible to communicate with the scope through GPIB. But we needed to control the motion controller through GPIB from the scope (PC in the scope's box). Is it possible to control any device through GPIB when it is not a controller? Just curiosity because we do not need this any more, since we try to control the scope and the motion controller by using external PC.

I guess your advice helps to solve a problem, but the recovery doesn't work (after running the recovery application and choosing the recovery option PC is rebooting and windows is loading normally, without any changes). So, we are uninstalling NI drivers and software, now. I hope it will help.

Do you have any tips where in the register the information should be removed?

Cheers

Robert

[robert-cz]

Hello again,

After removing the LabView and NI drivers, we installed the LeCroy software and drivers from the installation package and problem is worse than before. The DSO software is not loading. The error (below the post) appears  and the only thing which can be done is to close it.

I tried to find the solution for this error but it seems like there is no good solution for it.

Does anyone had the similar problem (it seems like this discussion is far away from NI problems, now)?

Cheers
Robert

[robert-cz]

and the error message (somehow missed in previous post).

[Leonard33]

Well,

It was definitely not my intent to create more issues.

After the recovery is completed, the firmware installation should have installed the GPIB driver.

It may be a setup file issue from the previous firmware installation.

On the 😧 drive, browse to the setup folder and delete "CurrentPnl.lss" and "CurrentNvl.lss"

Re-start the DSO application and let it create the files again.

If that does not fix the error, you can re-install the firmware (I have seen occasions where the firmware install does not take.  My theory-not proven yet-is that the download may have been corrupted).

You can get a new copy from our website: http://www.lecroy.com/Support/SoftwareDownload/FirmwareUpgrade.aspx?capid=106&mid=533&smid=http://

If you are still having issues after that, please, do not hesitate to give me a call.  You are correct, this is not an NI issue, it is a LeCroy issue and LeCroy needs to help you with this. (that would be me!).

You can reach me at 1-800-553-2769 extension 6088 from 8am to 5pm Pacific Time.

Cheers,

Leonard Brown

LeCroy Applications Engineer