LabVIEW installations were always something of a problem, particularly when more than one version was being installed. It worked "reasonably well" (except LabVIEW 2011) until LabVIEW 2017, which introduced NIPM, which had quirks that (I think) it took NI a year or two to figure out. It is still something of an issue when you want more than one version of LabVIEW on a system, particularly when the "difference in ages" is >2-3 years.
If the problem persists, and you have access to another PC (or a VM on which to try this out), you might try the following:
- Uninstall all NI Software using NIPM. Note this takes at least two passes, as NIPM has to remove itself as a separate step. Do not mess with the Registry. You (probably) can remove "National Instrument" folders on the "OS" part of the C: drive (i.e. not in "User" areas).
- Bring up Control Panel and go to Programs and Features. Scan the list of installed software and uninstall things that NIPM missed. I usually find VISA listed, and so far, found it safe to remove (if doing "remove all NI Stuff".
- You can (but might not need to) remove "Folders" on the C:\ drive in the folders "Program Files", "Program Files (x86), and "Program Data" called "National Instruments". (Note that "Program Data" is a Hidden Folder). If you install and use VIPM, you should probably also delete any "JKI" folders, as that holds information on the VI Packages you (had) installed (you'll want to re-install them).
- Reboot, and begin to install LabVIEW. Strange as it may sound, you "should" be able to install them either Oldest-first to Newest, or Newest-first to Oldest. [I absolutely could not install LabVIEW 2017 and 2018 "on top of" LabVIEW 2016 and had many talks and e-mails with Marina, a very patient Software Support specialist at NI, until she bugged the Development team who said "Install 2018 first". I didn't believe her at first, but after "doing it my way" and failing, I started over, did it "her way", and it worked!].
Bob Schor
