LabVIEW version vs. OS compatibility

[hercules0]

I know this page provides the 'official line' on which versions work on which OS, but I also know that v5.1f1 will work just fine on WXP, but it isn't marked for that.

http://digital.ni.com/public.nsf/allkb/B972242574D4BB99862575A7007520CB

I have a new laptop with W7P64 and still need to support projects as far back as LabVIEW v5.1f1. When I try to install, the initial screen comes up, but when I click 'Install LabVIEW 5.1', it complains that it can't find the installer.

If I go directly to 'setup.exe' in the LabVIEW\install directory, it complains about version compatibility. I have set both of these to run with WXP SP3 compatibility and tried to 'Troubleshoot compatibility '.

Has anyone had success with this? What steps did you take to accomplish it?

[TiTou]

LV5.1 wow... Good luck!

One question though, what can be a good enough reason to not upgrade the code to a newer LV version? At some point the cost of finding tricks to install LV 5.1 on up to date OS will be more than upgrading LV and re-validate your app, no?

[hercules0]

The LV5.1 test programs run on 12 production test systems distributed around the world (still running W95). Although a new test system will eventually be developed and deployed, it is cost prohibitive to replace all of these systems across the board.

The task of converting all of the test programs to current LabVIEW would also be very arduous, considering the use of VXI and Test Executive in the test system, both of which are no longer supported by NI.

[RavensFan]

As Titou said, Good Luck.

Windows 95 is at least 17 years old.  You've been lucky you've been able to keep it running this long.

This is probably the point in time where you need to take the time and effort to upgrade.  It will be even more cost prohibitive when you get to the point that your existing equipment is no longer able to run.  Unfortunately you are already past the point of obsolescence, and you are going to just keep spending more time and money trying to prevent the inevitable day that whatever you do doesn't work, assuming you haven't already reached that day.

If you feel that you are able to get LV 5.1 to work with WinXP, then you should just reformat your new laptop and install WinXP on it.  The changes from WinXP to the Vista/Win7 environment are pretty significant.

[Luis_AM3C]

Hi,

        Install a Virtual Machine with Windows XP at your Windows 7 x64.

Best Regards,

[unclebump]

You could setup your computer to multiboot into several OS and have each one be independent of the other OS. Can be a real pain to setup, finding XP drivers for newer hardware can be a problem. I use paragon Hard disk manager suite for setting this up at home. Make a hard drive backup and tinker around with a spare hard drive while setting it up.