can't find GPIB on laptop

[HMP]

I have Microsoft XP Prof. installed on my laptop along wth LabVIEW 7 Express and Max 3.0.1. I am writting code for a test module that is suppose to interface with just two instruments, one being a Yakagawoha MV100 (Ethernet connection) data recorder and a Keithley 6517 SMU (GPIB to PC/laptop card).
My first problem is that  when I open MAX or drop a visa resource on the front panel of a vi, the computer is not seeing the SMU. It sees the recorder but I can't communicate with it.
I'm at a loss.
What are issues I might be having with my laptop?

Desperate and frustrated,

Harene

[Dennis_Knutson]

First of all, are you using an NI card in your laptop? If so, what is the version of NI-GPIB and NI-VISA that you are running. These will be listed in MAX. When you go into MAX and right click on the GPIB interface listed, have you done the Scan For Instruments? If it's not listed, can you try with a different cable or another GPIB instrument.? Have you tried to detect the instrument on another pc with a GPIB card?

[HMP]

Unfortunately it is not a NI card 😞 not by my choice of course. Its an IOtech card.

[Dennis_Knutson]

Then it won't work with MAX (MAX is for NI boards!) and unless IOtech has a VISA driver for it, you won't get any instruments to show up in a VISA Resource Name control/constant. Unless they have a VISA driver in fact, you can't use VISA at all to communicate to the instrument. You may be able to use the NI GPIB functions because IOtech claims compatiblility but I wouldn't know that for sure. Chances are, if you downloaded an instrument driver from Keithely or NI, it would be written with VISA so you will have to re-write that.

The NI pcmcia board is only $30 more than the IOtech and the USB controller is actually cheaper. I don't think the person who required the IOtech board was very smart.

[HMP]

Thanks, I'll check with the manufacturer.