Self Test Error -50002, The specified device is not a valid device.

[Rice IT]

I'm just an IT guy that knows nothing about Labview or DAQ cards that has been given the task of setting up a lab.

System is Dell GX280 with Windows XP SP-2. The DAQ card being used is a NI PCI-6251. The software used is Labview 7.11 and NI-DAQ 7.4.

Labview loads the professor's VI files as expected but when you start the vi it returns the following error.

Error -200157 occurred at the Traditional NI-DAQ Compatibility VI:AI Group Config.vi-> DAQmx Create Channel(AT-Voltage-Basic).vi

Also when you enter the Measurement and Automation application and browse to the device and execute a self-test it returns the following error.
Error -50002 occurred at Self Test
Possible Reason(s):
The specified device is not a valid device. The Operation could be completed as specified.

My question is are these errors because there are no devices connected to the DAQ? The professor claims that if nothing is connected it should still function properly. So now I'm trying to figure out what is wrong and the professor is not the friendliest in the world. I have tried reinstalling Labview and NI-Daq several times now and no luck using two separate computers. I would appreciate any assistance.

[SG_ENGINEER]

Hi!

Usually the VI may state either an instrument number of the instrument name in one of the control. you might wana check under Program - > National Instruments -> Measurement & Automation. See if the DAQ card you installed has been detected. then check that the instrument number of instrument name is the same in here as in the VI. DAQ should function normally even without any other instruments connected.

Goy

Message Edited by SG_ENGINEER on 08-21-2005 10:02 PM

[Rice IT]

The DAQ card is detected in Measurement & Automation and the device ID name matches the Device ID in the VI. When I enter the Measurement & Automation browse to the card and try and preform a Self Test is when I recieve the following error.

Error -50002 occurred at Self Test
Possible Reason(s):
The specified device is not a valid device. The Operation could be completed as specified.

Windows found the card installed the drivers as expected and appears to see the card just fine. However when you try to actually use it nothing works.

[Otis]

Hi Rice IT,

Since you are new to using this whole DAQ thing, then I'll start with just the basics.

1. Make sure you have no NI Devices in your computer (if you do, remove them then begin).
2. Install LabVIEW.
3. Install the latest DAQ drivers for your system.
4. Power down the computer and insert your DAQ board.
5. When Windows boots you should see the New Device Wizard.  Have it search for and install the drivers.
6. Open Measurement and Automation Explorer (MAX) to test the device (Start > All Programs > National Instruments)
7. Go to My System > Devices and Interfaces > NI-DAQmx Devices, you should see your DAQ device.
8. Right-click on your device and click Self-Test.  If the device passes it should be ready to use
1. If that causes an error right-click on the device and Reset Device.
2. Redo Step 8 and perform a Self-Test of the device
1. If the Self-Test still does not work, then the board could be broken.  Try to place the board in a different PCI slot, if other boards are available then try to use a known working board in your system.  If you still have trouble contact Technical Support.
9. Now your device should be working.  You can try to run a Test Panel and look at how your device performs.
1. You could also right click on Data Neighborhood in MAX and Create New... DAQmx Task and try to make a more customized measurement.
2. Finally you can open an example in LabVIEW
1. Open LabVIEW > Open > Examples (or Help > Find Examples) > Browse > Hardware Input and Output > DAQmx.  Choose an example that is similar to what type of operation you are trying to perform. 
2. Typically you will want to start with an example and then build up from there.  If not, then you will want to take a look at this KB

If you run into any problems, first read thru what the error message is and where it occurs.  If that can't help you isolate the error, then try searching ni.com for more information.  If you can't find anything there, then check the forums to see if somebody else has had a similar fate.  Finally if you cannot find any more information contact NI's Technical Support.

Here are a few more resources that might help you with some of the basics:
Introduction to Data Acquisition
Learn 10 Functions in NI-DAQmx and Solve 80% of Data Acquisition Applications

I hope you are able to get a better bearing of where you need to go from this information.

Regards,

[Rice IT]

After many hours of troubleshooting I have it working now. I don't really know why it was not working just how I fixed it.

I fixed the problem by installing Windows XP without ACPI support. To do this when booting from the cd press F5 when prompted to press F6 for SCSI drivers. It will bring up a menu after a few seconds to menu with some options. Browse down and select Standard PC. This will install Windows without any ACPI support.

I assume the DAQ card was not happy about sharing its resources with other devices something Windows will do when using ACPI support. Only draw back is you loose the power management features of ACPI and Windows will no longer use dual processors or Hyper-Threading.

Again all I know is that it worked on two computers that both had the exact same error. I can't imagine no one else has had this problem with Windows XP so I'm thinking it may be a problem with Dell GX280s.

Thank you for all your help.

[Otis]

Hi Rice IT,

I'm glad to hear that you that you got everything working.  I didn't realize that you were using ACPI with your system. Unfortunately, DAQ cards are not ACPI compliant.

Other than that though, your system should work just fine.  I actually have a Dell GX280 with a PCI-6251 and Windows XP that's been working just fine ever since I got it.  It sounds like the real problem was with the ACPI turned on.

Great sleuthing,