Create bootable USB key to format PXI hard drive and boot into RT OS

[WHAVEman]

It seems that the old MAX utilities for floppy (eg 'Create PXI Format Hard Drive Disk') do not have a replacement that will work with the newer 'floppy-less' PXI controllers.  I need to reformat my PXI hard drive (PXI-8186) to boot into RT, but am not having any luck.  I have seen several threads with ideas related to this topic (active ~6 mts ago) but no real solution. 

A)  There is reportedly an option (Phoenix Firstware) to hold down F4 key while PXI is booting that will restore factory OS, but this method did nothing for me (despite looking like a click-happy maniac this morning ;)).
B)  USB floppy drive is an option, but I don't have one, and have heard that this solution is also not foolproof. 
C)  Create bootable USB key...  tried this also (using utility from HP) and was eventually able to get PXI to boot into DOS, but still not sure how to get RTOS files bootable.  I will continue down this road for the time being...

Any suggestions would be much appreciated; there's got to be a 'relatively' easy way to do this, RIGHT?!?

[Jimmie_A.]

Hello!

Guess your controller has Windows 2000 or XP installed and you want the controller to be a so called dual-boot controller so you can either run in Windows or in Real-Time.

If you bought your controller as a Windows controller only and not as a dual-boot controller this link will help you out, and it goes through some basic requirements as well such as that the hard disc must be formatted using FAT32:

https://knowledge.ni.com/KnowledgeArticleDetails?id=kA03q000000YIckCAG&l=en-US

Restoration or change of an operative system and how to do this can be found here:

https://www.ni.com/en/support/documentation/supplemental/18/restore-the-operating-system-of-pxi--vxi...

[WHAVEman]

Thanks for the response Jimmie...

Actually, I don't really need to dual-boot (at least not at this point).  I just need the RTOS installed and bootable from the hard drive. 

I've already reformatted the drive as FAT32 from USB key, I just need a function similar to the floppy solution in MAX that I can use via USB.  I don't have any of the recovery cd's, although if I did I suppose I could use a network drive to get this done.  However, it would really be best to have a USB method working so that we can do this in the field (where USB key may be the only viable solution). 

[Nadim R]

Hi,

There is a possible way to create a bootable USB Key to format a PXI Hard Drive, however, its a hit or miss situation. 


Hope this helps.

Regards,

Nadim R
Applications Engineering
National Instruments

[WHAVEman]

Hi Nadim,

I've actually already created the bootable USB key; the problem is more of getting the correct RTOS files on the bootable key.  I've tried copying the files from the 'Create PXI Format Hard Drive Disk' floppy.  But, so far, the PXI doesn't like this.  It seems to think that the USB key that I am booting off is the C: drive (instead of the actual hard drive), so I end up reformatting the USB key that I am trying to boot from.  😞  Hope that makes some sense.  As you mentioned, this method seems to be hit or miss.

Anyway, I also tried using the 'Create Desktop PC Utility USB Drive' feature in MAX, in the hopes that it would do the same thing for the PXI that it is supposed to do for desktop.  Once this feature was installed onto USB key, the PXI booted into an options screen that allowed me to reformat the hard drive.  This actually worked!! 🙂  After reformatting, I was not yet able to run RT though (don't remember the exact errors I got).  1st, had to boot into RT safe mode, connect via MAX, and install software.  At that point, I was able to boot into RT like normal.  I don't know if this method is foolproof, but it did work for me, and requires only a USB key and network connection to host running MAX.

I also noticed there is a 'Format Disk' option in MAX when you right-click a remote system.  I have not tried this method yet, but it may be even easier than messing with the USB if it works.

[JR_A.]

OK, let me try to clear things up. In order to run LabVIEW Real-Time on a PXI controller purchased without RT originally (Windows only), you need to purchase a LabVIEW Real-Time Deployment License for NI PXI Controllers. (You also need a deployment license if you are going to run RT on a desktop PC so it is a similar deal as that.) The PXI controllers without floppy drives which are capable of running RT (such as the PXI-8186) have an EEPROM with LabVIEW RT Safemode on it. To boot into RT you have to either set a DIP switch on the motherboard or set it in the BIOS. I'd recommend the BIOS because it is easier. In the BIOS you'll have the option of LabVIEW RT Save Mode or just plain LabVIEW RT (normal mode). You can select LabVIEW RT because if it doesn't find RT installed on the hard drive it will load safe mode from the EEPROM. That should get it to boot up into LabVIEW RT Safemode so that you can see the controller in MAX on a host PC. The next thing is to make sure the hard drive is formatted FAT32, since if it currently has Windows it is probably NTFS. (Note that formatting the drive will erase all of the data including Windows) You can right-click on the target in Remote Systems in MAX and you should have the option to format the target. I'm pretty sure that will actually do a low level format which would convert from NTFS to FAT32. (If by chance it isn't a low level format you'd have to use a utility like a bootable USB drive with a Win98 disk loaded on it.) Then after it is formatted you can install software on it and you should be good to go.

-JRA

[WHAVEman]

-JRA

It sure seemed that there must be an easy way to do this...

It is as simple as reformatting directly from MAX (by right-clicking remote device, and selecting 'format disk' option), booting into safe mode from the BIOS, & re-installing s/w from MAX.

I haven't verified that the MAX format is low-level either, but if so, this is definitely a simple solution that should work 99% of the time.  Exactly what I was looking for.

Thanks

[wsallamy]

Hi

I am facing a problem with PXI 8186 controller which does not boot in the RT moode, I had recognized that the problem will be solved if the  LabVIEW Real-Time Deployment License for NI PXI Controllers is being used.

I am using LabView 8.0 can I have  LabVIEW Real-Time Deployment License for NI PXI Controllers that supports the same version, keeping in mind that I don't want now to upgrade my  LabView 8.0 software, is there any chance to do so.

Thanks

Waleed

[Eric A.]

Hi wsallamy,
Let me know a little bit more about your problem.  It sounds like your PXI controller currently uses windows and you want to convert to an Real-Time system.  If this is the case you will need to upgrade the software you are using because NI does not sell out of date software.  If you go to Resources and then Evaluation Software the only available version to test is 8.5.

[wsallamy]

Dear Eric A.

Thanks for your reply,

My problem is that I want to boot my PXI 8186 controller, which is currently using windows into the Real time mode so as to be the target that is connected to host PC.

Do you mean that the current LabVIEW Real-Time Deployment License for NI PXI Controllers does not support old LabView Version 8.0, keeping in mind that it is needed for the hard ware adjusting.

So it seems that I must first upgrade my LabView 8.0 to the new LabView 8.5 then second buy the LabVIEW Real-Time Deployment License for NI PXI Controllers, is this what you mean?

Regards,

Waleed