MXI card and PXI chassis not detected

[Raybie]

Hi,

I have a system running fine with the following configuration:

• Windows 10 64bit
• NI PCIe-8361 ( computer is running MXI BIOS Compatibility Software, DIP Switch 1 is ON position)
• NI PXIe-8381
• NI PXIe-1065 with 5 cards

Due to some business reason I need to install a new windows into the same system (into a separated SSD).

The MXI card and PXI chassis not detected after installation (all drivers, NI components have been installed ...etc). Nothing is visible in Device Manager and in NI MAX.

MXI BIOS Compatibility Software is also running in the new OS but it cannot detect any device.

If I switch back to the old OS (by replacing SSD) everything goes fine.

So this telling me that all HW must be ok and the differences somewhere in the OS.
I tried everything what is described here: https://knowledge.ni.com/KnowledgeArticleDetails?id=kA03q000000x0MKCAY&l=nl-BE, but no success.

Any other ideas would be appreciated.

Thank you!

[Robert__R]

Hi Raybie,

It sounds like there's a problem with the MXI BIOS Compat SW -- if it doesn't work right then you won't see much in the system. I assume you're using it because you have to (and turning it OFF means the computer won't boot). You could try reinstalling it -- I'm not sure why it wouldn't be working.

Are you using the 838x board or 836x? You've got one of each listed (and they don't work together). If you have the PXIe-8381 board, please update to the newer 2016 firmware and then try with the BIOS compat switch OFF. The newer firmware improves compatibility in some systems, and that would be an easy way to dodge whatever problem you're having with the SW.

There should be 1 PCIe bridge visible when the switch is ON when the compat SW isn't working. In the working system you can select the NI SMBus Controller or one of the PCI bridges, then go to "view -> devices by connection". Windows will expand the tree to what you've selected, and you can see which root port you're under. Using that information you can find the root port in the non-working system to see if there's a bridge under it. If you make it that far you can look at the bridge's properties, choose the Details tab, and select the property "Hardware IDs". That's what the BIOS compat SW is looking for.

- Robert

[Raybie]

Hi Robert,

Thanks for the ideas!

- It was a typo in my first message. Both are 8381.
- No software or driver reinstallation helps.
- MXI BIOS Compat SW is installed because it is installed in the working (old) system and card is in Mode 1 (DIP Switch 1 is in ON position.)
 The strange thing is that new system behaves the same way with and without MXI BIOS Compat SW. The system does not crashes and does not detect MXI card in either case.
-  It seems that some layer is missing from the new OS system based on the device manger, but no any improperly installed device is listed.

- I would leave the firmware update as the last step. I don't know what causes this in the working system. The old OS was somehow configured to work with the hw. I would like to find a solution to do the same with the newly installed OS.

Robert

[Robert__R]

The image only shows a PCIe upstream switch port which means the MXI BIOS Compat SW isn't recognizing the card. When it successfully runs you'll see the downstream switch port. It's pretty independent of other drivers on the system.

Have you tried multiple versions of MXI Compat? It's clearly not working right but I don't know why. I don't know if older or newer versions would kick it into gear. It will put messages into the event viewer, which may give some clues, but I don't know much about that.

Otherwise your best hope is to update the firmware and see if it will boot with DIP switch 1 off.

- Robert

[Raybie]

MXI Compat 18.0, 21.8, 2023Q1, 2023Q2 all with the same result. NI MXI card is NOT recognized
15.0 causes Windows black screen at startup (startup crash)
All other NI sw compenenst are 19.x (LabVIEW, PXI Platform Services, NI Drivers) 
Is it possible that there is still something missing to MXI Compat to run correctly?

Robert

[Raybie]

There was an erro rmessage in Event Viewer:

- imaq drivers/components have been removed as temporarily solution
- MXI Compat 2023Q2 has been reinstalled
- this gave me some hope:

but still no PCI bridges (and MXI) card in device maneger
- and the bad news:

Could any of the above information give us any clue for the next step?

Thanks,

Robert

[Robert__R]

Sorry for the delay, I've been out of the office and missed the notification for this post.

The nipxirfk error about licensing means that there was an issue with finding the right IDs. It shouldn't happen with functional hardware, so I'm not sure what's happening there. I don't know whether the earlier nipximxk error is a cause or effect.

I still think your best bet is to update the PXIe-8381 firmware and try without setting the DIP switch. This could sidestep the issue (MXI Compat doesn't affect operation once enumeration is done, so it won't really change things if you don't use it).