PC Shutdown problem with MXI express

[SajK]

Hi all,

I am using PXI chassis (PXI 1042) controlled from a Dell Precision 390 Desktop. I am using MXI Express bridge (ie PCIe8360-PXI8360) to controll the PXI chassis. LabVIEW 8.2 is the programming language.

On shutting down the Desktop (with PXI chassis  ON), I am getting the following error and System halts there.

" *** Hardware malfunction

call your hardware vendor for support.

NMI: parity Check/Memory parity error

*** The system halted ***"

How can I overcome the problem?

Kindly suggest.

Thanks in advance.

SajK

[Jason W]

Hey SajK,

Do you get this error everytime you shut the PC down first, then the chassis?  Is it a blue screen or just a pop up?  Can you get a screenshot of this error?

This forum post contains more information on a similar issue.

Best regards,

Jason W
Applications Engineering
National Instruments

[SajK]

Hi Jason,
Thanks for the useful information.

I am shutting down the PC first and then switching off the PXI chassis. Most of the times i am getting this problem(Not always).It is a blue screen.Not a pop up message.

If I am switching off the PXI chassis first and shutting down the system, PC shuts down properly. 

I tested the same with another PC another MXI card (same configuration, Dell Precision 390) , it is working fine.It is not giving any shutdown problem.

I uninstalled the softwares and drivers in first PC and reinstalled it. Even then this shutdown problem exists, in first PC.

Can you tell what could be the problem?

Regards

SajK

[Jason W]

Hey SajK,

The problem could be with your BIOS in the PC that is giving the error.  The BIOS is supposed to enumerate enough resources required to use the MXI express card and several other PXI cards.  If enough resources are not open by the BIOS then this could cause problems.  I would recommend finding out if both PCs have the same BIOS version.  If the BIOS's don't match you can upgrade the BIOS by going to the PC manufacturer's website. 

If this doesn't fix the problem please post a copy of the memory dump file taken by Windows when you get the Blue Screen.  Here are instructions on how to get this file.

Regards,

Jason W
Applications Engineering
National Instruments

[SajK]

Jason,

Both PCs are having the same BIOS version.

I tried the method to get Memory dump file.I feel, it is not getting generated.I could not locate it in C:/WINNT folder.

After getting the blue screen with error, PC stays in that state unless power is switched off.

Regards,

SajK

[MissyS]

Hi SajK,

What operating system are you using? If you are using XP, this file will be located in the C:/WINDOWS folder. What cards do you have in the PXI chassis? If you remove all of the cards, do you see the same behavior? If you only use one card in the PXI chassis? Can it be narrowed down to a specific PXI card (other than the MXI-Express card) that has to be in the chassis to show this behavior?

Regards,

[SajK]

Hi Missy,

Following are the system details

Operating system :Windows XP

PC : Dell Precision 390

PXI Chassis - 1042 which presently contains only one card (PXI 8360)

I even tried upgrading BIOS to version 2.2.0. Still the problem persists.

If I am Restarting the PC, it is working fine. Where as on giving PC shutdown, PC halts with error. But memory dump file is not generated during Shutdown. I am switching off PC power after getting the error, as the system stays in same state.

If I am starting the PC without connecting MXI cable (with PCIe 8361 installed), it giving the following error. "Error in initializing PCI express slot." Is it normal? If MXI cable is connected and PXI chassis is powered, it is not giving any error during power up.

What could be the problem?

Regards

SajK

[MissyS]

Hi SajK,

There are two types of blue screens. A software blue screen creates a dump file saying which software caused the problem, and hardware will give a hardware malfunction error. In the case of a hardware blue screen you will not get a dump file. Here is a KnowledgeBase that discusses blue screens with MXI-Express at shut down. I hope this helps!

Regards,

[Robert__R]

SajK,

I may have a solution for you.  I suspect the problem is with the way Windows prepares devices for shutdown.  Please apply this registry key and let me know if it fixes the problem.  It won't take effect until after you've rebooted.

The registry key tells Windows that the device has a problem with the prepare-for-power-down state (D3 hot).  Save the file somewhere, then right-click and select "merge".

If you aren't able to download the file, copy these lines (between the "-----" lines) to a text file with a .reg extension, then merge that file.

-----

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\pci\Parameters]
"80860340"=hex:00,00,00,20,00,00,00,00
"80860341"=hex:00,00,00,20,00,00,00,00
-----

Thanks.

-- Robert

[SajK]

Robert,

Great!!

It is working fine after adding those 2 registry keys.

Can you tell me how these registry keys solve the problem.

Will it affect anything else (Operating system)?

Thank you very much.

SajK