Problems MXI-4, configuration manager & database, clean MAX install

[janaf]

Hi,

I have a problem with MXI-4 / PCI-8331

- It's a clean MAX installation, using the default installation option.

- Win XP 32. The PCI-8331 is the only PCI board in the PC

With the MAX GUI not running, plug and play detects the board.

If I reboot, connect PXI 8336 and another PXI board (6641) in the PXI rack, it's deteted OK by PnP.

But as soon as I open MAX and expand the device tree, the configuration manager stops.

I ge the message "NI-PAL service Manager has encounterd a problem and needs to close" and "MAX timed out while waiting on a driver".

- I have removed all hardware, reinstalled MAX but the problem remains the same.

- I have deleted the configuration in C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\National Instruments\MAX\Data Dictionaries\Last

- I can see a number of dll being re-written there when I restart MAX, however there is no config3.max file (searched the whole disk) as suggested elsewhere.

- It seems that if I only have the PCI card installed, I still have the same problem.

How can I find if there is a problem with the board hardware, the BIOS, or the MAX installation?

Thanks

[janaf]

- tried other PCI slots, no solution.

- took the PCI-8331 out pf the PC. Put in a non-MXI board, an M-series board, booted, then there where no problems when starting MAX.

I hope this limits down the scope of the problem a bit, but does not solve the PXI problem....

[janaf · Accepted solution]

Partly solved.

The PCI-8331 seems to works in another PC, with a newer BIOS.

Could not test with the MXI-8336 an rack hooked up yet, as it's in another location.

Uptdating the BIOS of the "faulty" computer did not help, so it seems like a new computer/mainboard is needed.

[Davidek]

Hi Janaf

Which version of MAX and DAQmx are you running? If you are not using the latest version compatible with your version of LabVIEW I would recommend upgrading.

Best Regards

David

NISW

[janaf]

I am using the latest MAX and NI-DAQmx versions available on the NI site on both the machine that works, and the one that does not. Both are out of the box installations.

So it seems to be a BIOS issue, unless there are other differences between my two installations which I can not identify. 

I will simply swap computers. I will let you know if this does not work....

[janaf]

I have now tested two other (newer) PCs without problem, so the problem was most likely the PC / BIOS.

[Davidek]

HI Janaf

Happy you were able to get everything working. Would it be possible for you to post which chipset and BIOS versions you were using in the so others can avoid the same problems?

Best Regards

David

Message Edited by Davidek on 11-30-2009 05:16 AM

[janaf]

For me these have been working with the MXI-4 / PCI-8331:

MSI K9A2 Neo/MS-7388 mainboard. AMI BIOS V2.61

ASUS M2N mainboard. AMI BIOS v2.58

These two are  boards with AMD Athlon 64 dual core CPU, made 2007?

This one was not working with the MXI-4 / PCI-8331:

MSI K8MM3-W7181 mainboard, AWARD v6.00PG BIOS

This is a board with a AMD Sempron 2600+ made 2006?

This computer is working without any problems otherwise.

Others reading this may want to add to this list the computers / mainboards used with or without success with the MXI-4 PCI board.

[Davidek]

Thanks Janaf

/David