creating a dual-boot PXI controller

[faustina]

I am trying to use the 'Dual Boot PXI RT Controller for Windows and RTOS' http://digital.ni.com/public.nsf/allkb/B106BD4C654F0F2A86256E8E00245C84 article to configure my PXI-8106 RT controller as a dual-boot system.  Step 1 seems to start from Windows, but I have a RTOS.  How would this step change?

[A_Ryan]

Hello faustina,

Step 1, in the KnowledgeBase listed is intended to consolidate memory space.  You can skip this step if you like, or you can also search the web for third party defragmenting tools.  The main point of defragmenting the harddrive is to consolidate memory.  Here is a KnowledgeBase that further expounds upon this notion.

Depending upon how you elect to treat step 1, you can follow the rest of the instructions to complete the dual boot.  Also since this is an unsupported feature, I would encourage you to back up all of your data prior to attempting this procedure.

[faustina]

Using MAX, I've reformated the hard drive on the PXI System.  Next, I went into the BIOS of the PXI Controller (version 1.2.2) and

1)  set Boot Configution to Window/Other OS

2)  set Boot priority order to begin with the USB CDROM

3)  set the Legacy USP Support to Enabled

Then I tried rebooting with a Windows XP installation CD in the USB CDROM.  The PXI Controller got stuck in the startup and said I needed to go into Setup.  Is my BIOS version too old?  http://digital.ni.com/public.nsf/websearch/97BC7E1EDEFE268A86256C0F006D7977?OpenDocument 

Don't I need to install Windows XP prior to running PartitionMagic?

[A_Ryan]

Hello faustina,

Yes you can upgrade the BIOS.  Also another item to worth considering is if you have the NI Embedder Controller OEM Re-Installation DVD (Windows XP SP2).  This DVD is another way to create a dual boot controller other than using the Partition Magic.Finally, you may want to try a different USB CDROM.  Just to ensure it is not an incompatibility with drive. 

The KnowledgeBase step 2, recommends to install Partition Magic then the different operating system.

[faustina]

After modifying the BIOS as previously described, I tried to boot the PXI System with a PartitionMagic CD.  The CD cannot start PartitionMagic because it cannot find a device driver for the CDROM (NI part # 778492-01).  But is does start something called Caldera DR-DOS 7.03.  About all I can get it to do is give a directory listing of the CD.  When I goto the Norton tech support site (formally PowerQuest) I get no indication that PartitionMagic can be made to run with LabVIEW RT, the OS on the PXI Controller.  How can I get a copy of the NI Embedder Controller OEM Re-Installatin DVD?

[A_Ryan]

Hi faustina,

Lets try the below procedure to install Windows on this PXI controller:

1. Plug in a USB DVD ROM drive into the PXI controller
2. In BIOS set this drive to 1 in the boot order section
3. Safe the current BIOS configuration
4. Exit BIOS
5. Shut down the DVD ROM drive
6. Shut down the PXI controller
7. Boot the DVD ROM drive (with Windows CD)
8. Boot the PXI Controller

After completing these steps, it should populate a set of instructions that will allow you to install Windows on the PXI controller.