pxi-1042 hardware switch in boot options

[azotov]

I have a PXI-1042 chassis that runs WinXP and LabVIEW RT. For some reason is started booting XP unless I change boot settings in BIOS every time I trurn the PXI on. One of the boot options is a hardware switch; I could not find it on the manuals. Can anybody tell me where to search for that boot switch??

Thanks a lot

[Texas_Diaz]

You must have a dead backup BIOS battery.  

On the RT controller itself, you'll find the TINY set of DIP switches on the underside of the circuit board where the hard disk is mounted.  It's in a different spot depending on the controller, and unless you recognize the TINY DIP package as what it is, you'll never find it (It usually has a black casing with white or brown plastic switches).  Here is a link with decent images of where the switches live and look like - a PXIe-8105 has the same mounting as a PXI-8196:

http://digital.ni.com/public.nsf/allkb/597D83D21D5BDD1B862573150076B9BD

Good luck!

-Danny

[azotov]

Thanks a lot.
How can I find what type of battery I need to purchase. I searched through PXI-1042 user manual and could not find bios battery there

[Texas_Diaz]

Hey there.

The PXI-1042 is just a chassis with a backplane, think of it as just a "smart box with power".  The PXI controller inside it in Slot 1 actually contains the brains of the system - its the little computer in the system (think of it as the motherboard).  If you pull out the PXI controller in Slot 1, that controller is where you'll find the itty bitty DIP switches, but somewhere (usually on the board opposite the hard drive) you'll find the little button battery (usually a 3V button battery) like you would on most any computer motherboard (if you have a controller with a user-serviceable onboard battery).  On both my PXI-8106 and PXIe-8105 I have at my desk, they have the Panasonic CR2032 3V battery.  

Be aware, however, not all controllers have replaceable batteries.  Check out this KB on PXI controlller batteries:

• Batteries for PXI Controllers

-Danny