Installed NI 5421 device, but it doesn't appear in MAX

[exo]

We installed a NI 5421 PCI signal generator onto a Windows 2000 PC. The software (NI-FGEN) installed smoothly, but when I open MAX, there is no corresponding signal generator device under My System->Devices and Interfaces->NI-DAQmx. I simultaneously installed a high-speed digitizer, the NI 5122, which DOES show up in MAX. The Windows device manager claims that both NI 5421 and NI 5122 are working properly. While the soft front panel for the signal generator that installed with NI-FGEN gives no indication of any problem, I am unable to measure a signal on the output channel after executing a waveform.

[Drew Creel]

Does your PCI 5421 show up in the Device Manager?  (Right Click on "My Computer", go to Manage->Device Manager).  If it shows up under "Data Acquisition Devices", make sure it is installed correctly and not disabled.  If it does NOT show up in the Device Manager, make sure the PCI card is seated properly in the PCI slot on the motherboard, or try placing the device in another PCI slot. 

The FGEN Soft Front panel is probably using a "simulated" device, which is why you aren't able to measure any signal coming out of your device - this is the default behavior when the Soft Front panel does not detect any devices.  You can verify this by going to Edit->Device Configuration in the FGEN Soft Front panel and looking at the "Device" box - if it says "Simulate (etc)" then it is using a simulated device, and not your PCI 5421.

Let me know what you find out about your device in Device Manager.

Drew Creel

NI Software Engineer

Signal Generators Group

[exo]

NI 5421 does show up in the device manager, and its "properties" indicate that it's working. Stranger yet, in the FGEN softpanel, I looked under edit->device configuration and it actually shows "Dev 1, 0, NI PCI-5421" in the device field.

[Drew Creel]

Interesting, so the device is recognized by the OS but not by MAX.  What version of NI-FGEN are you using?  Does the device appear under "My System->Devices and Interfaces->PXI System" in MAX?

[exo]

I'm using version 2.2.1 of FGEN. I looked under PXI in MAX and nothing is there.

[Drew Creel]

Alright, let's try the following:

1)  Close all NI applications - LabVIEW, MAX, etc.

2)  Go to Start->Run and type "net stop nidevldu".  Answer "Y" to any prompts that may appear.

3)  Go to Start->Run and type "net stop mxssvr".  Answer "Y" to any prompts that may appear.

4)  Rename the folder "C:\Program Files\National Instruments\MAX\Data" to "C:\Program Files\National Instruments\MAX\Data2".  Restart your computer.

This will cause MAX to re-create its internal database of devices, which may have been corrupted by a recent installation or some other issue.  Let me know if this solves your issue.

[exo]

Thank you! The device now appears in MAX. I'd like to test the signal generator but don't have any cables with SMB connectors (though I'm about to order an adapter). Do you recommend an alternative way to test that the signal generator is physically working? Otherwise I'll assume it's fine until I have the equipment needed to properly test it.

[Drew Creel]

Excellent!  You could try self-calibrating the board, which excercises most of the hardware on the device.  If self-cal passes, I think you can be pretty confident that the board is working.  To run self-cal, right click on the device in MAX and select "Self-Calibrate" at the bottom of the menu.

[exo]

Great - the self-cal worked. Thanks again.