GPIB Installation/Configuration Troubleshooter

Installation Procedure for Non-Plug and Play GPIB Boards

1. After installing the driver successfully, launch the Add GPIB Hardware Wizard. You will be presented with a list of all the GPIB boards already present in the system (if any). Hit the Next button to proceed.

Note: Your non-plug and play board will not show up in this list until after you use this wizard to add it to the system. Windows 2000 cannot detect non-plug and play hardware.

2. The Add GPIB Hardware Wizard will prompt you to select from a list of GPIB boards that the driver supports:

Select your board type from the list and hit the Next button.

3. You should now see a set of resources to use with your GPIB board. Configure your GPIB board for these resources. To make your life easier, the Add GPIB Hardware Wizard includes an image of what your dip switches and jumpers should be set to, in order to match the resources assigned to the board (this is just an example of what your screen will look like):

4. Once the Add GPIB Hardware Wizard has finished and you have configured your board for the resources assigned to it, power down your computer and install your board.

5. Power on your computer.

6. Launch the NI-488.2 Getting Started Wizard, which will prompt you to "Verify your hardware and software installation":

This will send you to the NI-488.2 Troubleshooting Wizard, which will confirm that your driver software and GPIB hardware are properly installed.

Did your GPIB hardware fail the NI-488.2 Troubleshooting Wizard's tests?

Did the NI-488.2 Troubleshooting Wizard tell you that it couldn't find any GPIB interfaces in your system?

7. Next, you will be prompted to "Communicate with your instrument":

You will be led through a six step procedure on how to find GPIB instruments with the Measurement & Automation Explorer and communicate with them using the NI-488.2 Communicator.

8. You may now hit the Exit button to leave the NI-488.2 Getting Started Wizard:

Note: You may exit the NI-488.2 Getting Started Wizard at any time by hitting the "X" in the upper right-hand corner of the window. Be sure to select the "Do not show at Windows startup" checkbox, if you do not want the NI-488.2 Getting Started Wizard to run again the next time you boot your system. This checkbox will be selected automatically, when you complete the NI-488.2 Getting Started Wizard.

9. Your board is now properly installed, so you can go to the Hardware Installation/Configuration Troubleshooter to configure your hardware.

Troubleshooting Tips

If your GPIB board does not pass the NI-488.2 Troubleshooting Wizard, then:
1. Select the board that failed by left-clicking on its interface name (e.g., GPIB0).
2. Click on the Help button for more information.
3. Follow the troubleshooting instructions suggested.
If the troubleshooting suggestions do not help, then remove the GPIB cable(s) from your board(s) and run the NI-488.2 Troubleshooting Wizard again.
If your GPIB board is not found, then click on the Interface is Not Listed button for more information.
If the NI-488.2 Troubleshooting Wizard told you that it couldn't find any "properly configured GPIB interfaces", then check to see if your board is present in both the Windows 2000 Device Manager and in the GPIB Configuration Utility.

If it is not present in both places, then see the troubleshooting page on undetected GPIB boards in Windows 2000 for more information.