Troubleshooting - PCI RS-232 or PCI RS-485 Windows 98 or 95

The following is a standard troubleshooting routine:

• If you do not have a free interrupt request level for the serial port, you must disable a device that is using an interrupt request level. To view the system-wide allocation of interrupt request resources and remove a device, perform the following steps:
  
  
  1. Select Start»Settings»Control Panel.
     
     
  2. Double-click on the System icon.
     
     
  3. Detect the Device Manager tab.
     
     
  4. Double-click on the Computer icon at the top of the Device Manager list of devices.
     
     
  5. Click on the View Resources tab.
     
     
  6. Select the Interrupt Request (IRQ) button. By scanning through the list of interrupt request settings, you can determine which devices are using which interrupt request levels.
     
     
  7. When you have located a device which you are not currently using, click Cancel to exit the Computer Properties window.
     
     
  8. Double-click on the icon for the device in the Device Manager list of devices. In the Device usage field at the bottom of the General page, a checkmark appears to the left of the current configuration, usually Original Configuration (Current).
     
     
  9. Click on the checkbox to remove the checkmark.
     
     
  10. Make sure that Use automatic settings is unchecked on the Resources page, then click on OK.
      
      
  11. Restart Windows 95 so it can correctly assign resources to the serial port. Then verify the installation.
  
  
• When the resources shown under the Device Manager indicate a conflict with another device, you can often correct the problem by manually selecting conflict-free resources. Follow these steps to manually change the resources of an NI serial port:
  
  
  1. Select Start»Settings»Control Panel.
     
     
  2. Double-click on the System icon.
     
     
  3. Select the Device Manager tab, and click the View devices by type button at the top of the page.
     
     
  4. Double-click the Multi-function Adapter icon. A list of installed interfaces appears.
     
     
  5. Double-click on the name of the serial interface you want to change, then click on the Resources tab.
     
     
  6. Uncheck the Use automatic settings checkbox and click on the Change Setting button. If the system does not allow you to change settings, select the configuration that gives you a conflict-free base I/O address and interrupt level from the Setting based on: list box.
     
     
  7. Click on OK to close the Device Manager. Your conflict problem should be solved.
  
  
• This section lists possible Diagnostic error messages, along with solutions:
  
  
  • If the No National Instruments serial port found error message appears, refer to the verification page to follow these troubleshooting steps:
    
    
    1. Verify the hardware resources.
       
       
    2. Verify that the National Instruments serial driver is installed and not the native Windows 95 serial driver.
       
       
    3. If either the serial hardware or niserial.vxd file is missing, reinstall the hardware and software.
    
    
  • If the utility reports fewer ports installed than it should, refer to the verification page to follow these troubleshooting steps:
    
    
    1. Verify the hardware resources.
       
       
    2. Verify that the National Instruments serial driver is installed and not the native Windows 95 serial driver.
       
       
    3. Check the hardware installation to make sure the correct number of boards/ports are installed.
    
    
  • If the error message:
    
    I/O address test failed, Interrupt test cannot be performed.
    
    appears, verify the hardware resources. If the test still fails, you probably have an I/O address conflict with legacy boards. Refer to the next section.
    
    
  • If the Interrupt test failed error message appears, verify the hardware resources. If the test still fails, you probably have an interrupt level conflict with legacy boards. Refer to the next section.
  
  
• Resource conflicts typically occur when your system contains legacy boards that use resources that have not been reserved properly with the Device Manager. If a resource conflict exists, write down the resource that caused the conflict and refer to the Microsoft Windows 95 User’s Guide for instructions on how to use the Device Manager to reserve I/O, IRQ, and DMA resources for legacy boards.