Product Notice: Software Problem May Corrupt Configuration in MAX (HSDIO 1.5.3)

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Primary Software: Driver Software>>NI-HSDIO
Primary Software Version: 1.5.3
Primary Software Fixed Version: 1.5.3
Secondary Software: N/A

Problem:
Please be advised that National Instruments identified a problem in NI-HSDIO 1.5.3 that, in some cases, may corrupt configuration data in Measurement & Automation Explorer (MAX) if installed over a prior installation of NI-HSDIO or other National Instruments device drivers. Even if you do not have a prior installation of National Instruments device drivers, you may affect other systems with this problem if you create installers with National Instruments device drivers or install National Instruments device drivers to PXI or desktop Real-time systems.

You could be affected by this issue if you downloaded NI-HSDIO 1.5.3 from the web before December 10, 2007. Installations of NI-HSDIO 1.5.3 from a CD or downloaded after December 10, 2007 are not affected by this issue. Please accept our apology for any inconvenience this may cause. National Instruments is committed to your total satisfaction and to maintaining your confidence in our products.

Warning: This functional error can cause damage to your computer software system, including system crashes, failure of hardware and/or software systems, and malfunctions or failures of electronic monitoring or control devices. To avoid harm to property or persons, including the risk of bodily injury or death, you must determine whether you are affected and take the “Action Required” described below.

If you downloaded NI-HSDIO 1.5.3 prior to December 10, 2007, but have not yet installed this driver on your system, we strongly recommend that you do the following:

Delete the NI-HSDIO 1.5.3 installer from your system.
Download and install the version of NI-HSDIO 1.5.3 which does not exhibit this issue. You can download NI-HSDIO 1.5.3 here.

If you downloaded NI-HSDIO 1.5.3 prior to December 10, 2007 and installed it on your system, or you are unsure how you obtained NI-HSDIO 1.5.3 you must determine whether you have been affected and how to resolve the problem. Follow the procedure described below.

Solution:
This section outlines:

How to Determine if a System is Affected
How to Return to a Working State if a System is Affected
What to Do if You Use PXI or Desktop Real-Time Systems
How to Prevent Affecting Other Systems

How to Determine if a System is Affected
Systems that have been upgraded from NI-DAQmx 8.6.0f5, NI-DAQmx 8.6.0f6, or NI-DAQmx 8.6.0f7 to NI-DAQmx 8.6.0f12 are affected. NI-HSDIO installs NI-DAQmx as an underlying component. You can see the currently installed version of NI-DAQmx within Measurement & Automation Explorer (MAX) by expanding the Software category.

If you do currently have NI-DAQmx 8.6.0f12 installed, then you can run the attached utility to determine if NI-DAQmx 8.6.0f5, NI-DAQmx 8.6.0f6, or NI-DAQmx 8.6.0f7 was previously installed.
Update: The attached utility is only useful for a one time check for the upgrade case. Once you have taken action to return your system to a working state, the utility's message will not be useful.

How to Return to a Working State if a System is Affected
If a system is affected, the configuration data in Measurement & Automation Explorer (MAX) may be corrupted. This corruption may not be initially noticeable but it is recommended that you perform the following steps on all affected systems even if there is no noticeable corruption.

Note: This procedure will remove all configuration settings. The next time MAX is launched, you will have to configure all of your hardware again.

Perform the following steps to delete the MAX configuration settings:

Exit all NI applications.
Launch the command window:

Select Run... from the Windows Start menu.
Type "cmd", and click OK.
Type "net stop mxssvr" and press Enter to stop the MAX database service. If you are prompted to stop other services, stop them.
Type "exit" and press Enter to close the command window.

Find the Data folder:

On Windows XP and Windows 2000:
1. Navigate to C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\National Instruments\MAX\Data\
2. The folder named Application Data is a hidden folder. You can view hidden folders by selecing Tools » Folder Options... » click the View tab, and selecting Show hidden files and folders.
On Windows Vista:

Navigate to C:\ProgramData\National Instruments\MAX\Data
If this folder cannot be seen, go to the C: drive and then in the menu bar, choose Organize » Folder and Search Options » click the View tab.
Select the Show hidden files and folders option.
Deselect the Hide protected Operating System files option.

Delete the Data folder.

Note: Deleting the Data folder in its entirety will remove all configuration settings. The next time MAX is launched, you will have to configure all of your hardware again.
Reboot your computer.

What to Do if You Use PXI or Desktop Real-Time Systems
If you use PXI or desktop Real-Time systems, go here to determine if those systems are affected and, if so, how to return them to a working state.

How to Prevent Affecting Other Systems
You must uninstall NI-DAQmx 8.6.0f12 from your system if it is possible that you will:

create installers that include National Instruments device drivers, OR
install National Instruments device drivers to PXI or desktop Real-Time systems.

Note that uninstalling NI-DAQmx will also uninstall NI-HSDIO. After uninstalling NI-DAQmx 8.6.0f12 from your system, you may download a fixed version of NI-HSDIO 1.5.3 that is not affected by this issue here, or install a later version of NI-HSDIO if available.

Please contact National Instruments support if you have any additional questions.

www.ni.com/ask

Related Links:
Download NI HSDIO 1.5.3

Attachments:

Report Date: 12/20/2007
Last Updated: 01/02/2008
Document ID: 4GJBKTVB

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