Solution
If NI Package Manager is Installed
New versions of NI are installed through NI Package Manager and are distributed as packages. For this reason, it is not possible to remove just the Runtime. If an older version is required after installing newer one, consider using a separate computer or a Virtual Machine.
If NI Package Manager is Not installed
Applicable only if both LabWindows/CVI versions were not distributed using NI Package Manager.
The NI Installer Framework version 3.0 and later allows you to uninstall NI software without also uninstalling software that depends on it. This capability is not available through
Add/Remove Programs in Windows XP or
Programs and Features in Windows Vista/7. To uninstall software with this feature enabled, run the following command from the Windows command line:
For 32-bit Windows:
- “C:\Program Files\National Instruments\Shared\NIUninstaller\uninst.exe” /IgnoreDependents
For 64-bit Windows:
- “C:\Program Files (x86)\National Instruments\Shared\NIUninstaller\uninst.exe” /IgnoreDependents
Once the higher version of the Run-Time Engine is uninstalled, you can install an older version. It can be downloaded from
here. If the required version is not in the download list, contact NI Support.
This capability is only available with the NI Installer Framework version 3.0 and later. To determine which version of the framework is installed on your system, locate the following file on your system and view the
Details tab of the file
Properties:
For Windows XP:
- C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\National Instruments\MDF\BinRTE\MdfCommon.dll
For Windows Vista/7/8/8.1/10:
- C:\ProgramData\National Instruments\MDF\BinRTE\MdfCommon.dll
Some applications may not work with an older version of the LabWindows/CVI Run-Time Engine. National Instruments only recommends downgrading to an older version of the LabWindows/CVI Run-Time Engine if you are sure that none of the applications that you use require that version of the Run-Time Engine.