User:DukeEgr93/Feb2019DAQ

Documenting work to get DAQ systems to play nice. Executive summary:

• Do not install NI-VISA drivers if you want MATLAB to work with NI cards.
• Install cards as admin, run MATLAB "as admin" whilst logged in as admin, and daqregister card
• Restart early and often.

• Log in with local admin password
  • Start NI-MAX
    • Do anything (click on a category, try to expand a category, etc) and note you get - "There was a problem connecting to the database" error 42HG08DD
    • Devices and interfaces shows PCI card as "PXI4::2::INSTR" which is a VISA designation
    • No way to un and reinstall as DAQmx without removing VISA drivers
    • Close NI-MAX
  • Control Panel - Uninstall a program
    • Select National Instruments Software and click Uninstall/Change; Yes to change
      • Select all NI-VISA components at end of list, then Remove Selected - wait as 41 things disappear
      • Close the National Instruments Software window
    • Close Programs and Features
  • Restart computer
• Log in with local admin password (note - this took several minutes during testing; re-registering hardware? Windows being annoying? Who can say?)
  • Start NI-MAX
    • Expand "Devices and Interfaces" category (no error this time)
    • Now shows as NI PCI-6014 "Dev 1"; click on the name and there are several tabs at the top including "Test Panels"
    • Close NI-MAX
  • Start MATLAB ***AS ADMINISTRATOR*** (even though you are logged in as administrator...weirdness)
    • daq.getDevices() (will take 2 minutes the first time...because of course it does); may show an ni device or not. Regardless,
    • daqregister('nidaq'); should get 'mwnidaq.dll' successfully registered
    • close MATLAB
  • Restart computer
• Log in as a regular person (grab a snack while Windows is preparing for...something)
  • Seriously - this takes about 5 minutes - Windows better be well done by the end of this...
  • Start NI-MAX
    • Finish snack. This start-up isn't what one would describe as speedy, either...
    • Expand "Devices and Interfaces" category
    • Still shows as NI PCI-6014 "Dev 1"; click on the name and there are several tabs at the top including "Test Panels"
    • Close NI-MAX
  • Start MATLAB the normal way
    • daq.getDevices()
    • (Any snacks left? Perhaps some tea?)
    • ((think happy thoughts))
    • ni should show up