.NET framework disables GPIB in Windows 98

[Naylor]

Our newest gui is done in VB.NET and when the installer runs it automatically installs the .NET framework if the target PC does not have it.  Once it installs the .NET framework, the GPIB card gets disabled (Windows 98SE and 2000).  We upgraded the NI-488.2 to version 2.3 in the Win2000 machine and it fixed our problem.  Windows 98SE stopped being supported at version 2.2 and therefore cannot be fixed this way.  Is there another fix for this problem on a Windows 98SE machine?

Thank you very much.

[LoganS]

What exactly do you mean the card gets disabled?  Installing .NET should have no effect on the GPIB interface.  Even still, in Windows 98SE, have you tried reinstalling the 2.2 driver.

Logan

[Naylor]

It gives a runtime error "Run-time error '48'  File not found: GPIB-32.dll" when I try to use the GPIB interface with the new gui written in VB.NET as well as the older guis written in VB6 that worked before the install of the .NET framework.  At first, I suspected the 98 machine itself, so I tried using a Windows 2000 machine and when I recieved the same error, I knew my install was causing it.  I tried uninstalling the gui and .NET framework, installing NI-488.2 v2.2, and reinstalling the gui and got the same errors on the 2000 machine, then I realized we had the newer version 2.3 so I redid the test using v2.3 and everything works fine on the 2000 machine now.  I did the same thing on the 98 machine and it would not accept v2.3, so I was stuck using v2.2 and I still am not able to use GPIB.

[LoganS]

When you get that error in software, can you still go into MAX and communicate with GPIB instruments?  In Windows 98 you should also be able to verify that the GPIB interface is installed correctly in a device manager as well.  If both of these are true, this sounds like the NI-488.2 DLL is being unregistered.  This is just a thought, mind you, but could you try running "regsvr32 GPIB-32.dll" in what ever directory you have GPIB-32.dll installed?  Please let me know.

Logan S.

[Naylor]

Hello Logan S.
I was getting a lot of illegal operation errors while trying to open MAX, then I finally got it to open but cannot communicate with the GPIB instruments.  It does not detect any instruments.  The card is shown as working properly in the device manager.  I think you're right about the dll being unregistered but when I tried to register it, I got an error that said

"LoadLibrary("C:\WINDOWS\Desktop\oleacc.dll") failed.
GetLastError returns 0x0000045a."

I looked this error code up and I believe it means that I need some other dll's to install this one.

Thank you very much for all of your help so far.

Ben Naylor

[Naylor]

Logan S.
I found a solution on the NI website.  It said that it may be looking for an old driver instead of the new one that does not require gpibmngr.dll and to uninstall the software, any old LabView software, and the PCI card driver from device manager, then reinstall the NI-488.2 software.  I tried this and it works now, MAX still gives some illegal operation errors when I try to open it, but I can communicate with the unit through our new GUI.  Thanks for all your help.

Cheers,
Ben Naylor