Windows XP 64 PCI GPIB driver

[AndrewAlford]

I have just received a PC form DELL with XP x64, it does support 32 bit drivers. However the Device Driver CD I have that comes with the LV7.1 upgrade will not install it throws an error (Cannot install on a Windows 64 bit OS). The drivers from the LV 7.0 Install installed fine, but I require the DAQmx drivers from the 7.1 upgrade. The test computer is XP 32 bit, the 64 bit system is my desktop I do most of the coding on. So I don't need 64 bit drivers I just need a way to install the current 32 bit drivers on the 64 bit system.

Is this possible??

Thanks, 

[JoshuaP]

I'm a little confused. You mentioned that you have a new Dell that is 64-bit, are you running the 32-bit or 64-bit version Windows XP? If you are running the normal 32-bit version of Windows XP on the 64-bit system, then everything should install and work fine. However, if you are running the new 64-bit version of Windows XP x64 then you might be able to install LabVIEW on it, but you will not be able to install the driver CD or any other 32-bit driver.

32-bit applications will run on Windows XP x64 through what is known as the WoW layer, however it does not support and you can not use any 32-bit driver when running the 64-bit operating system.

If you want to use 32-bit drivers on the 64-bit Dell system you will need to install the 32-bit version of Windows XP x86 onto the system first.

I hope this helps out.

-Josh

[rpoffen]

JoshuaP is 100% correct. While many (not sure about "most" yet) 32 bit application code will run under 64 bit windows, drivers MUST be natively compiled as a 64 bit driver. Any "driver" package that supports both will actually have two different drivers, a 32 bit version and a 64 bit version. The .inf files have keywords (called decorations) so it knows what and how to install the 32 bit vs. the 64 bit versions.

If you try to install a driver that has only a 32 bit version on a 64 bit OS, the OS will generate an error and not allow it to be installed.

[AndrewAlford]

I was not part of the ordering process for the workstation so I did not realize it had XPx64. I have had nothing but issues with serveral of the current company software packages. Just to let others know DELL is shipping workstations with XPx64. I will exchange the OS for the 32 bit version as there is almost zero support and distribution onto 32bit systems would be virtually impossible.

Thanks for the replies.

[Joe Losco]

Since this became a discussion as to what is attractive to 64 bit, I figured I'd just say that people may not pick 64bit just for one benefit or one programs use alone.  Many people have many uses for 64 bit.  Being an engineer at a small company, I have many duties.  One of which is programming labview and another currently is CAD.  My current CAD program supports 64bit, and since it is a pretty heavy resource hog (when using large assembilies) in 32 bit, being 64 bit helps a lot as it can process larger amounts of data quicker. 

As more and more industrial applications support 64 bit, more and more people will support it.  Extra speed or resource availability would be great to be added for 64 bit support for labview, but at the moment any driver support is crucial, adding features / improvements as time to research / develop goes on.  Right now people who have had to go to 64 bit for other non labview reasons can no longer program on Labview with hardware targets on their main machine. 

[kozlov]

Is any news about NI Windows XP 64 PCI GPIB driver?

Is it possible to run LabView 8 using Ethernet connection to hardware (Oscilloscope)?

[JasonSmith]

While I do not have any further information regarding a 64 bit GPIB driver, you can communicate with ethernet instruments through NI-VISA in Windows XP 64.

Jason S.
Applications Engineer
National Instruments

[kozlov]

Dear Jason S.

thank you for your rapid response.

Do you thing NI offers Windows XP 64 PCI GPIB driver in the near future?

I guess it is important question for a lot of NI customers since most of up-to-date workstations are used Windows XP 64. As far as I know Matlab will support  Windows XP 64 within a couple of month.

Mikhail Kozlov 

[ScottieB]

While I don't want to reveal timelines as these are highly subject to change, we are actively working on this issue.

Scott B.
GPIB Software
National Instruments

[rpoffen]

That is the most promising thing I have heard so far. Please keep us posted!