Why can't NI-488.2 be upgraded?

[RTSLVU]

I have several test stations that need a new program deployed. It has been years since I touched these stations

Anyway now that I am trying to deploy my new program (LV2020) I found the stations all have an older version of NI488.2 and the LabVIEW installer can NOT upgrade 488.2 unless I manually uninstall the old version first.

When I go to uninstall the old NI-488.2 the NI-Uninstaller wants to also uninstall EVERY LABVIEW APPLICATION on the computer because they use NI-488.2, there is NO CHOICE to not uninstall everything!

That is completely unacceptable to have to totally destroy a working system just to install a program written in a newer LabVIEW version.

[Bob_Schor]

Can you spell VM?  No, seriously, dealing with multi-version LabVIEW can be painful, particularly how to keep "ancient" systems running (especially since changes to the Operating System can often not be avoided easily ...).  Sometimes a few "small" Virtutal Machines can do the trick ... .  If that doesn't work, maybe an inexpensive desktop or laptop (and take the "V" out of VM)?

Bob Schor

[crossrulz]

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@RTSLVU wrote:

When I go to uninstall the old NI-488.2 the NI-Uninstaller wants to also uninstall EVERY LABVIEW APPLICATION on the computer because they use NI-488.2, there is NO CHOICE to not uninstall everything!

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To be honest, there is a high probability the new NI-488.2 will not be compatible with those older applications anyways (assuming 2016 or earlier was used).  Also make sure the new driver works with the cards in your systems as there were older boards that dropped support.

[RTSLVU]

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@crossrulz wrote:

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To be honest, there is a high probability the new NI-488.2 will not be compatible with those older applications anyways (assuming 2016 or earlier was used).  Also make sure the new driver works with the cards in your systems as there were older boards that dropped support.

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The systems use a NI USB-GPIB-HS. 

[crossrulz]

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@RTSLVU wrote:

The systems use a NI USB-GPIB-HS. 

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Ok, you should be fine for now.  But do note that those devices are now listed as "Mature".  This means NI will stop selling them "soon" and drop driver support shortly after.  So if you are buying new, get the USB-GPIB-HS+.

GPIB Instrument Control Device (choose USB 2.0 for the bus type to weed out all the other options)

NI Hardware Product Life Cycle Policies 

[RTSLVU]

I just built a new installer that does NOT include new versions of NI-VISA and NI-488.2