Multiple cPCI Graphics cards - System Hangs during Boot

Question

We have 2 Kontron dual output CP332 cPCI graphics cards to install into a NI PXI rack in order to give us 4 graphics outputs.
When one card is installed it acts as the Primary graphics card and it is required to disable to NI on-board graphics card in order for this to boot and function correctley.
If a 2nd Kontron CP322 card is added the system will hang during WinXP boot, as it switches from VGA to SVGA mode.
Disabling the 2nd card via device manager allows the system to boot.
Re-enabling the 2nd card once booted, then configuring with the ATI driver application allows the 4 graphics output to work as expected.
If the system is re-powered it will once again hang during WinXp booting.
Is there anything that can be configured on the NI Embedded PC (BIOS) to prevent this ?
Is there anything in windows that can be set to prevent this ?
Can we control the windows device manager from labview in order to enable/disable the 2nd card after power-on and before shutdown.
many thanks

Answer 1

Hi Scott,
I have some more information for you regarding your issue. We have tested the Kontron CP332 with the PXI-8196.
However when we tested the setup, we had 3 monitors working, the on-board graphics and the dual output from the card.
Until we get the on-board graphics working with a single CP332 I don't think we will get bot CP332's working.
So these are the steps to get on-board graphics working with a single Kontron card the steps come from talking to our PXI Product Support Engineer:
"The first thing you need to make sure is that you are using the
driver for Windows XP, and not the one for Windows 2000. Here's a link
to the driver download page:
http://us.kontron.com/index.php?searchword=cp+332&id=363
Notice that the first two driver downloads look just the same, but if
you hover over them and look at the url, you'll notice that the first
one is for Windows 2000 (w2k), and the second one is for Windows XP
(wxp). So, just make sure you are using the second one. The PSE did
mention that she was initially using the Win 2k driver, and was having
some issues with it hanging and all. Here's the information she sent me
about how she was able to get things working:
"Here is the info. My controller has BIOS version 1.3 but have him try this first before updating the BIOS.
The Kontron Board is the CP 332. I was able to get all three monitors working with the PXI-8196.
Configuration steps:
1) Insert both the controller and the kontron board in the chassis.
Note: When the computer is starting it will give you the Windows boot
up screen on the DVI 1 on the Kontron board and then give you the login
screen on the monitor connected to the 8196 so make sure you still have
a monitor connected to the controller.
2) Cancel the NI installation wizard if it comes up.
3)
Unzip the drivers and run the setup.exe file. Make sure you install
both the ATI display driver and the ATI Control Panel. (Check the zip
name to make sure you have the xp version of the driver)
4) After
restart go to the Display Properties and under the Settings tab you
should have monitors 1 and 2 on Mobility Radeon 9000 (Kontron CP-332)."
If you don't have BIOS version 1.20 or higher, please upgrade to BIOS version 1.30, if you need to upgrade the BIOS please make sure you fully understand the readme file. Then follow the steps above to enable triple output on the graphics cards.
When you have this working please try adding the second Kontron card.
Regards
JamesC
NIUK and Ireland