Self Test Error -50002, The specified device is not a valid device.

Question

I'm just an IT guy that knows nothing about Labview or DAQ cards that has been given the task of setting up a lab.
System is Dell GX280 with Windows XP SP-2. The DAQ card being used is a NI PCI-6251. The software used is Labview 7.11 and NI-DAQ 7.4.
Labview loads the professor's VI files as expected but when you start the vi it returns the following error.
Error -200157 occurred at the Traditional NI-DAQ Compatibility VI:AI Group Config.vi-> DAQmx Create Channel(AT-Voltage-Basic).vi
Also when you enter the Measurement and Automation application and browse to the device and execute a self-test it returns the following error.
Error -50002 occurred at Self Test
Possible Reason(s):
The specified device is not a valid device. The Operation could be completed as specified.
My question is are these errors because there are no devices connected to the DAQ? The professor claims that if nothing is connected it should still function properly. So now I'm trying to figure out what is wrong and the professor is not the friendliest in the world. I have tried reinstalling Labview and NI-Daq several times now and no luck using two separate computers. I would appreciate any assistance.

Answer 1

Hi Rice IT,
Since you are new to using this whole DAQ thing, then I'll start with just the basics.
Make sure you have no NI Devices in your computer (if you do, remove them then begin).
Install LabVIEW.
Install the latest DAQ drivers for your system (for you it's NI-DAQmx Version 7.5 for Windows 2000/NT/XP).
Power down the computer and insert your DAQ board.
When Windows boots you should see the New Device Wizard.  Have it search for and install the drivers.
Open Measurement and Automation Explorer (MAX) to test the device (Start > All Programs > National Instruments)
Go to My System > Devices and Interfaces > NI-DAQmx Devices, you should see your DAQ device.
Right-click on your device and click Self-Test.  If the device passes it should be ready to use
If that causes an error right-click on the device and Reset Device.
Redo Step 8 and perform a Self-Test of the device
If the Self-Test still does not work, then the board could be
broken.  Try to place the board in a different PCI slot, if other
boards are available then try to use a known working board in your
system.  If you still have trouble contact Technical Support.
Now your device should be working.  You can try to run a Test Panel and look at how your device performs.
You could also right click on Data Neighborhood in MAX and
Create New... DAQmx Task and try to make a more customized measurement.
Finally you can open an example in LabVIEW
Open LabVIEW > Open > Examples (or Help > Find
Examples) > Browse > Hardware Input and Output > DAQmx. 
Choose an example that is similar to what type of operation you are
trying to perform. 
Typically you will want to start with an example and then
build up from there.  If not, then you will want to take a look at
this KB
If you run into any problems, first read thru what the error message is
and where it occurs.  If that can't help you isolate the error,
then try searching ni.com for more information.  If you can't find
anything there, then check the forums to see if somebody else has had a
similar fate.  Finally if you cannot find any more information
contact NI's Technical Support.
Here are a few more resources that might help you with some of the basics:
Introduction to Data Acquisition
Learn 10 Functions in NI-DAQmx and Solve 80% of
Data Acquisition Applications
NI DAQmx FAQ
I hope you are able to get a better bearing of where you need to go from this information.
Regards,
Otis
Training and Certification
Product Support Engineer
National Instruments