Will the Format Disk Option in MAX Format All Partitions on My Dual Booted PXI Controller?

Issue Details

I have a dual booted PXI controller and I currently have it running LabVIEW Real-Time (RT). If I right-click on the target in Measurement & Automation Explorer (MAX) and choose to format disc, does it format all partitions on my controller or just the RT partition?

Solution

When you choose the Format Disk option in MAX for a dual booted system, the system formats that first RT compatible partition. If it can't find a RT compatible partition or there is some issue with the RT partition, it deletes all partitions and creates a single RT partition.

If all partitions are deleted, all data will be lost and you will need to reinstall Windows. This should only happen if MAX cannot detect a RT compatible partition. This can happen if your RT file system becomes corrupt or the partition table is corrupted. To prevent loss of data, we recommend keeping an up-to-date backup of your Windows partition. 

If you want to instead just uninstall the software that is installed on the RT operating system, you can use the Add/Remove Software dialog window.

1. Open MAX and find your target under Remote Systems.
2. Under your target, right-click on Software and select Add/Remove Software.
3. At the bottom of the software installation list, select Uninstall all software.

Another way to format your controller is to use use a LabVIEW Real-Time Boot Utility USB Drive. This can be created in NI MAX and can be used to partition just the first RT-compatible partition or the entire drive. For more information on this process, refer to Using a Utility USB Drive to Format my Real-Time Phar Lap ETS PXI Controller .