Serial COM Ports Missing in MAX or LabVIEW

Issue Details

• When I expand Devices and Interfaces in Measurement and Automation Explorer (MAX), the COM port for my serial device (ex: USB-232) does not show up.
• When I try to open a VISA resource in LabVIEW, I cannot select any serial ports as a VISA Resource Name. 

Solution

• Make sure you have the latest compatible version of the full NI-VISA driver installed. Installing the NI-VISA Run-Time Engine will not allow you to access or create serial interfaces in MAX.

1. Determine compatible driver versions by cross-referencing the following: 

• NI-VISA and Operating System Compatibility
• NI-VISA and LabVIEW Version Compatibility (if applicable)

2. Use MAX to identify the version of the driver currently installed. 
3. Install the version of NI-VISA if it is not the latest compatible one. Be sure that you select NI-VISA Configuration Support under "Additional Items you may wish to install" during your installation, as omitting this software during your installation will prevent NI-MAX from detecting any of your resources.

 

4. Restart the computer.

• If the latest compatible NI-VISA version is already installed, Force Reinstall Non-Working or Corrupt NI Software.

• If you installed third-party VISA software, follow the steps in After Installing 3rd Party VISA Software NI VISA No Longer Works to make sure NI-VISA is the primary VISA implementation on your system.

• Try to add the serial interface manually in MAX.

1. In MAX, right click on Devices and Interfaces under My System and select Create New...
2. Select Port (Serial or Parallel) and click Next. 
3. Select ASRL Number and Serial Binding. Click Next.
4. (Optional) Define an Alias.
5. Click Next and then Finish.