Device Shows Up as a PCI/PCIe Simple Communications Controller

Issue Details

When I try to find my device in Measurement and Automation Explorer (MAX) or Device Manager, it appears as a PCI Simple Communications Controller with a yellow bang or question mark.

  

I would like to know if the PCI Simple Communication Controller corresponds to NI hardware.

Solution

This error occurs because Windows recognizes the device as a PCI(e) board, but the drivers for the device are not installed or were incorrectly installed. Follow the steps resolve this issue.

1. Identify which device corresponds to the PCI Simple Communications Controller by determining its Vendor and Device ID.
   1. In Windows Device Manager, right-click on the PCI Simple Communications Controller and select Properties. 
   2. In the Details tab, when selecting the "Device instance path" or "Hardware Ids" Property, there should be an entry similar to PCI\VEN_XXXX&DEV_XXXX&… The numbers after VEN and DEV indicate the Vendor and Device ID, respectively. For example, PCI\VEN_1093&DEV_70B8 means the Vendor ID is 1093 and the Device ID is 70B8. 

 

2. Look up your device on pcilookup.com to identify the vendor and the device description. For example, the above VEN and DEV values give the following result. 

   

3. Now that the device model is identified, follow the steps in Windows Does Not Have a Driver Associated with Your Device Error in MAX  to identify and install the driver for your device on this table.

 

Additional Information

PCI stands for Peripheral Component Interconnect and is an industry standard bus for attaching peripheral devices to a computer. The PCI Simple Communications Controller is a generic label that Windows gives to installed PCI boards in Device Manager when the drivers for the device are not installed.