Windows Device Manager: The Drivers for This (NI) Device Are Not Installed

Issue Details

• After connecting my NI device or module, it shows up as Other Devices in Windows Device Manager with a yellow exclamation mark or yellow question mark.
• The device status reads: The drivers for this device are not installed.
• When I check the device in Measurement Automation & Explorer (NI MAX), either it does not appear or there is following message: Windows does not have a driver associated with your device.

Solution

You are receiving this message because Windows Device Manager cannot locate the driver files to associate with your device. Follow the steps to check if the device driver software is installed on your computer:

1. Check that you have installed  the correct version of your driver for your version of Microsoft Windows. Check your individual product to see what driver it uses. 
   • Most Data Acquisition NI Hardware uses the NI-DAQmx driver . Make sure to check the NI-DAQmx and Microsoft Windows Compatibility.
   • If using serial communication, use the NI-Serial and NI-VISA drivers.
   • If using GPIB communication, use the NI-488.2 driver. Troubleshooting Instrument Drivers provides more information about these drivers as well.
2. Checking the Readme file for the specific version of your driver  to ensure your device is supported by the driver. You can find driver Readme's posted to NI Manuals and NI Downloads .
3. If you have already installed a compatible version of your driver, then you can try re-associating your driver with your hardware. In Windows Device Manager, right-click on your device, click on Update Driver Software.
   1. Click on Browse my computer for driver software.
   2. Choose Let me pick from a list of device drivers on my computer.
   3. Highlight the device whose driver you want to update and click Next. If your device is not listed under device models, then the driver software was not properly installed.
4. If the device driver can't be found, or you need to modify your driver version, you must run a force reinstall of the driver as an admin. Follow the steps in Force Reinstall Non-Working or Corrupt NI Software.
   • You may be able to run a repair of the DAQmx driver instead of a full uninstall and force reinstall. The repair operation takes less time than an uninstall and force reinstall, but it will not always resolve the issue. If you run a repair and you are still having issues, proceed with an uninstall and force reinstall.
   • Note: Uninstalling NI-DAQmx and reinstalling it normally leaves behind driver files that could be corrupted. You must run a force reinstall through the command prompt to properly overwrite these files.
5. If you are using PXI(e)/PCI(e), follow the next process to make the BIOS and OS recognize the PCI bus' components again:
   1. Turn off the computer/controller.
   2. Remove the cards from the chassis/motherboard. 
   3. Turn on the computer/controller without the card.
   4. Turn off the computer/controller once the operating system loads.
   5. Insert your card (try using a different slot that the original one, if available).
   6. Turn on the computer/controller with the card.
6. For PCI(e) modules, if all the above steps fail, install the necessary drivers on another computer, install the PCI(e) modules and attempt to identify them in NI-MAX/Device Manager. If this is not possible, it is likely that the modules themselves have malfunctioned.

Additional Information

Refer to Can't Find DAQ Device in Measurement & Automation Explorer (MAX) if you continue experiencing troubles detecting your devices once the correct driver shows up in the Windows Device Manager.