I2C/SPI Interface Device Not Identified Correctly In NI MAX

Updated Apr 24, 2025

Reported In

Hardware

  • USB-8451

Software

  • Measurement & Automation Explorer (MAX)

Driver

  • NI-845x Driver Software

Operating System

  • Windows

Issue Details

I am using an NI-845x USB as a master interface for connecting to and communicating with I2C or SPI devices.
In Windows Device Manager it's showed with the Firmware Loader status.

In NI Measurement and Automation Explorer it's presented as an Unknown device.  

Solution

This is usually related to the NI-VISA driver corruption, and the error can start happening after you attempt changing the name of the device. To fix the issue follow these steps:

  1. Plug your NI-845x USB device
  2. Navigate to C:\Program Files (x86)\National Instruments\NI-845x
  3. Launch FirmwareUpgrade.exe, which will remove the firmware currently installed on the device and install a new firmware
  4. Restart the computer.

If the steps above do not work, you can try:

  1. Repairing the NI-VISA driver using NI Package Manager by Repairing Software in NI Package Manager (NIPM) - NI 
  2. Reboot the machine.
  3. If you still cannot access the Devices Options, you may need to Reset and Fix the Measurement & Automation Explorer Database File - NI 

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