Field Upgrade Kits for PXI/PXIe Controllers: Compatibility and Installation Guide

This article provides a consolidated reference for NI Field Upgrade Kits used to install or upgrade Windows operating systems on PXI/PXIe controllers.

Use this guide to:

•    Identify the correct Field Upgrade Kit for your controller
•    Understand supported Windows versions
•    Follow a unified installation procedure

The table below summarizes the currently active Field Upgrade Kits:

Follow these steps to install or upgrade the operating system using a Field Upgrade Kit:

1. (If applicable) Ensure the controller BIOS version is compatible with the upgrade (Required for PXI-8840, PXIe-8821/8840/8880).
2. Insert the USB Field Upgrade Kit into a USB port before powering on the controller.
3. Power on the controller.
4. During the boot, press the <F10> key to access the boot menu.
5. Select the USB drive as the boot device.
6. Select the desired drive configuration and click Next.
   • Note: The default configuration is recommended for most users. This option will wipe the contents of the entire hard drive.

6. Select the Windows language you wish to install and click Next.
7. Click Finish to begin the installation. 
8. Eject the USB Field Upgrade Kit when the process is complete.

Additional Information

• Field Upgrade Kits are supported only on NI PXI/PXIe controller variants listed above for each Kit Part Number. Using a kit on a non-NI product will result in a warning message and is not supported by NI.
• Each Field Upgrade Kit can be used to upgrade one controller only.
• Field Upgrade Kits can be used for system recovery purposes.
• Each Field Upgrade Kit includes a Microsoft Certificate of Authenticity (COA) , which verifies that the operating system is an authentic Microsoft product. NI recommends attaching the COA label to the PXI/PXIe controller to avoid losing it.
• If a controller that has been upgraded using a Field Upgrade Kit is returned for repair (RMA), the system will be restored to its factory configuration. During this process, the original operating system specified in the controller’s Bill of Materials (BOM) will be reinstalled.
• Windows 10 IoT GAC reached end of support on October 14, 2025.