Crash at compilation/Intermediate files generation LV FPGA module

[Heli]

Hi.

I'm in desperate need of assistance.

I have been using LabVIEW 8.6 with FPGA module running at Win XP for som time now and I have never encountered any crash while compiling before.

I get one of those Error messages where I just can send an error report to Microsoft.

I use the FPGA target RIO0, PCI-7833R and have designed a FPGA interface-VI including a number of functions. When I right-click at the VI and choose Compile, generation of Intermediate files begins. Now I never get further than the before LV crashes. Each and every time.

I have no problems opening the project file or my FPGA VI, updating them or saving them.

Grateful for help. Thanks!

/Henrik

[Davidek]

Hi Henrik

This is usually due to you running out of memory because you are trying to generate too many intermediate files. How much RAM do you have in your computer? Can you open the task manager and have it open while you are compiling so you can look at you memory usage? Also can you try compiling on another computer to see if the problem could be with the installation?

A workaround is to increase the amount of accessable virtual memory. See here for how.

Best Regards

David

NISW

[Heli]

Hi again, and thank you for your input!

I have increased the RAM from 2 GB to 3 GB but still I get the crash described before. Regarding the virtual memory I tried to add the "/3GB" line to the boot.ini as the instruction states, but when I reboot the resolution is extremely low and so is the number of colors. Is this the way it should get??

The memory used by LabVIEW prior to the crash is about 200-300 MB. A 10x margin of RAM should be sufficient I guess.

I haven't been able to try compiling on another computer partly since the LV-license are computer specific.

I have also tried compiling another, less complex VI and this too is crashing.

Hopeful that you've got any other clue...

BR

/Henrik

[Davidek]

Hi Henrik

If you are only using 300 MB in a 3 GB system and simple applications fail to compile doesn't sound lika a memory problem. Also that the error message you get is the standard windows program crash message points to something being wrong with the installation of compiler itself. Try doing a repair on the FPGA module. Go to the Control Panel -> Add or Remove Programs -> National Instruments Software (could be named something else if your OS is non-english). Click Modify and find the FPGA module, select it and click repair. You'll need the DVDs/CDs you installed from. Try it and let me know how it went.

Best Regards

David

[Heli]

Hi!

Thanks again for good ideas. Unfortunately it didn't help repairing. I tried with both FPGA Module and the FPGA compile server (even though the compilation process never reaches that far) without success. I even tried to repair the whole LabView 8.6 but with the same result.

Even before repairing I have been able to make another small VI work its way through the whole compilation without crashing. But when I replace the small VI with the previously "failing" VI, it crashes again. I have also tried to cut away most of the functions of the VI but it still crashes.

Is it possible that I have some kind of bad reference, some missmatch when instanciating and mapping any of the VHDL nodes or something like that that causes the crash? Still one would think that this should generate an error in LabView rather than generating a "windows crash", but maybe something can cause the file generator to fail completely. It has been working before and I did a very small change when the crashes started, but something is obviously wrong, so...

Since its crashing even before connecting to the compile server, do you think I can rule out any damage/failing on any of the HW (e.g. the National specific HW and my external board and the on-board FPGA? Since I'm running out of ideas myself I guess I could look into that as well, but I can't see that that's the problem.

BR

/Henrik

[Davidek]

Hi Henrik

Any chance you could post the failing VI? Since the other VI works everything now points to the VI. I'm guessig you've tried creating a new project and compiling via that?

Best Regards

David

[Heli]

Sure. I attach the VI that I have been cutting away large parts from but it still fails. You're correct, I have been trying to compile in new projects but it doesn't seem to help.

I think it would be very helpful if you would be able to recreate the problem at your system. If you also need the VHDL-files I think it would be better if I e-mailed them for confidential matters.

BR

/Henrik

[Spectre_Dave]

I am using LV 8.5.1 and I was having weird crashes when compiling also. I tried everything then in desperation I deleted the temporary files and was able to compile. I have compiled scores of times before but suddenly it went wacko!

You can find your temp files at:

C:\NIFPGA86\clntTmp

C:\NIFPGA86\srvrTmp

Just delete the folders that correspond to your project.

There is also this file statusGlobal.dat that I deleted also

[Davidek]

Hi Henrik

Heard from a collegue that you've been in contact with the local NI support and that they have all the code and are running test. I think that what you are doing, rebuilding the VI piece by piece until you find the part that causes it crash is probably the best way to go. I'll keep an eye on the service request, but feel free to continue posting here anyway, there are always people with good suggestions (like VADaves) out there.

Best Regards

David