Success! I
- uninstalled all the VISA drivers for the NI cards with 17.5,
- logged in as admin,
- ran MATLAB as admin and registered the nidaq card
From that point forward, things worked. Not sure that was the smartest solution, but it worked... Still takes 90 seconds to issue the first daq command, but at least I can blink lights again! I did not end up needing to update the drivers past 17.5 nor did I end up needing to download the support package. It was ALL about the VISA drivers.