I assume this is an original model cRIO?
From your description my first suspicion would be that there is loose metal dust/debris shifting around inside the cRIO case (if this is an older cRIO).
That doesn't mean that it's damaged. The cRIO can take a lot of abuse and keeps ticking, but metal debris can temporarily short out parts of the circuits producing similar symptoms. Newer cRIO's aren't so susceptible to this.
It's easy enough to check.
Here are directions on cleaning it out and adding gaskets (you don't have to pay attention to the gaskets part if you don't have them):
http://team358.org/files/programming...%20Gaskets.pdf
Just handle the cRIO internals gently and carefully, holding only the edges of the circuit board.
I do the cleaning over an unused sheet of copy paper so I can see what falls out.
Other possibilities include not receiving 24v from the Power Distribution Panel. You can test this with a multi-meter at the cRIO power terminal.
That can be a low battery or a bad connection anywhere along the power lines leading from the battery, but the PDP power lights should be out if you have a low battery or bad wiring leading into the PDP.
By components I also assume you are referring to the Breakout boards mounted on the cRIO modules?
Those are powered separately from the cRIO, but would also indicate that the PDP is receiving at least some battery power.