Windows7 / Vista / XP USB-SERIAL Driver Loading SmartLink Version 2012.0.13+ The following information will help guide you through configuring, testing and debugging of USB-SERIAL (LINKING) issues. These instructions assume the use of the Sabrent USB-SERIAL adapter or equivalent on Windows XP, Windows Vista or Windows 7 computers. NOTE: Other “Prolific Chip Set” based adapters may work but are not supported.

1. Select “USB-SERIAL Configuration / Testing help” for complete details on these commands. Review this document before proceeding. Do NOT do any of its steps yet!!! 2. Select “Install USB-SERIAL Driver (Prolific Chip Set)”. If the installation tells you that it “wants” to remove an existing copy of the driver, DO SAY YES to remove any existing copies. 3. If step #2 REMOVED an existing copy then again, select “Install USB-SERIAL Driver (Prolific Chip Set)” 4. Turn the computer OFF then ON (Reboot the computer) 5. Now follow the instructions in the “USB-SERIAL Configuration / Testing help doc” to verify proper operation of the driver. 6. After the driver load is verified functional then attempt a LINK. 7. If the LINK fails then perform the LOOP-BACK testing procedure to determine if the cabling or the module is the cause of the NO-LINK condition.

USB-SERIAL Utility Commands USB-SERIAL Configuration / Testing Help: Contains a pdf file of driver setup and LOOP BACK testing information. Basic information which needs work but…. It does get the points needed across.

Install USB-SERIAL Driver (Prolific Chip Set): Installs the Prolific drivers (latest). Automatically determines operating system and installs appropriate driver.

Serial Adapter LOOP BACK Test: Provides a testing command to test that the driver/adapter and cable are working by jumping pins on the end of the cable. Instructions are in the USB-SERIAL Configuration/Testing Help pdf.

List installed com ports / adapters Displays a list of all install com port devices.

Open Device Manager / View Installed Adapters Opens the windows device manager so the device driver can be examined.

The Steps to install and configure the USB-SERIAL LINK cabling are in the following documentation. The basic tasks to be accomplished are….. 1. 2. 3. 4.

Install the USB-SERIAL Driver. Set the DRIVER to the adapter – see Windows 7 or Windows XP instructions below Verify LINK connection. If LINK fails, use LOOP BACK commands to DEBUG any problems.

USB-SERIAL Driver Install Select Install USB-SERIAL Driver (Prolific Chip Set) If the following dialog appears respond “Yes”. The existing driver will be removed. NOTE: You will have “Run Install” again after the removal completes.

If the following dialog appears then you are ready to complete the installation of the driver. Select “Next”

Accept the agreement terms and select “Next”.

After the progression dialog completes…..

Select “Finish” to complete the driver installation.

Windows 7 / Vista Verify / Assign Driver Load Plug the USB-SERIAL adapter into the computer. NOTE: Do not connect to the module at this time.

Select “Open Device Manager” from the main menu.

You will see one of three possible listings after expanding the below tree items, “Other devices or Ports (COM & LPT)”

Double click one of the corresponding “RED CIRCLED” items below.

Select “Update

Or… select the

Driver”

“Driver Tab” then select “Update Driver”.

Select the “Browse my Computer for driver software.”

Select “Let me pick from a list of device drivers on my computer.”

If the following dialog appears select “Show All Devices” and then pick the “NEXT” button.

A list of drivers currently available on the system will now be displayed. If only ONE available driver is listed, select it.

If multiple drivers are listed try 3.2.0.0 [ 7/31/2007]. If no drivers are available or none of the available drivers work then you must install driver(s) using the proper driver install package before it will show in the listing.

Select close. If the driver loaded successfully then the YELLOW icon will be gone and it should work. If it did not, then try a different driver. Until you get a driver to load successfully, there is no need to try to LINK to the module.

If the following error dialog appears then try a different driver.

Windows XP Verify / Assign Driver Load Plug the USB-SERIAL adapter into the computer. NOTE: Do not connect to the module at this time. Select “Open Device Manager” from the main menu.

DOUBLE CLICK on the Driver Listing to open its properties.

Select “Update Driver”

Check “No, not this time” then select NEXT

Check “Install from a list or specific location (Advanced) then NEXT

Select “Don’t search I will choose the driver to install” Then select NEXT

Select a prolific driver. Either of the two show below select the 2.0.4.102 (9/30/2008) driver. Then select NEXT

Select “Finish”

If this dialog “Does NOT show success and shows an ERROR” then try a different driver. A computer REBOOT may be needed.

Select close. If the driver loaded successfully then the YELLOW icon will be gone and it should work. If it did not, then try a different driver. Until you get a driver to load successfully, there is no need to try to LINK to the module.

USB-SERIAL Adapter and Cable LOOP BACK Testing

A command is available to allow testing of the adapter and cable. This test will determine if the adapter and cable are functional and will also identify the adapter Com Port #.

To test the adapter you need to use a small steel screw driver and provide a JUMPER between pins 2 & 3 during the test.

A small screw driver blade can be held against the pins to produce the required LOOP BACK.

To test the adapter AND SmartLink Cable, you need provide a JUMPER between pins 1 & 3 in the end of the SmartLink Cable which connects to the module.

After the jumpers are in place, then select…

“Serial Adapter LOOP BACK Test”

The software will search all communication ports on the system sending a “test string of characters” out each port looking for the LOOP BACK jumped connector. A dialog will be presented listing all found communication ports and which port PASSED the LOOP BACK test. This should be the SmartLink Cable. In the below example the found cable was Com #5 and the software will be configured to use that port.