How to Install the Driver
1) Plug the cable into a USB
port.
2) The “Welcome to the Found New Hardware Wizard” or "Add
New Hardware Wizard" (Win98) should appear.
If it doesn’t appear, go to step 9.
3) Ensure the product driver CD (included with package) has been
inserted in your CD-ROM drive.
4) Select the option, “Install the software automatically
(Recommended)” or "Search for the best driver for your device"
(Win98).
5) Press “Next.” Win 98 users should check CD-ROM drive.
6) Windows should find the “Prolific USB-to-Serial Comm Port”
driver. Otherwise you should find the directory under your
version of Windows under the "USB to RS232 1.1" directory on the
CD-ROM. Windows 98 lists the device as "GM USB to Serial Bridge"
7) You will probably see a message indicating that the driver
has not passed Windows Logo testing. Press “Continue Anyway.”
This warning can be safely ignored.
8) Press “Finish” when prompted by Windows to complete the
installation.
*** If the “Found New
Hardware Wizard” did not appear in step 2 ***
9) Open Device Manager by doing the following:
a) Click on “Start” and then “Control Panel.”
b) Switch to Classic View (if in Category View).
c) Double click on “System.”
d) Select the Hardware tab.
e) Press the “Device Manager” button.
10) Under “Ports (COM & LPT),” look for a USB Device entry with
a yellow exclamation point '!'
by it.
11) Right click on the USB Device and select “Update Driver.”
12) This should bring up the “Welcome to the Hardware Update
Wizard.”
13) Ensure the product driver CD (included with package) is
inserted in your CD-ROM drive.
14) Select the option,“Install the software automatically
(Recommended).”
15) Press “Next.” Continue from step 5 above.
Looking for Drivers?
1) Go to the Device Manager:
Windows XP/Vista/Win7/8: Start -> Control Panel
-> System -> Hardware -> Device Manager
Windows 2000/2003: Start -> Settings ->
Control Panel -> System -> Hardware -> Device Manager
Windows 98/ME: Start -> Settings ->
Control Panel -> System -> Device Manager
2) Click on the plus sign (+) next to "Ports."
3) If the device is installed properly, you will see
"Prolific USB-to-Serial Comm Port. (COMx)" or
"USB to Serial Port (COMx)" (Win98). Note that x is the number
of the COM port (typically 1-8)
assigned to the adapter.
First check to
see that the Beagle Software application is set to the correct
COM port number. To determine the COM port number assigned to
the adapter, check the Device Manager (see above).
It is also possible that
the COM port number assigned is too high. Sometimes a device won't work with
the USB-to-Serial adapter even though everything appears to have
installed correctly because some computers
will only scan a limited number of COM ports.
For instance, it is
possible that a computer has a
limitation of scanning the first four COM
ports. If the adapter is installed on COM5, a device with such a
limitation will not work until the COM port is reassigned to
COM1-COM4.
Windows XP, 2000, ME, and 98 include a function that allows
you to reassign the COM port. Simply follow the instructions
below:
Windows XP/2003/Vista/Win7/8
port reassignment
1) Follow steps 1 and 2 in "How to Check the Driver
Installation."
2) Right click on the "Prolific USB to Serial Port" and click
on Properties.
3) Click on the "Port Settings" tab. Click the "Advanced"
button.
4) Pull down the scrollbar on the bottom, left side and
select COM 1, 2, 3 or 4 (NOTE: Choose one that does not say "in
use" next to it). Click "OK."
5) Click "OK" again. Notice that the device will show up as
being on the same COM port that it was before (i.e., COM5), but
will show up on the new port if you close the device manager and
open it again.
6) Close the device manager. You may have to run the software
that came with your device to make it rescan the COM ports.
Windows 2000, ME, and 98SE port reassignment
1) Follow steps 1 and 2 in "How to Check the Driver
Installation."
2) Right click on the "Prolific USB to Serial Port" and click
on Properties.
3) Click on the "Port Settings" tab. Click on the Resources
tab.
4) Uncheck the box that says "Use automatic settings."
5) Select "Input/Output range." Click on "Change Settings."
6) Type "02E8-02EF" in the Value box. This value will change
the port to COM 4. If COM 4 is in use, you must choose another
port. The values for each port are:
COM 1: 03F8-03FF
COM 2: 02F8-02FF
COM 3: 03E8-03EF
COM 4: 02E8-02EF
7) After entering the value, click OK.
Click OK again and click Yes when the "Creating a Forced
Configuration" window appears. Click OK again.
8) Restart your computer. If you go into
the device manager, you will see that the COM port has changed
to the one you have selected.
If you are
having problems with the USB-to-Serial Adapter that this page
or our FAQ
page does not address, please contact your reseller.
