PC not finding KUSB port

[Dennis L. Haarsager]

I'm doing firmware updates this weekend, and my KX3 and PX3 went fine after
installing the device driver using the KXUSB cable and a laptop running
Windows 8.1 Pro 64-bit.  However, I'm trying to use the same laptop with an
earlier KUSB cable to update my K3 and P3.  The cable is one using the
Prolific chip instead of the FTDI chip.  My P3 utility program says that
the COM port is closed and I can't scan for vacant COM ports.  However, my
computer device manager says it's hooked up to a Prolific USB to serial
adapter on COM5. I've tried installing the driver twice as the USB to
Serial Adapter page in the utility Help section suggests. This laptop has
only one USB port and I'm using it rather than a hub.

I've successfully used this KUSB with a different laptop running Windows 7
64-bit, but unfortunately my wife has it with her on a month-long trip to
Scotland.  Any suggestions would be appreciated.

73,
​
​

Dennis L Haarsager,
​N7DH​
______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Message delivered to [hidden email]

[ktalbott]

Looks like you are a victim of Prolific's end-of-life for certain pirated part numbers.  Any driver later than version 1.4 checks the chip ID and refuses to start (Error 10 Cannot Start) for 2303 parts HXA (and probably others).  Easy workaround is to MANUALLY  install version 1.4 of the Prolific driver.  When cable refuses to start (yellow mark, Error 10) you can then MANUALLY update (downgrade) the driver by selecting from the list of installed drivers.  BTW, this is a Windows 8 issue, XP apparently never tries to update to the rev 1.8 driver.  Email me off-list and I will try to remember the details.  The actual key-by-key instructions vary depending the OS version.  Perhaps others with more current experience can help.

Ken - [hidden email]

-----Original Message-----
From: Elecraft [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Dennis L. Haarsager
Sent: Saturday, January 24, 2015 8:48 PM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: [Elecraft] PC not finding KUSB port

I'm doing firmware updates this weekend, and my KX3 and PX3 went fine after installing the device driver using the KXUSB cable and a laptop running Windows 8.1 Pro 64-bit.  <snip>

______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Message delivered to [hidden email]

[ke4rg]

Looks like you are a victim of Prolific's end-of-life for certain pirated part numbers.  Any driver later than version 1.4 checks the chip ID and refuses to start (Error 10 Cannot Start) for 2303 parts HXA (and probably others).  Easy workaround is to MANUALLY  install version 1.4 of the Prolific driver.  When cable refuses to start (yellow mark, Error 10) you can then MANUALLY update (downgrade) the driver by selecting from the list of installed drivers.  BTW, this is a Windows 8 issue, XP apparently never tries to update to the rev 1.8 driver.  Email me off-list and I will try to remember the details.  The actual key-by-key instructions vary depending the OS version.  Perhaps others with more current experience can help.

Ken - [hidden email]

-----Original Message-----
From: Elecraft [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Dennis L. Haarsager
Sent: Saturday, January 24, 2015 8:48 PM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: [Elecraft] PC not finding KUSB port

I'm doing firmware updates this weekend, and my KX3 and PX3 went fine after installing the device driver using the KXUSB cable and a laptop running Windows 8.1 Pro 64-bit. <snip>

______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Message delivered to [hidden email]