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USB to Serial Adapter Installation Issues - Prolific PL2303HXA chipset

If your USB to Serial Adapter uses the Prolific PL2303HXA chipset, which is true of the adapters we provided until September 2016, then these steps may help you out. Please note that this chipset does not work with Windows 10 and newer.

• Unplug the USB to Serial Adapter from the computer. SuperTimer II is not required or useful at this time.

• Pick a driver from the following list:
  • The USB to Serial Adapter (pre 9/2016) driver for Windows Vista, Windows 7 or Windows 8.

  • The USB to Serial Adapter (pre 9/2016) driver for Windows 2000 or Windows XP.

  • An alternative driver.

  • Another alternative driver.

• Run the USB Driver file that you downloaded. If it asks to remove a previous driver, do so, then run the Driver file again to install the new Driver. Continue until the program completes. Then restart your computer.

• Plug in the Adapter and check the message in the lower right corner of your screen. The message MUST indicate that the computer SUCCESSFULLY found a serial port on ComX (X is any number from 1 to 20). If it did you are ready to connect SuperTimer II and run RaceManager. If there is any warning, then continue below.

• If the adapter driver you chose doesn't work in your computer...

  Especially with Windows 8, bring up search, type in Device, select Device Manager and be sure it matches the highlighted line (Prolific) on the left picture, (COM may not be 4). Devices shown under Universal Serial Bus Controllers or Human Interface Devices are not a valid installation of the adapter.

  

  Double-click on the highlighted line to bring up the Prolific properties and be sure the Driver Version is 3.3.2.102 LATER VERSIONS WILL NOT WORK IN Windows 8! (Worse, they will appear to work but fail.) If the Revision shown is later, then use the "Roll Back Driver" button and be sure you restart your computer once the older driver is installed.

  Some Windows systems automatically install a later version of the driver even when you try to install the older version. They then disable the "Roll Back Driver" button as well. If "Roll Back Driver" is disabled, then try "Update Driver", "Browse my computer...", "Let me pick from a list..." and then pick either 3.3.2.102 or 2.0.4.102 from the list depending on your operating system. i.e. Pick the older one, NOT the newer one.

  In rare cases the COM number is greater than 20. If that is the case then in the Properties dialog (right picture above) select the "Port Settings" tab, then "Advanced", then on the bottom of the dialog set the Com number to something less than 20. If all the numbers show "in use" you can safely ignore that message and pick one of those numbers. The other settings on this dialog can be ignored as they are set automatically by RaceManager as needed.

• Once you have successfully installed your USB/Serial Adapter Click here to read and/or download our help sheet on getting started with your SuperTimer II.