Updating Device Drivers for USB-to-Serial-Port Adapters
de Joe W4TV and Gary AB9M
Determining which chip set your USB-to-Serial-Port Adapter employs
open the Windows Control Panel
in the System applet, open the Device Manager (in Windows XP, its accessible via the Hardware tab; in Windows 7, via Hardware and Sound)
expand the Universal Serial Bus Controllers section by clicking the + symbol to its left
double-click the USB Serial Converter entry for your USB-to-Serial-Port Adapter
select the Properties window's Driver tab and note the Manufacturer
Updating Device Drivers for USB-to-Serial-Port Adapters based on the FTDI chip set
drivers are available via the Future Technology Devices International Ltd. web site
Updating Device Drivers for USB-to-Serial-Port Adapters based on the MCT chip set
drivers are available via the Magic Control Technology web site; note: for a Belkin FSU409, use the U232-P9 driver.
Updating Device Drivers for USB-to-Serial-Port Adapters based on the Prolific chip set
navigate to the the Prolific web site
log in using guest as both the Account and Password
navigate to PL-2303 Drivers & Software
download and install the most recent driver for the Prolific USB to Serial chip set: PL2303_Prolific_DriverInstaller_v1.6.0.zip
the site provides an alternate v1.6.1 driver that may be useful if the v1.6.0 driver above does not work: PL2303_Prolific_WDMDriverInstaller_v1.6.1.zip
Updating Device Drivers for USB-to-Serial-Port Adapters based on the Silicon Laboratories chip set
drivers are available via the Silicon Labs web site