Monday, May 6, 2013

USB to Serial (Prolific 2303) Device Cannot Start (Code 10) in Windows 8/8.1/10

Is this a rare situation where a piece of legacy hardware works fine in Linux and is broken in Windows??

The Prolific 2303 works perfectly fine in Linux Mint.  Yet, for some reason, Prolific says that some of these chips have reached the end of life and won't be 'supported' under Windows 8.  Prolific suggests that you purchase their updated chipset (PL2303HX Rev D):


So, what is different about the newer chips that they *can* be supported in Windows 8, while the older ones can't?  What has changed in Windows 8 that makes this support different?

Here's the yellow triangle with exclamation point that you'll see:


And here is the "Code 10" error:


Fixing it:  Some clever people have figured out workarounds for this issue.

Get this file: Profilic_Win8_x64_x86.zip   (Google Drive link here.)

Extract the contents of this file somewhere and examine the contents:


Right click the .inf file, and select "Install".


I didn't notice that anything happened when I ran it.  Probably because I've tried so many different drivers and installations; maybe it was already installed, I don't know.

Got back to the device manager and right click the Prolific USB to Serial comm port, and click "Update Driver Software".


In the resulting dialog, click "Browse my computer for driver software":


Select "Let me pick from a list of device drivers on my computer":


Select the Prolific driver version 3.3.2 from 2008:


Win.


If all went well, you'll no longer see the yellow triangle:


h/t to the original post at Microsoft's Technet forum by user drtedrted.

237 comments:

  1. Thanks a lot for the solution!! It's really work!

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  2. So thanks! This's perfect solution! It's really work!

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  3. Worked for me!
    I first had to remove the original driver using:
    pnputil -e
    to spot the oemXX.inf that had Prolific in it
    and remove it:
    pnputil -f -d oemXX.inf

    Thanks
    Andy

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  4. Great.. it really worked.. I wasted almost 2 days troubleshooting it.. but this worked in a min :)

    Thanks for the help.

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  5. Thank you. Nicely documented resolution to the problem.

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  6. thanks men , working on windows 8.1 also

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  7. God bless you man, it worked like a charm!

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  8. I love u man, worked! nothing else worked, only ur method, god bless u

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  9. wowowowowowowowowowow.... i love u .. so much. it work..

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  10. This is not working for me. When I get to the step where it says, .int click install. I do not have an install button to click. I am on Windows 8. Somebody help, please.

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    Replies
    1. first extract all files then right click on the .inf file now itwill show install option...

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  11. @myscilyn -- RIGHT CLICK the .inf file. There isn't a button to click, there should be a menu option 'install' just as in the photo here. If you don't see the install option see this:
    http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_vista-hardware/install-option-missing-from-the-context-menu-of/23524ad3-1687-4c2d-ba26-b249b4c4d8e9

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  12. I love you / My error Code 10 already fixed

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  13. Thank you very much! This procedure worked for me.

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  14. Hell yeah! This is what makes the internet so awesome!
    You rock!

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  15. Thank you very much! That save my father life!! xD

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  16. i really dont know how to thank you man! i was ready to go back to the store i bought the cable and return them as a fake!!!! thanks a lot :)

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  17. Thanks very much , it's working fine now :)

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  18. Outstanding, helpful post. Fixed the problem I was having on my new Win 8.1 x64 laptop using an old USB to serial converter cable. I can now export coordinates off my 14 year old Garmin eTrex Legend with serial interface directly to my laptop again. Looks like I can postpone upgrading to a USB-ready GPS unit for a while longer now.

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  19. Muchas gracias funciona a la perfección, Saludos

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  20. Thanks, worked perfectly on windows 8.1

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  21. thanks a ton..i dont know..how i can thank you..GOD bless you..

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  22. I have been working on this for hours without success until I found your article ....great instructions...worked like a treat.... you have made my day

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  23. thank you a lot, nice work. work on first try!! ;)

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  24. can you help me fixing error code 10 on windows xp SP2???
    thanks anyways

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  25. It worked..great n thanks man!

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  26. work perfectly saving my time alot thank you man.

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  27. Unbeliavable! Works! God bless you!

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  28. Perfect Its Work

    Thank you!

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  29. Thank you, you save-me, I was staing crazy trying do it....

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  30. This is the best troubleshooting solution about prolific i ever found ! I ; t works !!
    None of those updates offered on manufacturers website ever worked !

    Thank you for sharing !

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  31. Perfect with pnputil as Andreas Reischle sed.
    Thanks

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  32. You guys are great! Spent ages trying to find a driver for the Belkin FSU103v for Windows 8. I downloaded the Profilic_Win8_x64_x86.zip from your site and worked instantly.
    Thanks guys!

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  33. Will be trying it out later. Fingers crossed!

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  34. Thank You very much! Perfectly works with Windows 8.1. Helped me to operate V&A VA600-NH data logger.

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  35. it work ; but i will do the same again every time when i change another port usb

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  36. Just looks like they are after everyone making an unnecessary purchase!
    Driver works great!

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  37. thank you so much. It's worked perfectly. Many Thanks Clever guys!

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  38. At Last,, I Found it,,

    Thank You Soo Much,, You Are Rock,,,

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  39. A mi no me funciono este metodo, lo que si me funciono fue instaler el driver para win vista aunque yo uso Win 7 Pro

    http://www.tri-plc.com/USB-RS232/drivers.htm

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  40. Thank You Sir! I have a prolific chipped usb2serial cable that I use with the CHIRP software to program repeater frequencies into my VHF/UHF Handy Talkie Ham radio's and this was driving me crazy.

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  41. Worked like a charm! I am also getting the dreaded "This device can not start (Code 10) with a Silicon Labs USB to UART bridge driver. Still looking for a fix for that!

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  42. thank man !! :)
    working in win 8 pro

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  43. there its not showing install option help me

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  44. thank you so much, works on my laptop win 8.1

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  45. many many thanks to you man....
    i spoiled my whole day and nothing found but at last only this page helped me..
    again very very thanks to you...

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  46. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  47. excellent worked for me I have a Windows 8 with PL2303HXD (HX Rev D) normally not supported. This worked a treat!
    Thanks

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  48. If you ever find yourself in Cape Town, I'll buy you a beer. Thanks.

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  49. Thank U So Much, It is working fine, I removed the yellow triangle.

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  50. Thanks man!!
    You saved a life(of usb to serial device)

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  51. I have another fix via virtualization - the driver in this article caused BSODs for me on 8.1.
    http://blog.voltagex.org/2015/07/29/fixing-a-buggy-windows-driver-with-a-virtual-machine/

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    Replies
    1. I've not had a BSOD yet in Windows 8, I doubt it is the driver, it is more likely your hardware.

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  52. Brilliant - many thanks - can now use the energy monitor device. Same instructions works under Windows 10 too.

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  53. thank you very much.. it really really help..

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  54. Hello
    I am in win 10pro, I use prolific usb to send morse via n1mm plus sofware, prolific was installed but it does not work very well, morse sound with a problem of weight, dit and dat sound with a timing problem, It is like a DTR and RTS delay problem...BTW it works fine in a old N1mm...N1MM team say...N1MM+ uses .Net and different Microsoft serial port support code than N1MM did. Some Prolific drivers introduce latency with the MS serial port code used in .Net but do not with MSCOMM32.OCX which the old version used. This is a deficiency in the *Prolific driver*, not in our code.
    Any idea to resolve this puzzle...

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  55. I use usb morse prolific to send morse via radio,win10, It is installed ok, but it sounds bad, bad weight problems, dit and dat sounds¿ with a timing problem. N1mm + sofware works with problem, old n1mm works fine. Team of n1mm say...
    N1MM+ uses .Net and different Microsoft serial port support code than N1MM did. Some Prolific drivers introduce latency with the MS serial port code used in .Net but do not with MSCOMM32.OCX which the old version used. This is a deficiency in the *Prolific driver*, not in our code.

    any idea to resolve it

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  56. Teste on Windows 10 64 Bits ( pro ) and works just fine, now my fake arduinos are back

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  57. Ohh Buddy. Great job.

    Thanks a Lot. Was stucked for hours this helped me. special thanks :)

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  58. Thank you very much. I wish i found this sooner!!!

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  59. Thanks it works for me. WIn8.1 64bit

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  60. Thanks a lot. The 2008 driver works like a charm, even on Windows 10!

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  61. This is also works for windows 10 thanks.

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  62. i have same as this problem
    http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CJydOmmytbE/UYhZMeKJQyI/AAAAAAAAIvg/BeiNkIC68d0/s1600/2013-05-06+21_26_43-Device+Manager.png

    and when i tried to install the .INF file i get this msg

    the INF file you selected doesn't support this method of installation

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  63. Worked for me. Brilliant solution

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  64. Absolutely brilliant!! Worked for me.

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  65. thank you so much for such a detailed guide!!!

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  66. It works, i was trying to install with Windows 10.

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  67. Thank You!
    It also works with Windows 10 Pro 64bit

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  68. Works great with Windows 10 x64. Thanks a Lot!!


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  69. Works like a charm even in windows 10 : Dear Prolific, your trick to make me buy another cable failed, thanks to the good guys here !

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  70. And it Still works..Everything was working great for me until somehow something did an M$oft driver update and then it hosed me! Thank you so much for the post!

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  71. That's work !
    Thank you very much, Sir !

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  72. Thanks.works Perfect on my win 10 Laptop

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  73. thanks guy it works for me too

    be blessed!

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  74. Danke! Ausgezeichnet. Funktioniert unter Windows 10!
    Thanks. Works for WIN 10!

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  75. The "Install" option was not available in my context (right-click) menu, but I managed to update the driver directly from the extracted folder in the device manager. It works! Many thanks!

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  76. Thanks, that worked for me on windows 10!

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  77. Thanks a lot. Works on me Windows 8 36 bit :)

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  78. Me facilitaste el trabajo, buen aporte, Gracias

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  79. You're are the world's saver, thanks so much !

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  80. Thank you!, it works at windows 10 x64 too !

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  81. Worked like a charm. Thank you very much. :) :)

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  82. so. . . they updated the driver to make the device unusable on win 8 and above?

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    Replies
    1. Yes. The new driver does not support the old hardware. However the old driver still supports the old hardware just fine. Linux supports old/new with no changes.

      Delete
  83. It works !Thank you for your info

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  84. thanks a million. You made my day. Nagode

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  85. It works perfect. You are so clever guys

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  86. perfect.. looks like the solutions still works in 2016.... thumbs up...

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  87. Perfect for me too,

    Thanks You !!

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  88. After wasting several days thinking it was the app I was using (EasyGPS - was saying com port was busy) I saw the "triangle" on the driver. Rolled it back with the instructions above and it worked like a charm.
    Thanks

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  89. It works with Windows 10 ! Thank you ! Great and easy explanations !

    joviweb

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  90. Hello from the future - works on Win 10 as well :)

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  91. Amazing! Its working..Thank you so much!

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  92. works great on windows 10 pro. thanks man!

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  93. Thank you - works now in Windows 10.

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  94. Works in Windows 10 now - thank you

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  95. Thank U More then >>> 1000000..........00000

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  96. THANK U VERY VERY VERY VERY VERY MUCH..................... Its really work

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  97. Thank you for this excellent post. It almost worked for me. But, now when I plug in the USB to RS232 cable, after about 5 seconds, my cursor starts rehoming to the bottom left of my (Windows 8) screen. If I move my mouse quickly, it will move an inch or two, but then immediately jumps back to the lower-left corner, making the computer essentially unusable. If I unplug the USB, that fixes it, until I plug it back in. Any suggestions from anyone as to how to fix that?

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  98. Thank you for posting this. It almost worked for me, but now I have a new problem. When I plug in the USB to RS232 cable, after about five seconds, my cursor starts homing to the lower left corner continuously. If I move my mouse quickly enough, I can move the cursor about an inch or two, but then it jumps back to the corner, making use of my (Windows 8) machine essentially impossible. (Unplugging fixes it, until I plug in again.) Please help me fix this.

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  99. does it works with windows 10?

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  100. Thanks a Lot
    Really cant thank you enough

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  101. Thank you sooo much, dude.. really works for me.. we are looking for the solution almost a year, never found your blog until today.
    Thanks again

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  102. Thanks so much for providing the actual driver without shitty installer allowing us to manually install the driver that actually works. You rock!

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  103. Muchas gracias. He podido resolver el problema. Gracias amigo !

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  104. Thanks a lot for the solution!! It's really work!

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  105. You da man!
    Thanks for the direction, working now

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  106. Yellow triangle goes away but COM port will still not open with Windows 10, so still no fix.

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  107. Thank You !!!
    Working in Win 10 !!

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  108. Very Thank's !!
    Working in Win 10.

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  109. Thanks, this worked for us!
    I wasn't able to update my SafeScan 135 ix because of the drive issue. After this tutorial it worked! :)

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  110. worked with windows 10! Thanks :o)

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  111. Valuable information you got here! I would like to thank you for sharing your thoughts into the stuff you post!!
    data cabling toronto

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  112. I downloaded and install windows 10 creator update, But I did not like it. After installation Microsoft shows downgrade option early after upgrading to Windows 10 and remove it after one month. I recently upgrade my windows 8.1 Professional operating system to windows 10 Professional being getting a license from ODosta Store
    But I did not like its overall structure. I think Its not Windows 10, Its version should be windows 6 as it has many faults.
    I tried to downgrade back to my existing win 8.1 os and I saw as Microsoft was giving me option to downgrade. I thought that I'll downgrade after two month But after two month when I tried again, Microsoft removed that option. Now what to do. I searched and found your post, Which is very helpful for me. Thanks for sharing these details here.

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  113. Nice blog and also very informative.. Thanks for sharing it.

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