Serial-USB adapter for Windows 7

I need one so my laptop can talk to MegaSquirt. So far I've gone through THREE different pieces of crap from Fry's, and NONE of them work with Windows 7 - in spite of the fact that two actually list Windows 7 on their compatibility list. Every one of these is supposed to be plug-n-play, but none of them are. When I plug them in, Windows automatically searches for a driver to install, but then it fails. If I try to troubleshoot and update the driver, it tells me the driver is already up to date. If I go to any of the manufacturer's websites to download a driver, every last one of them gives me the same driver (Prolific something-or-other). This driver doesn't work. The "Windows 7" driver on one of the discs doesn't work either. I'm all up-to-date on my Windoze patches and updates so I'm at the end of my rope with this crap. I want to severely beat Bill Gates about the head and face with a table leg at this point.

WTF???

Anybody advice/suggestions/recommendations are welcome.

Stupid old designed Engine Managements systems. Sucks they are still using serial connectors. diyautotune.com sells one that is supposed to work well for megasquirt users...doenst say anything about Win7 thought.

Yeah... the more digging I do, the more I suspect that Microsuck doesn't want Windows 7 to support these devices. What's really bizarre is that some folks seem to have luck getting them to work, and others are SOL. Go figure.

I got one from Staples that worked.

A little more researching found this from diyautotune.com. Looks like you can solder in a usb port into the megasquirt (dependent on MS board)

Windows 7 64 bit or 32bit. My issues have always been with 64 bit. I have a laptop with Windows XP, 32 bit that I used to tune with because of it.

Stupid widebands want serial as well...

I'm pretty sure it's 64-bit. My laptop's only a few months old and it came with Windows Home Premium... which begs the stupid question: How do I tell for sure if it's 64 or 32-bit?

If I can't get this m-f-er to work, I guess I'll be looking for a little used netbook or small laptop with XP (and a built-in serial port).

EDIT: I'm not as dumb as I thought. I'm running W7 64-bit.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ken o

I got one from Staples that worked.

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Are you running 32 or 64-bit Windows 7? You got a brand/model for the adapter?

OK I just found another tidbit that kind of helps. Apparently I'm looking for an adapter with an FTDI chipset. Unfortunately, this info isn't listed on any adapter I found online. When I called Altex, the guy said he thought they might have one, but he was vague and didn't want to go look. They close at 6 so it's a moot point today. Two calls to MicroCenter ended in me getting disconnected, but at least they list an FTDI chip on their website. They're open till 9, so maybe that'll be a good bet.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by trickyrix

Are you running 32 or 64-bit Windows 7? You got a brand/model for the adapter?

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W7 64bit

http://www.staples.com/Staples-USB-t...:StaplesSearch

You have to boot vista and win 7 in to disable sigh driver check, works with most usb to db9.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ken o

W7 64bit

http://www.staples.com/Staples-USB-t...:StaplesSearch

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Sweet - thanks!

http://reg.e.staples.com/c/s/tagfrm/...upon.html?n=39

20% off @ Staples til 8/20

You might need to install a driver.

Its not car related but.... I run a cub scout pinewood derby and the timer is a serial connector, the only way I could get it to work is to download a serial to USB driver. Once I did that, no problems. Plus it was very TCB....Free.