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Thread: Serial-USB adapter for Windows 7

  1. #1

    Default 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.
    '94 Black & Black & Tan
    '99 head swap, JR header, TDR intake & header blanket, MegaSquirt, RB hollow bar, Tein Flex, 15x8 6ULs, HD M2 Sport, FM cat, Borla cat-back, black '95M interior, MOMO Zebrano, IL Motorsport console...

    Dyno Days
    8/16/08 (bone stock): 103.1 hp/99.0 lb-ft - Dynojet
    8/23/08 (Borla cat-back): 108.2 hp/104.1 lb-ft - Dynojet
    8/13/11 (more stuff...): 126 hp/116 lb-ft - Mustang dyno

    Roger Moore: the Danny White of James Bonds

  2. #2
    Driver BigDmiata's Avatar
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    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.
    2013 Mazda2 slushbox daily
    1993 Miata (future exocet donor)

  3. #3

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    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.
    '94 Black & Black & Tan
    '99 head swap, JR header, TDR intake & header blanket, MegaSquirt, RB hollow bar, Tein Flex, 15x8 6ULs, HD M2 Sport, FM cat, Borla cat-back, black '95M interior, MOMO Zebrano, IL Motorsport console...

    Dyno Days
    8/16/08 (bone stock): 103.1 hp/99.0 lb-ft - Dynojet
    8/23/08 (Borla cat-back): 108.2 hp/104.1 lb-ft - Dynojet
    8/13/11 (more stuff...): 126 hp/116 lb-ft - Mustang dyno

    Roger Moore: the Danny White of James Bonds

  4. #4

    Default

    I got one from Staples that worked.
    M3 is always the answer.

  5. #5
    Driver BigDmiata's Avatar
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    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)
    2013 Mazda2 slushbox daily
    1993 Miata (future exocet donor)

  6. #6
    Driver
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    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...

  7. #7

    Default

    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.
    Last edited by trickyrix; 08-16-2011 at 03:39 PM.
    '94 Black & Black & Tan
    '99 head swap, JR header, TDR intake & header blanket, MegaSquirt, RB hollow bar, Tein Flex, 15x8 6ULs, HD M2 Sport, FM cat, Borla cat-back, black '95M interior, MOMO Zebrano, IL Motorsport console...

    Dyno Days
    8/16/08 (bone stock): 103.1 hp/99.0 lb-ft - Dynojet
    8/23/08 (Borla cat-back): 108.2 hp/104.1 lb-ft - Dynojet
    8/13/11 (more stuff...): 126 hp/116 lb-ft - Mustang dyno

    Roger Moore: the Danny White of James Bonds

  8. #8

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by ken o View Post
    I got one from Staples that worked.
    Are you running 32 or 64-bit Windows 7? You got a brand/model for the adapter?
    '94 Black & Black & Tan
    '99 head swap, JR header, TDR intake & header blanket, MegaSquirt, RB hollow bar, Tein Flex, 15x8 6ULs, HD M2 Sport, FM cat, Borla cat-back, black '95M interior, MOMO Zebrano, IL Motorsport console...

    Dyno Days
    8/16/08 (bone stock): 103.1 hp/99.0 lb-ft - Dynojet
    8/23/08 (Borla cat-back): 108.2 hp/104.1 lb-ft - Dynojet
    8/13/11 (more stuff...): 126 hp/116 lb-ft - Mustang dyno

    Roger Moore: the Danny White of James Bonds

  9. #9

    Default

    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.
    Last edited by trickyrix; 08-16-2011 at 04:44 PM.
    '94 Black & Black & Tan
    '99 head swap, JR header, TDR intake & header blanket, MegaSquirt, RB hollow bar, Tein Flex, 15x8 6ULs, HD M2 Sport, FM cat, Borla cat-back, black '95M interior, MOMO Zebrano, IL Motorsport console...

    Dyno Days
    8/16/08 (bone stock): 103.1 hp/99.0 lb-ft - Dynojet
    8/23/08 (Borla cat-back): 108.2 hp/104.1 lb-ft - Dynojet
    8/13/11 (more stuff...): 126 hp/116 lb-ft - Mustang dyno

    Roger Moore: the Danny White of James Bonds

  10. #10

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by trickyrix View Post
    Are you running 32 or 64-bit Windows 7? You got a brand/model for the adapter?
    W7 64bit

    http://www.staples.com/Staples-USB-t...:StaplesSearch
    M3 is always the answer.

  11. #11
    Prefers his T-Bones Deboned... jeff_man's Avatar
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    You have to boot vista and win 7 in to disable sigh driver check, works with most usb to db9.

  12. #12

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    Quote Originally Posted by ken o View Post
    Sweet - thanks!
    '94 Black & Black & Tan
    '99 head swap, JR header, TDR intake & header blanket, MegaSquirt, RB hollow bar, Tein Flex, 15x8 6ULs, HD M2 Sport, FM cat, Borla cat-back, black '95M interior, MOMO Zebrano, IL Motorsport console...

    Dyno Days
    8/16/08 (bone stock): 103.1 hp/99.0 lb-ft - Dynojet
    8/23/08 (Borla cat-back): 108.2 hp/104.1 lb-ft - Dynojet
    8/13/11 (more stuff...): 126 hp/116 lb-ft - Mustang dyno

    Roger Moore: the Danny White of James Bonds

  13. #13

  14. #14

    Default

    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.
    If you're addicted to cold turkey how do you stop?

    I reject your reality and substitute my own.

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