Check the software driver installation

1) Open the Device Manager dialog from Control Panel

Windows Vista: Start >> Control Panel >> System >> Hardware >> Device Manager
Windows XP: Start >> Control Panel >> System >> Hardware >> Device Manager
Windows 2000: Start >> Settings >> Control Panel >> System >> Hardware >> Device
Manager
Windows 98/ME: Start >> Settings >> Control Panel >> System >> Device Manager
2) Click the plus sign (+) next to "Ports".
3) If the device is properly installed, "Serialio.com USB Serial Port" or "Proli
fic USB-to-Serial COM Port" will be displayed.
The software driver is properly installed, but the USB-RS232 adapter does not wo
rk as expected
One of the common reasons that software may not work as expected with a USB-Seri
al adapter when the device is properly installed, is many older programs (and ev
en some new ones) only support a limited number of COM ports (e.g. only COM1 - C
OM4)
If the USB-RS232 adapter is installed as COM5, it may need to be reassigned to C
OM1 - COM4 to work with some software.
The following outlines how to to reassign the COM port on Windows XP/2K/Me/98SE
Windows XP
1) Follow steps 1-3 of "Check the software driver installation" above.
2) Right-click on the "Prolific USB to Serial Port", then click Properties
3) Click on the "Port Settings" tab. Click the "Advanced" button.
4) In the "COM Port Number" drop-down select the desired port number. For exampl
e if the software requires COM2, select COM2. Note the COM port must have "(in u
se)" listed next to it, if it does then another device with that name is already
installed in the system. After selecting the desire port number, click "OK."
5) Click "OK" again, and the device will show up as being on the same COM port t
hat it was before (i.e., COM5), but should show up on the selected port name whe
n the Device Manager dialog is closed and opened again.
6) Close the Device Manager. Launch the software to use with the new COM port.
Windows 2000, Me, and 98 SE (Second Edition)
1) Follow steps 1 2 of "Check the software driver installation" above.
2) Right-click on the "Prolific USB to Serial Port", then click Properties.
3) Click on the "Port Settings" tab. Click the "Advanced" button.
4) Uncheck "Use automatic settings".
5) Select "Input/Output range". Click on "Change Settings".
6) Type "02E8-02EF" in the Value box. This value will change the port to COM 4.
If COM 4 is in use, you must choose another port. The values for each port are.
COM 1: 03F8-03FF
COM 2: 02F8-02FF
COM 3: 03E8-03EF
COM 4: 02E8-02EF
7) Enter the value, then click OK. Click OK again, then click Yes when the "Crea
ting a Forced Configuration" window appears. Click OK.
8) Restart the computer. The Device Manager can be checked, to see the COM port
change.
Note: Adapter may not be exactly as pictured above.