PL2303HXA/XA Windows 8 Update Driver Installation

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How to Update Driver to Support PL2303HXA/XA
in Windows 8 Operating Systems

Requirements
USBDevicewithembeddedPL2303HX(RevA)orPL2303X(RevA)chipversion
DriverInstaller&Builddate:1.5.0(10/21/2011)
WindowsVista/7(32&64-bit)Driver:v3.4.25.218(CompatiblewithWindows8)

What You Need to Know About PL2303HXA/XA in Windows 8

PL2303HXA/XA has already discontinued (EOL) and will not be supported in Windows 8
with the new PL-2303 Windows 8 WHQL driver (Installer v1.7.0 and above). The
PL2303HXA/XAdevicewillnotinstallproperlyandwillshowayellowmark(ErrorCode10)
in Windows 8 Device Manager. Windows 8 will also automatically download the latest
driverusingWindowsUpdateifthecomputerhasanInternetconnection.

Theworkaroundsolutionistomanuallyroll-backthelatestdrivertoanolderdriverversion
(DriverInstallerv1.5.0&Driverv3.4.25.218) thatiscompatiblewiththePL2303HXA/XAin
Windows8.YouwouldalsoneedtoturnoffWindowsUpdatetomakesureWindowsdoes
notautomaticallyupdatethedriveragain.(WindowsUpdateisenabledbydefault.)
NotethatProlifichasalsodiscontinuedtechnicalsupportforPL2303HXA/XAchipversions.
SotheolddriverworkaroundisASISandwillnotbeprovidedsupport.

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How to Update or Roll-Back the Driver for PL2303HXA/XA in Windows 8

1. UnplugfirsttheUSBdevice(PL2303HXA/XA).PoweronyourcomputerandboottoWindows8.
IfyouhaveinstalledthelatestPL2303WindowsDriverInstallerprogram,youwillneedto
uninstallorremoveitfirstfromControlPanel.

2. PressStartbuttonandtypeControlPanel.ClickControlPanelwhenfound.

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OropenExplorerfolderandpulldownfoldermenutolookforControlPanel.

3. ClickUninstallaprogramunderControlPanel-Programs.

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4. CheckifPL-2303USB-to-Serial(version1.7.0)isinstalled.ClickUninstalltoremovethedriver.

5. Runordouble-clickthePL-2303WindowsDriverInstallerv1.5.0program.Donotplug-inthe
USBdeviceyet.UnplugthedevicefromtheUSBportbeforerunningthedriverinstallation.

6. TheInstallShieldWizardwillbedisplayedtoinformyouthatthePL-2303USB-to-Serialdriver
willbeinstalledonyourcomputer.ClickNexttocontinue.

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7. ThePL-2303DriverInstallerprogramwillthenstarttoinstallthedriversneeded.ClicktheFinish
buttontoclosetheInstallShieldprogram.


8. GotoControlPanel-Programsagain.ClickUninstallaprogramunderPrograms.Nowcheckif
PL-2303USB-to-Serial(v1.5.0)isinstalled.


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9. GotoDeviceManager.PressStartbuttonandtypeDeviceManagerandclickSettingstofind
DeviceManager.Orright-clickPropertiesMyComputertogotoDeviceManager.

10. Plug-intheUSBdevice(PL2303HXA/XA)totheUSBport.IfthePCisconnectedtotheInternet,
WindowswillfirstcheckWindowsUpdatefornewdriveravailable.Itwilldownloadthenewdriver
insteadwhichisnotcompatiblewithPL2303HXA/XAandwillshowayellowmark(errorcode10)
forProlificUSB-to-SerialCommPortinDeviceManager.

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11. Toroll-backthedrivertothecompatibleolddriverversion,right-clickProlificUSB-to-Serial
CommPortandclickUpdateDriverSoftware

12. ClickBrowsemycomputerfordriversoftwaretolocateandinstalldriversoftwaremanually.

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13. Becausetheolddriverhasalreadybeeninstalled,youjustclickthebottomoptionLetmepick
fromalistofdevicedriversonmycomputertoshowthelistofinstalleddriversoftware
compatiblewiththedevice.

14. Fromthelistofinstalleddrivers,lookforthedriverversion3.4.25.218[10/7/2011],clickitto
selectandclickNexttocontinue.


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15. Windowswilltheninstalltheolddriverbacktothesystem.


16. WaituntilWindowshassuccessfullyupdatedyourdriversoftware.ClickClosewhenfinished.

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17. YouwillnowseetheProlificUSB-to-SerialCommPortisinstalledproperly.Right-click
Propertiesthedeviceagaintoconfirmthedriverversionistheoldcompatibleversion.


18. YoumaynowrunyoursoftwareandsettheassignedCOMportnumber.
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How to Turn-Off Windows Update

TomakesureWindowsdoesnotupdatethedrivertoanewerversion,youwillneedtodisable
WindowsUpdate.Note,however,thatwouldaffectalldevicesdriverupdates.Ifyouwanttorun
WindowsUpdate,youwouldneedtounplugtheUSBPL2303HXA/XAdevicefirst.

1. Right-clickPropertiesMyComputer.ClickAdvancedsystemsettings.


2. ClickHardwaretab,andDeviceInstallationSettings.

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3. ClickNo,letmechoosewhattodoandclickNeverinstalleddriversoftwarefromWindows
Update.ClickSaveChanges.