pl2303 windows driver user manual v1.9.0

5/26/2018 PL2303 Windows Driver User Manual v1.9.0

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PL2303 Windows Driver Users ManualFor Driver Installer v1.8.0 Release

For Microsoft Windows Operating Systems

ProlificTechnologyInc. -1of20- October28,2013All information herein is subject to change without prior notice. Prolific Technology Inc. does not make any warranties regardingthe accuracy and completeness of this document and shall in no event be liable for any loss of profit or any other commercialdamage, including but not limited to special, incidental, consequential, or other damages. No part of this document may bereproduced or transmitted in any form by any means without the express written permission of the manufacturer.

PL2303 USB-to-Serial Bridge Chip Family

Windows Driver Installer User Manual

WHQL Driver Version Information

DriverInstaller&Builddate:1.9.0 (2013-10-25) GUID:ECC3713C-08A4-40E3-95F1-7D0704F1CE5E

Windows2000andXP(32&64-bit)WHQL WDM Driver: v2.1.51.238 (10/22/2013) CompatiblewithServer2003(32&64-bit)

WindowsVista,7,8,and8.1(32&64-bit)WHQL WDF Driver: v3.4.62.293 (10/17/2013) CompatiblewithServer2008,Server2008R2,Server2012(32&64-bit)

DriverscanalsoautomaticallyinstallviaWindowsUpdate(needInternetconnection)

System Requirements

PCwithUSB1.1/2.0/3.0HostController(USBPort)andfollowingWindowsOSFamily:

Windows2000SP4

WindowsXPSP2orSP3(32&64bit)

WindowsServer2003(32&64bit)

WindowsVista(32&64bit)

Windows7(32&64bit)

WindowsServer2008/2008R2(32&64bit)

Windows8(32&64bit)

Windows8.1(32&64bit)

WindowsServer2012(32&64bit)

USBDevicewithbelowPL-2303chipversionsandtheirsupportedOSFamily:

Chip Version Windows 2000 / XP(32 & 64 bit)Vista / Windows 7

(32 & 64 bit)Windows 8 / 8.1

(32 & 64 bit)PL-2303H Yes Yes Not Supported*

PL-2303HX(RevA)orHXA Yes Yes Not Supported*PL-2303XorXA Yes Yes Not Supported*

PL-2303HX(RevD)orHXD Yes Yes Yes

PL2303TA Yes Yes Yes

PL2303TB Yes Yes Yes

PL2303EA Yes Yes Yes

PL2303RA Yes Yes Yes

PL2303SA Yes Yes Yes

* - PL2303H, PL-2303HX (Rev A), and PL-2303X are EOL and discontinued chips and Prolific will not

provideWindows8driversupport.Newdriverversionswillshowyellowmark(ErrorCode10)inDeviceManagerfortheseEOLchipversionsunderWindows8.


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Counterfeit Warning!!!

Pleasebewarnedthatcounterfeit/fakePL-2303HXRevA(orPL-2303HXA)USB-to-SerialController

ICsusingProlific'strademarklogo,brandname,anddrivers,arebeingsoldintheChinamarket.

CounterfeitICproductsshowexactlythesameoutsidechipmarkingsbutgenerallyareofpoorquality

andcausesWindowsdrivercompatibilityissues(Yellow Mark Error Code 10 in Device Manager underWinXP, Vista, and 7).Thiswarningisissuedtoallcustomersandconsumerstoavoidconfusionandfalsepurchase.PleasepurchaseonlyfromstoresorvendorsprovidingtechnicalandRMAsupport.

Windows 7 Driver Installation

ThissectionwillguideyouonhowtoinstallthePL-2303WindowsDriver.Youcandownloadthelatest

DriverInstallerprogramfromProlificSupportwebsite:

http://www.prolific.com.tw/US/ShowProduct.aspx?p_id=225&pcid=41

Note: Pleasetakenoticeoftheinstallationorder.First,runtheDriverInstallerProgrambeforepluggingintheUSBtoSerialadapter.Ifyoualreadyplugthedeviceduringthedriverinstallation,you

needtore-plugthedeviceforWindowstoenumeratethedeviceandloadthedriversinstalled.Ifyour

deviceisembeddedtothesystem,youmightneedtorestartthesystem(orclickrescanhardware

changesinDeviceManager)toreloadandinstallthedriver.

ThefollowingstepswillshowhowtoinstallthedeviceunderWindows 7 (64-bit)OSasthisisthemostinquireddriverinstallationsupportreceivedbyProlific.Theproceduresarethesameandstraight-

forwardforallothersupportedWindowsoperatingsystemversions.
http://www.prolific.com.tw/US/ShowProduct.aspx?p_id=225&pcid=41http://www.prolific.com.tw/US/ShowProduct.aspx?p_id=225&pcid=41http://www.prolific.com.tw/US/ShowProduct.aspx?p_id=225&pcid=41


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1. PoweronyourcomputerandboottoWindows.Runordouble-clickthePL-2303WindowsDriver

Installerprogram.

2. TheInstallShieldWizardwillbedisplayedtoinformyouthatthePL-2303USB-to-Serialdriver

willbeinstalledonyourcomputer.ClickNexttocontinue.


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3. ThePL-2303DriverInstallerprogramwillthenstarttoinstallthedriversneeded.

4. ClicktheFinishbuttontoclosetheInstallShieldprogram.Ifyouhavepluggedthecableintothe

PCwhilerunningthesetupinstallation,pleaseunplugandreplugthecableforthesystemto

detectthedevice.


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5. PlugintheUSBtoSerialadaptertothePCUSBport.Windowsshoulddetectthedriveras

ProlificUSB-to-SerialCommPort.GotoDeviceManagerandcheckforthe Prolific

USB-to-SerialCommPortdeviceandtheCOMportnumberassignedbyWindows.

6. Youcanalsocheckthedriverversionbyright-clickingontheProlificUSB-to-SerialCommPort

deviceandselectPropertiesandDrivertab.


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WarningIfyouareencounteringyellowmark(ErrorCode10)fordeviceinDeviceManagerunderWindowsXP,

Vista,orWindows7,youneedtocontactthecablevendorormanufacturerforpossiblecounterfeit

chip.Prolificdoesnotmanufactureorsellanyend-usermarketproductsandwillnotprovideorbe

responsiblefordirectsupporttoend-users.


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Windows Driver Installation (via Windows Update)

ThissectionwillguideyouonhowtoinstallthePL-2303WindowsDriverviaWindowsUpdate.You

willneedanInternetconnectiontobeabletoautomaticallydownloadandinstallthedriversvia

WindowsUpdate(forWindowsVista,7,8,and8.1only).

1. CheckifyourInternetconnectionisOK.PluginPL-2303USBtoSerialcable.

2. WindowswillautomaticallycheckWindowsUpdateifdriverisavailableandwilldownloadand

installthedriverinstantly.


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3. WindowswillthenpromptyouthatProlificUSB-to-SerialCommPort(COMx)isinstalledand

readytouse.


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4. Youcanalsoright-clickontheUSB-SerialControllerdeviceandclickUpdateDriver.


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Windows 8 Supported Chip Versions

ThissectionwillguideyouonwhatPL-2303chipversionsaresupportedbyProlificinWindows8:

Chip Version Chip Availability Windows 8 (32 & 64 bit)PL-2303H Discontinued(EOL) NoNewDriverSupport*

PL-2303HX(RevA)orHXA Discontinued(EOL) NoNewDriverSupport*PL-2303XorXA Discontinued(EOL) NoNewDriverSupport*

PL-2303HX (Rev D) or HXD Available YesPL2303TA Available YesPL2303TB Available YesPL2303EA Available YesPL2303RA Available YesPL2303SA Available Yes

*-NewDriverdoesnotsupportPL-2303H,PL2303HX(RevA),andPL2303XinWindows8.Itwillshowayellow

mark(ErrorCode10)inDeviceManagersimilartowhatcounterfeitchipswouldshow.

Check Chip Version Tool

Prolificprovidesatoolprogramtogetherwiththedrivertocheckthechipversionofyourdevicefor

Windows8-readydriversupport. http://www.prolific.com.tw/US/ShowProduct.aspx?p_id=225&pcid=41

NOTE:ThistoolwillnotworkinWindows8ifthePL-2303deviceshowsayellowmarkinDeviceManager.

YouneedtouseWindows7orXPtorunthetoolprogramfordiscontinuedchipversions.


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Windows 8 Driver Installation

ThissectionwillguideyouhowtoinstallthePL-2303deviceinWindows8or8.1OperatingSystem.

YoucandownloadthelatestDriverInstallerprogramfromProlificSupportwebsite:

http://www.prolific.com.tw/US/ShowProduct.aspx?p_id=225&pcid=41

1. PoweronyourcomputerandboottoWindows8.Runordouble-clickthePL-2303Windows

DriverInstallerprogram.

2. TheInstallShieldWizardwillbedisplayedtoinformyouthatthePL-2303USB-to-Serialdriver

willbeinstalledonyourcomputer.ClickNexttocontinue.


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3. ThePL-2303DriverInstallerprogramwillthenstarttoinstallthedriversneeded.ClicktheFinish

buttontoclosetheInstallShieldprogram.

4. PlugintheUSBtoSerialadaptertothePCUSBport.Windowsshoulddetectthedriveras

ProlificUSB-to-SerialCommPort.GotoDeviceManagerandcheckforthedeviceandthe

COMportnumberassignedbyWindows.Youcanalsocheckthedriverversionbyright-clicking

ontheProlificUSB-to-SerialCommPortdeviceandselectPropertiesandDrivertab.


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5. TheCOMPortnumberforthePL-2303isassignedbytheWindowsOperatingSystem.Ifyou

encounteradevicethatshowsayellowmark(ErrorCode10),youneedtocheckifthatdeviceis

usinganoldversionProlificchip(PL-2303HXAorPL-2303XA)oracounterfeitchip.As

mentionedintheprevioussections,ProlificdoesnotsupportoldversionchipsinWindows8.


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Windows 8 Driver Installation (via Windows Update)

ThissectionwillguideyouonhowtoinstallthePL-2303WindowsDriverviaWindowsUpdate.You

willneedanInternetconnectiontobeabletoautomaticallydownloadandinstallthedriversvia

WindowsUpdate.

1. CheckifyourInternetconnectionisOK.PluginPL-2303USBtoSerialcable.

2. WindowswillautomaticallycheckWindowsUpdateifdriverisavailableandwilldownloadand

installthedriverinstantly.


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3. WindowswillthenpromptyouthatProlificUSB-to-SerialCommPort(COMx)isinstalledand

readytouse.


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4. Youcanalsoright-clickontheUSB-SerialControllerdeviceandclickUpdateDriver.


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Uninstalling the PL-2303 Driver

TouninstallthePL-2303driver,followthebelowsteps:

1. ClickStartControlPanelProgramsProgramsandFeatures-UninstallaProgram.Lookfor

thePL-2303USB-to-SerialprogramandclicktheUninstall(Remove)button.

2. InstallShieldWizardwillthenstartthemaintenanceprogramandwillpromptyoutochooseifyou

wanttomodify,repair,orremovethedriver.ClicktheRemovebuttonandclickNexttobeginthe

driveruninstall.


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3. TheInstallShieldWizardwillpromptyoutoconfirmtouninstall.ClickYestocontinue.

4. WaitfortheInstallShieldWizardtocompletetheuninstallprocess.Whencomplete,clickFinish

toendtheprogram.WaitforsomefewsecondsuntilthePL-2303USB-to-Serialprogramis

removedfromtheControlPanelUninstall(AddorRemovePrograms)programlist.

pl2303 windows driver user manual v1.9.0

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