windows 8 does not support Prolific usb to serial driver

Anonymous
2012-12-16T07:15:01+00:00

windows 8 does not support Prolific usb to serial driver

what is the solution ?

We want to use windows 8 but due to this driver problem, we are not buying windows 8

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Devices and drivers

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments
Answer accepted by question author
Anonymous
2013-02-26T21:16:26+00:00

windows 8 does not support Prolific usb to serial driver

what is the solution ?

We want to use windows 8 but due to this driver problem, we are not buying windows 8

Figure out when the hardware device manufacturer will be providing you with drivers for the hardware you want to use under the OS you want to use.  If they are not - then there you go.

Wrong answer. These drivers worked flawlessly with Win7, and now they are broken in Win8. Probably some simple switch in the device driver layer, and perhaps it is, indeed, a bug actually in the driver that is now exposed in Win8...but in the meantime I am telling all my customers, who depend on their GPS's functioning, to downgrade to Win7. 

Regardless of where the bug actually is, it is a backwards compat issue that breaks the interfacing of many GPS;s to Windows.

Was this answer helpful?

30+ people found this answer helpful.
0 comments
Answer accepted by question author
Anonymous
2012-12-16T07:22:51+00:00

windows 8 does not support Prolific usb to serial driver

what is the solution ?

We want to use windows 8 but due to this driver problem, we are not buying windows 8

Figure out when the hardware device manufacturer will be providing you with drivers for the hardware you want to use under the OS you want to use.  If they are not - then there you go.

Was this answer helpful?

10+ people found this answer helpful.
0 comments

83 additional answers

Sort by: Newest
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2016-12-16T16:11:15+00:00

    Microsoft, please remove the Prolific driver from your driver repository

    I totally agree. Microsoft, surely it must be against your policy to allow a hardware vendor such as Prolific to deliberately force non-functioning driver updates, with the sole purpose of making old products unusable with new Windows operating systems.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2015-12-14T17:58:53+00:00

    This worked perfect. Now I know this trick when it happens again.  Thank you

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2015-12-02T02:41:46+00:00

    I know this is a little bit late...but it still an answer.

    Well, I've been reading and saw that the Prolific USB to Serial adapters which uses a PL2303HX revision A (PL2303HXA) are not been made anymore (It reached EOL). There will be no new drivers for it, no drivers for Windows 8, 8.1 and 10.

    If you want it to work, you have to buy a PL2303HXD (Revision D) or keep your Windows 7 running...

    Not pleased with the answer I kept digging around the internet until I find this, some guys fixed the driver, and it is working on newer operating systems. Maybe it was a way that Prolific tried to make everyone buy the newer HW I think.

    The link for the tutorial with the driver is this...

    http://leftbraintinkering.blogspot.com.br/2013/05/usb-to-serial-prolific-2303-device.html

    I hope it help someone that was lost like I was...

    Best Regards, Daniel

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments