New Hardware USB Driver "loop"

Forum 2005-2010 (read only) Software Troubleshooting
1

Hi,
I'm having problems installing the USB drivers.
When I'm plugging the board in the computer finds the new hardware and installs it, but it finds the "USB Serial Converter" twice, and then it finds the "USB Serial Port" once, then it finds the "USB Serial converter" twice, and it goes on and on forever.
If I cancel the installation I can upload to the board, but the next time I plug it in it starts the "Found new Hardware" loop again.
I've tried the drivers that comes with "Arduino-0020" and also the drivers from the FTDI website but with the same problem.

I'm on Windows XP SP3 and the board is a Duemilanove.

Any suggestions?

2

Are you logged-in as (Local) Administrator?

Just a shot in the dark... Use Device Manager to update the driver.

3

Yes, I have administrator rights.

And yes, I have tried to uninstall and update trough the device manager.
I've restarted the computer.

O'dont know if it gives any clues, but each time I install the drivers, the com port number increments. I'm now att com21

4

How does it behave if you use a different USB port?

Have you tried a different computer?

5

Scrubbing Windows and starting again generally sorts out problems like this. They get riddled with c**p over time and need a good clean out.

6

Worked fine on another computer, so I guess I have to sort the problem out on the computer end back home :-/
I'll try a different USB port for starters.

7

Worked fine on another computer, so I guess I have to sort the problem out on the computer end back home I'll try a different USB port for starters.

Somewhere in nested in the Windows directory is a directory of INF files for every device attached to your computer. It is something like \Windows\Drivers\INF or \Windows\System\INF. (As I remember it, there might have been two places they are stored.)

Once you find the directory of INF files, search for the string "0403." This is the Vendor ID for FTDI. Try to determine which files look like descriptions of the FTDI chip and delete them.

It is likely something happened when getting connected, that is causing Windows to go into this loop.

(Sorry for such vague directions. It has been a long time since I used Windows.)

8

No problem, I know my way around Windows, never got this kind of driver problem before tough.
I've got the answer I was looking for, ie there's no easy fix to my problem. :wink:

9

Problem solved.
I ran the driver uninstaller in the Arduino folder.
Then I downloaded and ran the Executable drivers from the USB-chip provider.
I installed the drivers before plugging in the board.
New hardware found and installed with no problem.
Had to manually change com port to a more reasonable number thoug (in the device manager)