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How to install a USB Serial Converter driver in Windows 10?
In Windows 10, you can use EaseUS DriverHandy to scan the outdated or corrupted USB-Serial driver, then update and install it automatically.
Step 1. Launch EaseUS Partition Master and click Scan.
Step 2. Under the Peripheral Drivers, click USB drivers and rescan.
Step 3. Choose the driver and navigate to Driver Status to update it.
What is a USB serial controller?
A 16550 Universal Asynchronous Receiver-Transmitter (UART) or a compatible device is referred to as a serial controller. A serial controller uses a serial port to communicate with a peripheral device connected serially.
How to download USB to Serial driver?
You can download USB to the serial driver with Device Manager. Follow the steps below to finish it.
Step 1. Open Device Manager by typing devmgmt.msc in the run window.
Step 2. In the Other devices tab, right-click USB-Serial Controller.
Step 3. Select install from the drop-down menu.
We have a Dell OptiPlex 3040 that started having issues with a USB scanner the other day. I noticed that in Devices and Printers, it’s showing USB-Serial Controller with a yellow exclamation mark under Unspecified and also shows the same thing under Other Devices in Device Manager. I’ve used the Dell Assistant to update two chipset drivers and rebooted but it’s still showing that way. The other drivers that show needing updated are a BIOS, network and serial ATA. I’ve tried to update it automatically and through Windows Update but that hasn’t fixed it. I’m not sure what else to do. Thanks.
Does the scanner work in another machine? I’ve seen this happen when the USB cable starts to wear out.
Hi Gordon,
Thank you for sharing your question. I get why it's important to get that USB serial converter up and running, and I'm here to help you out. Based on my knowledge this problem usually happens because Windows either doesn't install the right driver on its own, or the device actually needs a driver from the maker.
So, to fix it, plug the USB serial converter into your computer. If Windows doesn't install the driver automatically, open Device Manager by pressing the Windows key + X, then pick Device Manager. Check under Ports (COM & LPT) or Other Devices to find your converter. Right-click on the device and click Update Driver. Then, pick Search automatically for drivers. If Windows can't find one, get the correct driver from the maker's website FTDI and Prolific are common chipsets. After you download it, pick Browse my computer for drivers and show it the folder where you saved the driver files. After it's installed, restart your PC and make sure the device shows up under Ports (COM & LPT) with a COM port number.
May I also ask have you already looked to see if the device shows up in Device Manager? Also, do you know what kind of chipset it uses (FTDI, Prolific, or CH340)? Knowing this will help us make sure we get the right driver.
I hope this answer is helpful, if you have any questions, feel free to reply.
Best Regards,
Noel
To install a USB serial converter driver, you typically need to ensure that the appropriate driver is loaded for your device. Here are the steps you can follow:
- Automatic Installation: If your USB serial converter is a standard device class that is included in Windows, the driver (Usbser.sys) should install automatically when you connect the device. Windows uses the compatible ID to load the driver from the system.
- Check Device Manager: If the driver does not install automatically:
- Open Device Manager on your computer.
- Look for your USB serial converter under Ports (COM & LPT) or Other Devices.
- Right-click on the device and select Update Driver Software.
- Manual Installation: If Windows cannot find the driver:
- You may need to download the driver from the manufacturer’s website or use a custom INF file if your device requires a specific driver.
- If your device specifies class code 02 and subclass code 02, it should load Usbser.sys automatically. If it has a different subclass code, you might need to provide a custom INF file to specify the driver.
- Using INF Files: If you have a custom driver:
- Create an INF file that references the driver and includes the hardware ID of your device.
- Use the Add New Hardware Wizard to install the driver manually by pointing it to the location of your INF file.
- Restart Your Computer: After installation, you may need to restart your computer to complete the installation process.
If you encounter issues, ensure that you have the latest updates installed on your machine by visiting Windows Update regularly.