Finally! A USB/RS232C Adapter that works on Win 10

I finally found a USB to RS232C serial adapter that is Win 10 compatible, and works with my wife's Singer Embroidery Machine. I've kept Win 7 just for this application with a Prolific adapter (that is not Win8/8.1/10 compatible). I've tried several and some would install in Win 10 but none would communicate with the Embroidery Machine until this last one I tried. I've seen several other posts about finding an RS232C adapter that worked.

The unit I bought, from Amazon, is USB to RS-232 Serial Adapter for Windows 10, 7 (32/64bit) FTDI Chip Pro Adapter with LED Gearmo Model USA-FTDI-A36. It is Win 10 plug and play compatible.

Amazon.com: USB to RS-232 Serial Adapter for Windows 10, 7 (32/64bit) FTDI Chip Pro Adapter with LED: Computers Accessories

My wifes sewing machine embroidery software would not work will not work on Windows 10 or Windows 7. What I did was to run XP in VMWARE, and now she can embroidery using XP and surf for more via the Windows 10.

Still a good thing to know about the adapter too. It might come in handy later and for other applications as well.

The "Sew Ware" program that came with the Singer (XL6000) embroidery machine works in Win 10 but it has to be installed and run in a Win 98/ME compatibility mode (had to do the same thing in Win 7). As running in a compatibility mode works, no need to have a VM install.

The problem many are encountering is that Prolific "end-of-life'd" (EOL) the old adapter chip inside the cable in 2012, because it couldn't work with W8 or eventually W10.

Explanation

Newer versions of the adapter chip have been available for 5 years, and they do have W10 drivers that do work.

New Drivers

Frankly, I'm surprised that any vendor that is still supporting their hardware &/or software versions hasn't made an updated cable available. My wife's glucometer had offered a replacement cable and driver 5 years ago.

I tried a newer version of the Prolific that was supposed to be Win 10 compatible. It connected in Win 10 but would not work with my wife's Singer Embroidery machine. I don't have an RS232C breakout box so I couldn't tell if one of the control signals was missing or if a wrong voltage.

I've seen other adapters have one or more control (handshaking) signals missing and will not work with specific hardware. This was a common problem years ago with USB/Parallel adapters and HP Printers.