BEFORE INSTALLATION: Thoroughly read this document to ensure you understand how to use this product.

Transcription

1 Virtual Communication Port USB Driver for Bulletin 900-CONVx (Series B or Later) Converter June, 2003 (Rev 1.0) Allen-Bradley This file describes the method of installation and use of the Virtual Communication (Com.) Port USB Driver for use with the Bulletin 900-CONVx (Series B or Later) Communication Converter Module. BEFORE INSTALLATION: Thoroughly read this document to ensure you understand how to use this product. 1 NOTES AND LIMITATIONS OF USING THE TOOL Features Operating Environment Applicable types of Personal Computers (PCs) Applicable PC Operating Systems Notes SOFTWARE LICENSE AGREEMENT Disclaimer Copyright CONFIGURATION OF DRIVER FILES DRIVER INSTALLATION IN YOUR PC Installation of the Driver in Windows 98 Operating System Installation of the Driver in the Windows Me Operating System Installation of the Driver in the Windows 2000 Operating System Installation of the Driver in the Windows XP Operating System CONFIRMATION OF DRIVER INSTALLATION Confirmation of Driver Installation When Using Windows Confirmation of Driver Installation When Using Windows Me Confirmation of Driver Installation When Using Windows Confirmation of Driver Installation When Using Windows XP UPDATE OF THE DRIVER Windows Update from the USB driver Windows Me This chapter is to update the USB driver for the Virtual COM Port in the PC Windows Update from the virtual COM Port correspondence USB driver Windows XP This chapter is to update the Virtual COM Port correspondence USB driver in your PC CHANGING THE PC PORT NUMBER OF THE VIRTUAL COM PORT Changing the PC Port Number When Using Windows Changing the PC Port Number When Using Windows XP DETACHING THE 900-CONVX (SERIES B OR LATER) CONVERTER FROM THE USB PORT OF THE PC Windows Windows Me Windows Windows XP

2 9 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS REVISION HISTORY

3 1 Notes and Limitations of Using the Tool 1.1 Features The Virtual COM Port USB Driver allows using the Series B (or later) Bulletin 900-CONV communications converter configured for USB mode, to communicate through a Personal Computer s (PC) serial USB communication port with Bulletin 900 temperature controllers equipped with RS485 communication, when using 900Builder TM application software in the PC. The device even supports a notebook PC. However, there are some software applications that cannot be used. The Virtual COM Port USB Driver is the software tool which, along with the Series B(or later) Bulletin 900-CONV, enables a Personal Computer (PC) to communicate with multiple Bulletin 900 Temperature Controllers (equipped with RS485 communications). The PC communicates through its integrated serial USB communication port, into the Bulletin 900 CONV and out of the Bulletin 900-CONV as a RS485 communications device. The applications level software used in the PC is the 900Builder TM Operating Environment Applicable types of Personal Computers (PCs) The PC must be equipped with an unused USB port Applicable PC Operating Systems Windows 98 TM including the Second Edition, Me, Windows 2000 TM, and XP developed by Microsoft TM Corporation. * It is not applicable on Windows 95 TM and Windows NT TM. 1.2 Notes * This driver is not compatible with a software application that accesses the COM port directly such as MS-DOS and 16- bit applications, or an application directly operating the control signal of RS232C, etc. * This driver may not communicate due to the performance deterioration if the CPU power of the PC is insufficient. * This driver cannot handle the standby and the suspend state. * Refer to the Bulletin 900-CONVx Installation Manual for proper configuration of the hardware. 2 Software License Agreement When you (the customer) use this software there is a license condition between you and the A-B Company. The customer agrees that the installation, copy, or use of this software constitutes the customer's acknowledgment of the terms and conditions described in item 2.1 and 2.2 below. If the customer does not agree to these terms and conditions, the customer is not authorized to install, use, or copy this software. 2.1 Disclaimer In no event shall A-B Company be liable for any losses and/or damage resulting from loss of use or use of this software. 2.2 Copyright This software is protected under copyright laws. As such, all rights and copyrights of the software, such as documentation and printed matters included in this software, their copies and so forth of this software are protected. The customer is not authorized to reproduce any documents such as manuals included in this software. 3

4 3 Configuration of Driver Files It should be noted that there are slight differences in all of the operating systems (OS) and as such it is important to insure that the correct section is followed. In particular, both Windows98 and WindowsMe operating systems require several additional steps which are not required in either Windows XP or Windows2000. IMPORTANT: Before the customer can install the Virtual Com Port Driver on the PC, the customer must extract the driver files from the ZIP file Virt. Com Port Driver that was downloaded from the ab.com WEB site. To do this, perform the following; Open (Double-click on) the Virt. Com Port Driver ZIP file From the ZIP file selections box; Select Extract from the Extract ICON or Actions pull-down Chick on Extract From the Extract screen prompt (below), at the Extract to Bar type the following: C:\Temp Type After the above is completed; the configuration of files will be stored in the Temp, Driver folder as follows. * For Windows 98 / Me * usb_690.inf USB driver setup information file for Bulletin 900-CONVx * ABUSBDR.sys Main body of USB driver for Bulletin 900-CONVx * vrcom_690.inf Virtual COM driver setup information file for Bulletin 900-CONVx * abvrcom.sys Main body of virtual COM driver for Bulletin 900-CONVx 4

5 * abvrcom.vxd Main body of virtual driver for Bulletin 900-CONVx (VxD format) * Virt. Comm Port Driver Installation.doc This document * For Windows 2000 / XP * usb_690.inf USB driver setup information file for Bulletin 900-CONVx * ABUSBDR.sys Main body of USB driver for Bulletin 900-CONVx * abvrcom.sys Main body of virtual COM driver for Bulletin 900-CONVx * Virt. Comm Port Driver Installation.doc This document 5

6 4 Driver Installation in Your PC The driver installation method differs depending on the Operating System of the PC. Ensure that the type of operating system is known before loading this driver, and follow the applicable instructions below. 4.1 Installation of the Driver in Windows 98 Operating System (1) Turn on the power supply to the PC and the Bulletin 900-CONVx (Series B or later) converter module. (2) Ensure the files are extracted from the Virt. Com Port ZIP file as directed in Section 3.0. (3) Connect the USB port of the Bulletin 900-CONVx converter module to the USB port of the PC with a suitable, commercially available USB cable. After several seconds, the PC Operating System recognizes this hardware connection, the preparation of driver installation starts and the below screen, Add New Hardware Wizard appears. Use the mouse and on the Next > box. (4) The following screen prompt will appear. With the mouse select the radio button Search for the best driver for your device. (Recommended) and then on the Next > box

7 (5) At the next prompt screen place a check mark in the Specify a location: box. Select (click) Browse, and specify the folder to retrieve the Virtual Communication Port USB driver files which were extracted from the ZIP file (Section 3.0) downloaded from the ab.com WEB site. Select (click) Next > and the OS will begin searching for the driver files. NOTE: In the following example the folder to retrieve the extracted driver files is "C:\Temp" 1. Check Specify the folder to retrieve the driver file 4. (6) The following screen is displayed when the Operating System (OS) has completed searching for the driver. Select (click) the Next > box. 7

8 (7) The below screen will be displayed when the driver installation in the PC is complete. Select (click) Finish box. (8) After several seconds, the Add New Hardware Wizard screen prompt is displayed and the following dialog appears. Select (click) Next > box. 8

9 (9) Select the radio button Search for the best driver for your device. (Recommended). Select (click) Next > box (10) Confirm that only the Specify a location: box is checked and the folder used to retrieve the extracted files (example C:\Temp) is specified correctly. Then, Select (click) Next > box. 1. Confirm 2. 9

10 (11) The following screen is displayed when searching for the driver is completed. Select (click) Next > box. (12) When the below screen prompt is displayed, Select (click) Finish box and the installation of the driver is complete. (13) Confirm the driver was correctly installed by referring to Chapter 5 "Confirmation of Driver Installation". 10

11 4.2 Installation of the Driver in the Windows Me Operating System (1) Turn on the power supply to the PC and the Bulletin 900-CONVx (Series B or later) converter module. (2) Ensure the files are extracted from the Virt. Com Port ZIP file as directed in Section 3.0. (3) Connect the USB Port of the Bulletin 900-CONVx converter module to the USB port of the PC with a suitable, commercially available USB cable. After several seconds, the PC Operating System recognizes this hardware connection, starts the driver installation procedure, and invokes the Add New Hardware Wizard. Select the radio button Specify the location of the driver (Advanced) and Select (click) the Next > box (4) Select the radio button Search for the best driver for your device. (Recommended)., and place a check in the box Specify a location. Select (click) the Browse box and specify the folder to retrieve the Virtual Communication Port USB driver files which were extracted from the ZIP file (refer to Section 3.0) downloaded from the ab.com WEB site. Select (click) Next > box. NOTE: In the following example the folder used to store/retrieve the extracted driver file is "C:\Temp" Check Specify the folder to retrieve the driver file 5. 11

12 (5) The following screen is displayed when the Operating System has completed searching for the driver. Select (click) on the Next > box. (6) The below screen prompt will be displayed when the installation in the PC is complete. Select (click) Finish box. 12

13 (7) After a few seconds, the Add New Hardware Wizard prompt screen is displayed again and the following dialog appears. Select (click) the radio button Specify the location of the driver (Advanced) and select (click) Next > box (8) Select (click) Next > box. Note: In the following example, the folder used to store/retrieve the extracted driver file is C:\Temp. 13

14 (9) The following screen is displayed when searching for the driver is completed. Select (click) Next > box. (10) Select (click) Finish box to complete the installation of the driver. (11) Confirm the driver was correctly installed by referring to Chapter 5 "Confirmation of Driver Installation". 14

15 4.3 Installation of the Driver in the Windows 2000 Operating System (1) Turn on the power supply of the PC and the Bulletin 900-CONVx (Series B or later) converter module. (2) Ensure the files are extracted from the Virt. Com Port ZIP file as directed in Section 3.0. (3) Connect the USB port of the Bulletin 900-CONVx converter module to the USB port of the PC with a suitable, commercially available USB cable. After a few seconds, the PC Operating System recognizes the hardware connection, starts the driver installation procedure, and invokes the Found New Hardware Wizard. Select(click) Next > box. (4) When the following screen prompt appears, select () radio button, Search for a suitable driver for my device (recommended) and then Select (click ) Next > box

16 (5) When the below screen prompt appears, place a check mark in the box Specify a location and then Select (click) Next > box. 1.Check 2. (6) Select (click) Browse box, and specify the folder to retrieve the Virtual Communication Port USB driver files which were extracted from the ZIP file (refer to Section 3.0) downloaded from the ab.com WEB site. Select(click) OK box. NOTE: In the following example, the folder used to retrieve the extracted driver is "C:\Temp" Specify the folder to retrieve the extracted driver file 1. 16

17 (7) The PC Operating System begins searching for the device driver. The following screen is displayed when the search for the driver is complete. Select (click) Next > box. (8) Select (click) Finish box to complete the installation of the device driver. (9) Confirm the driver was correctly installed referring to Chapter 5 "Confirmation of Driver Installation". 17

18 4.4 Installation of the Driver in the Windows XP Operating System (1) Turn on the power supply to the PC and the Bulletin 900-CONVx (Series B or later) converter module. (2) Ensure the files are extracted from the Virt. Com Port ZIP file as directed in Section 3.0. (3) Connect the USB port of the Bulletin 900-CONVx converter module to the USB port of the PC with a suitable, commercially available USB cable. After several seconds, the PC Operating System recognizes this hardware connection, the preparation of driver installation starts, and the below screen prompt, Found New Hardware Wizard appears. Use the mouse and select the radio button, Install from a list of specific location (Advanced) and then select (click) Next > box

19 (4) Select (click) Search for the best driver in these locations., and check the box Include this location in the search: Select (click) Browse and specify the folder to retrieve the Virtual Communication Port USB driver files which were extracted from the ZIP file (refer to Section 3.0) downloaded from the ab.com WEB site. Select (click) Next >. NOTE: In the following example the folder to retrieve the extracted driver file is "C:\Temp" Check Specify the folder to retrieve the extracted driver file 5. (5) The PC operating system begins searching for the Virtual Communications Port USB driver. When it is complete the following screen prompt appears, with the below warning. Ignore the warning and select (click) Continue Anyway. 19

20 (6) The following screen prompt will be displayed. (7) When the below screen prompt appears, on Finish and the installation of the device driver is complete. (8) Confirm the driver was correctly installed by referring to Chapter 5 "Confirmation of Driver Installation". 20

21 5 Confirmation of Driver Installation This chapter outlines the procedure to confirm that the driver is properly loaded after initially installing it in the PC or after connecting the 900-CONVx (Series B or later) converter to the PC with the USB cable. 5.1 Confirmation of Driver Installation When Using Windows 98 (1) At the lower left portion of you screen use the mouse and select (click) : Start > Settings > Control Panel > System. Select the Device Manager tab to start the Device Manager. (2) Refer to the below screen prompt. Double-click on Ports (COM & LPT). If the RA 900-CONV Interface Converter Virtual COM Port (COMn) is listed as shown below, the installation (connection) is properly completed. NOTE: (1) COM Port number n is different according to the PC that is used. (2) To change the COM Port n to another port number refer to Chapter 6 (3) To ensure proper operation when communicating with devices using 900Builder software, ensure the COM Port number selected here is also selected on the 900Builder Connect COM PORT (1-4) screen prompt. 21

22 5.2 Confirmation of Driver Installation When Using Windows Me (1) At the lower left portion of the screen, use the mouse and select (click) : Start > Settings > Control Panel > System. Select the Device Manager tab to start the Device Manager. (2) Refer to the below screen prompt: Double-click on Ports (COM & LPT). If RA 900-CONV Interface Converter Virtual COM Port (COMn) is listed as shown below, the installation (connection) is properly completed. NOTE: (1) COM Port number n is different according to the PC that is used. (2) To change the COM Port n to another port number refer to Chapter 6 (3) To ensure proper operation when communicating with devices using 900Builder software, ensure the COM Port number selected here is also selected on the 900Builder Connect COM PORT (1-4) screen prompt. 22

23 5.3 Confirmation of Driver Installation When Using Windows 2000 (1) At the lower left portion of the screen, select (click): Start > Settings > Control Panel > System. Refer to the below System Properties screen prompt: Select the Hardware tab and select (click) Device Manager. 23

24 (2) Refer to the below screen prompt: Double-click on Ports (COM & LPT). If RA 900-CONV Interface Converter Virtual COM Port (COMn) is listed as shown below, the installation (connection) is properly completed. NOTE: (1) COM Port number n is different according to the PC that is used. (2) To change the COM Port n to another port number refer to Chapter 6 (3) To ensure proper operation when communicating with devices using 900Builder software, ensure the COM Port number selected here is also selected on the 900Builder Connect COM PORT (1-4) screen prompt. 24

25 5.4 Confirmation of Driver Installation When Using Windows XP (1) At the lower left portion of the screen, select (): Start > Settings > Control Panel > System. Refer to the below System Properties screen prompt: Select the Hardware tab and select(click) Device Manager 25

26 (2) Refer to the below screen prompt: Double-click on Ports (COM & LPT). If RA 900-CONV Interface Converter Virtual COM Port (COMn) is listed as shown below, the installation (connection) is properly completed. NOTE: (1) COM Port number n is different according to the PC that is used. (2) To change the COM Port n to another port number refer to Chapter 6 (3) To ensure proper operation when communicating with devices using 900Builder software, ensure the COM Port number selected here is also selected on the 900Builder Connect COM PORT (1-4) screen prompt. 26

27 6 Update of the driver If Chapter 4, The driver installation in your PC for the first time, is used, please skip this chapter. This chapter addresses the method for installation of an updated USB driver for the 900-CONV, when a new driver is available. The various Operating Systems require minor differences in the driver update procedure and are covered in this chapter. The procedure outlined in this chapter refers only to the 900-CONV driver update. IMPORTANT: Before the customer can update the Virtual Com Port Driver on the PC, the customer must extract the driver files from the ZIP file Virt. Com Port Driver that was downloaded from the ab.com WEB site. Please refer to Section 3, as the procedure to extract the files for upgrading the driver is very similar to the initial installation. From the Extract screen prompt (Section 3), at the Extract to Bar type the following: C:\Download (instead of the C:\Copy per Section 3). 6.1 Windows Update from the USB driver This chapter is to update the already installed Virtual COM Port correspondence USB driver in your PC. (1) Turn on the power supply of the PC and the 900-CONV, and connect 900-CONV to the USB port connector of the PC. (2) Select (click): Start > Settings > Control Panel > System > Device Manager. Double-click [Universal serial bus controller], and double-click [RA 900-CONV Virtual COM Port Driver WDM Part]. 1. Double-click 2. Double-click 27

28 (3) Select(click) Driver Tab (4) Select (click) Update Driver 28

29 (5) Select(click) Next > to start the Update Device Driver Wizard. 29

30 (6) Select radio button Display a list of all the drivers in a specific location, so you can select the driver you want and then select (click) Next >. (7) Select (click) Have Disk 30

31 (8) Select (click) Browse and specify the folder that the extracted driver file was extracted to, and select (click) OK. (The folder that was used in the example to store the extracted driver file is "C:\DOWNLOAD".) 2. (9) Select Folder name: Download and select(click) OK Select (10) Select (click) OK to specify folder location of the new driver

32 (11) Select (click) Next> to accept the model selected

33 (12) Select (click) Next > to install the new driver chosen. (13) Select (click) Finish to complete the new driver installation process. 33

34 (10) Select () on: Start > Settings > Control Panel > System > Device Manager. Double click Port (COM / LPT). Double click RA 900-CONV Interface Converter Virtual COM Port (COMn). Double-click (11) Select (click) Driver tab select (click) Update Driver to start the Update Device Driver Wizard 34

35 (12) Select (click) Next > to search for the RA 900-CONV Interface Converter Virtual COM Port (13) Select radio dial Display a list of all the drivers in a specific location, so you can select the driver you want and select (click) Next >. Select 2. 35

36 (14) Select (click) Have Disk. (15) Select (click) Browse and specify the folder that was used to store the extracted driver file. Select (click ) OK. (The folder used to store the extracted driver file is "C:\DOWNLOAD" in the following example.) 3. 2.Specify the folder to store the extracted driver file 1. (17) Select (click) Next > 36

37 (18) Select (click) Finish to complete the upgrade process. (19) Confirm the driver was correctly installed referring to Chapter 5 "Confirmation after the driver is installed". 37

38 6.2 Windows Me This chapter is to update the USB driver for the Virtual COM Port in the PC. (1) Turn on the power supply of the PC and 900-CONV, and connect 900-CONV with the USB port connector of the PC. (2) Select Start > Settings > Control Panel > System. Select the Device Manager tab. Double-click on RA 900- CONV BUS and double-click RA 900-CONV Virtual COM Port Driver WDM Part. Double-click 38

39 (3) Select (click) Driver tab and select (click) Update Driver to start the Update Device Driver Wizard.. (4) Select (click) the radio dial Specify the location of the driver (Advanced) and select (click) Next> so that the new driver that has been downloaded can be located

40 (5) Select radio dial Display a list of all the drivers in a specific location, so you can select the driver you want and select (click) Next > to show the device requiring the updated driver (6) Select (click) Have Disk to select the location where the new driver resides. 40

41 (7) Select (click) Copy manufacturer s files from and specify the folder that the new extracted driver file is stored at, and select (click) OK. (The folder selected to store the extracted driver file is "C:\DOWNLOAD" in the following example.) 2 1. Specify the folder to store the extracted driver file (8) Select (click) Next to accept the model selected. 41

42 (9) Select (click) Next > to install the new driver selected (10) Select (click) Finish to complete the new driver installation process 42

43 (11) Select Start > Settings > Control Panel > System. Select the Device Manager tab. Double click Ports (COM & LPT). Double click RA900-CONV Interface Converter Virtual COM Port (COMn). Double-click (12) Select Driver tab and select (click) Update Driver to start the Update Device Driver Wizard 43

44 (13) Select the radio dial Specify the location of the driver(advanced), then select (click) Next > (14) Select radio dial Display a list of all the drivers in a specific location, so you can select the driver you want, and select (click) Next >

45 (15) Select (click) on Have Disk. (16) Select (click) Browse and specify the folder that the extracted driver file was stored into, and click OK. (The folder to store the extracted driver file is "C:\DOWNLOAD" in the following example.) Specify the folder to store the extracted driver file 45

46 (14) Select RA 900-CONV Interface Converter Virtual COM Port from the text box, and select (click) Next > (17) Select (click) Next >. 46

47 (18) Select (click) Finish to complete the driver upgrade procedure. (19) Confirm the driver was correctly installed referring to Chapter 5 "Confirmation after the driver is installed". 47

48 6.3 Windows Update from the virtual COM Port correspondence USB driver This chapter is to update the Virtual COM Port correspondence USB driver in your PC. (1) Turn on the power supply of the PC and 900-CONV, and connect 900-CONV with the USB port of the PC. (2) At the lower left portion of the screen, use the mouse and select (click): Start > Settings > Control Panel > System. Select the Hardware tab and select (click) Device Manager. Double click on Port (COM and LPT). Double click on RA 900-CONV Interface Converter Virtual COM Port (COMn). Double-click 48

49 (3) Select Driver tab and select (click) Update Driver to start the Upgrade Device Driver Wizard. (4) Select (click) Next >. 49

50 (5) Select radio dial Display a list of the known drivers for this device so that can choose a specific driver and select (click) Next > (6) Select (click) Have Disk. 50

51 (7) Specify the folder that the extracted driver file is located in, and select(click) OK] (The folder to store the extracted driver file is "C:\DOWNLOAD" in the following example.) Specify the folder to store the extracted driver file (8) Select (click) RA 900-CONV Interface Converter Virtual COM Port and select (click) Next >

52 (9) Select (click) Next >. (10) Select (click) Finish to complete the update and the installation of the driver. (11) Confirm the driver was correctly installed referring to Chapter 5 "Confirmation after the driver is installed". 52

53 6.4 Windows XP This chapter is to update the Virtual COM Port correspondence USB driver in your PC. (1) Turn on the power supply of the PC and 900-CONV, and connect 900-CONV with the USB port of the PC. (2) At the lower left portion of the screen, select (click): Start > Settings > Control Panel > System. Select the Hardware tab and select (click) Device Manager. Double click on Port (COM and LPT). Double click on RA 900-CONV Interface Converter Virtual COM Port (COMn). Double-click 53

54 (3) Select (click) Driver tab and select (click) Update Driver to start the Hardware Update Wizard. 54

55 (4) Select radio dial Install from a list of specific location(advanced) then select (click) Next > (5) Select Radio dial Don t search. I will choose the driver to install. and select (click) [Next >

56 (6) Select (click) Have Disk. (7) Specify the folder that the extracted driver file is located in and select (click) OK. (The folder to store the extracted driver file is "C:\DOWNLOAD" in the following example.) Specify the folder to store the extracted driver file 56

57 (8) Select (click) RA 900-CONV Interface Converter Virtual COM Port then select (click) Next> (9) Ignore warning and select (click) Continue Anyway. 57

58 (10) Select (click) Finish to complete the update and the installation of the driver. (11) Confirm the driver was correctly installed referring to Chapter 5 "Confirmation after the driver is installed". 58

59 7 Changing the PC Port Number of the Virtual COM Port In this chapter, an easy method for you to change the assignment of the Virtual COM port number to some arbitrary port number is explained for Windows 2000 and XP. This is an effective method when the COM number is restricted in the serial communication software. These functions are not provided in Windows 98 and Me Operating Systems. 7.1 Changing the PC Port Number When Using Windows 2000 (1) At the lower left portion of the screen, select (click): Start > Settings > Control Panel > System. Select the Hardware tab and select (click) Device Manager. Double-click on Ports (COM & LPT) and then on RA 900- CONV Interface Converter Virtual COM Port (COMn). (2) Refer to the below screen prompt. on the Port Settings tab as shown below. 59

60 (3) Select Port Settings tab and Select (click) on Advanced. (4) Select (click) COM Port Number and select the new COM port number desired and select (click) OK Select the COM port number in the list box * NOTE: Reboot your PC or detach the USB cable connector from the 900-CONVx converter USB port and then reattach it after changing the COM port number by the above-mentioned operation (Refer to Chapter 7 for the detaching method). The changed COM port becomes active only after this operation is implemented. 60

61 7.2 Changing the PC Port Number When Using Windows XP (1) At the lower left portion of the screen, select (): Start > Settings > Control Panel > System.Select the Hardware tab and select(click) Device Manager and double-click on Ports (COM & LPT) and then on RA 900- CONV Interface Converter Virtual COM Port (COMn). (2) Select (click) on the Port Settings tab. (3) Select (click) on Advanced. 61

62 (4) Select (click) on COM Port Number:,and select the COM port number desired and select (click) OK Select the COM port number in the list box * NOTE: Reboot your PC or detach USB cable connector from the 900-CONVx converter USB port and then reattach it after changing the COM port number by the above-mentioned operation (Refer to Chapter 7 for the detaching method). The changed COM port becomes active only after this operation is implemented. 62

63 8 Detaching the 900-CONVx (Series B or later) Converter from the USB Port of The PC To detach the Bulletin 900-CONVx converter from the USB port/connector of the PC, follow the procedures below. 8.1 Windows 98 Confirm that the virtual COM port is not accessed by some application of the PC (i.e. the port is not open) and then detach 900-CONV. 8.2 Windows Me Confirm that the virtual COM port is not accessed by some application of the PC (i.e. the port is not open) and then detach 900-CONV. 8.3 Windows 2000 (1) Confirm that the virtual COM port is not accessed by some application of the PC (i.e. the port is not open). (2) Select (click) Unplug or Eject Hardware icon of the Windows taskbar (refer to the figure below) and select (click) Stop RA 900-CONV Interface Converter Virtual COM Port (COMn) pop up. (3) Select (click) OK, and detach the 900-CONVx when the detaching dialog of the figure below is displayed. 8.4 Windows XP (1) Confirm that the virtual COM port is not accessed by some application of the PC (i.e. the port is not open). (2) Select (click) Safely Remove Hardware icon of the Windows taskbar (shown in the figure below), and select (click) on the Safely remove RA 900-CONV Interface Converter Virtual COM Port (COMn) pop up. (3) After the Safe To Remove Hardware The RA 900-CONV Interface Converter Virtual COM Port (COMn) device can now be safely removed from the system text is displayed you can detach the 900-CONV from the PC. 63

64 9 Frequently Asked Questions (1) (Q) Why doesn t the Add New Hardware Wizard start even when I connect the 900-CONVx (Series B or later) converter to my PC for installation of the Virtual Communication Port driver. (A) Verify that the cable is connected properly from the converter to the USB port/connector on the PC. Visually check the cable or try another cable. (2) (Q) What is the default PC allocated COM port number, when the driver is installed? (A) The OS allocates an unused COM port available in the particular PC that is being used, therefore, the COM port number after installation is dependent on each environment. (3) (Q) Can two or more Bulletin 900-CONVx converters be used at the same time with a single a PC? (A) If you use two or more 900-CONVx converters with a single PC and both converters are using the Virtual COM Port driver software (USB mode) at the same time, the load on the PCs Operating System increases. Therefore it becomes impossible to communicate as the performance is deteriorated. However, it is possible to assign one load to the RS232 C port and one load to the USB port respectively of the PC, but performance may also deteriorate depending on the PC and how many applications are open at the same time. Therefore, to avoid communication issues you should avoid using two or more 900-CONVx converters with a single PC. (4) (Q) Can the USB port of a 900-CONVx converter be connected to a USB device other than a PC (example printer with a USB port)? (A) No, it is not possible to use the converter communicate with a USB port of a PC based peripheral (e.g. printer). 10 Revision history 6/10/03 Rev. 1.0 Initial Release * Microsoft is the registered trademark of U.S. Microsoft Corporation. * Windows is the registered trademark of U.S. Microsoft Corporation in the United States and other countries. * Other corporation names and the product names in this document are the trademarks or registered trademarks of the relevant companies The copyright holder of this product is as follows. (C) Copyright OMRON Corporation 2002 All Right Reserved. 64