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Getting XP to recognise my FC4100-75 with serial to USB adap
Hi all,
I realise this ask is a bit specific, but you never know…
I’m trying to get XP to recognise I have installed my Graphtec FC4100-75 with a serial to USB connector.
I have the relevant files and drivers required for the install, however when I go to manually select the file required the system will not recognise that the file is in the subfolder selected, and I cannot complete the install.
It’s strange as I have correctly downloaded and installed the plotter on to Signlab and the job goes to cut. The spooler says the job is done even though nothing has cut. Very strange.
I loosing time on this one so, as always, any help/ideas are most welcome.
Thanks in advance.
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5 Replies
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The problem will probably be related to the serial to USB converter. If you have bought one of the cheaper ones then that could well be the problem. You need a converter with a FTDI chipset and how you set it up will depend on how signlab recognises devices. Older versions probably won’t support USB so the converter needs to be set up as an additional com port.
Have a look at the chinese plotter section as this is covered in there quite well. -
Lovely, thanks Martin,
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No problem, once you have it set up and working then mark that USB port and don’t ever plug anything other than the convertor into it :lol1:
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go to Start/control panel/system/hardware/device manager
Double click on Ports (COM & LPT)
It should list all the com ports.Disconnect and reconnect the USB cable a few times.
A serial port should disappear and reappear each time you do that.
Thats the com port you need to plot to in Signlab.If its between com1 and com9, you should be OK
If its com 10 or higher , you will need to reconfigure the com port to a lower number.Remove the checkmark from Plot Spooler in Signlab for initial testing.
You can readd it later once your settings are correct.The Graphtec speaks 2 languages , HPGL and GPGL
I believe the 4100 driver is HPGL
Is your plotter set for HPGL
When you turn it on, you should breifly see either HL or GL on the cutters LCD. You can also find out by navigating its menu.Do you know what baud rate the cutter is set for?
Try to make sure its set for 9600 baud, 8 data bits , 1 stop bit, No Parity
I would set to hardware handshake also.
Those settings are what the USB to Serial adapter probably installed with.I take it your computer doesnt have an actual serial port which is why you bought the usb to serial cable.
The USB to serial cable is usually a 1 foot cable with a 9 pin adapter at the other end. You need to attach a actaul NULL MODEM serial cable to it.
Is it a known good serial cable you are plugging into the USB 2 serial adapter. -
Massive thanks to Martin and Frank. Both your posts helped me significantly! I am now up and running again.
To anyone else who comes across this problem, here is what I did.
1. Run updates on windows (may not be essential, but I did it anyway)
2. As Martin post suggested: Go to http://usbserialdrivers.com/ and scroll down to Prolific Drivers
select the driver required, for me it was the USB to Serial Adapter Driver
3. Unzip
4. Run the software.
5. Follow the steps in Frank’s post.I love this forum. Spent ages Googling and trying to work it out for myself. I can be so stubborn in asking for help.
When Googling I found many asking where to find the driver for the Graphtec FC4100-75 on XP or above, go to:
1. http://downloads.graphtecgb.com/support
2. Scroll down to "For all discontinued/legacy drivers please visit here"
3. Find the FC4100 Series
4. Select the right download for your PC – 32 or 64
5. Install the set up filesAnd thanks to Martin again, for the tip on keeping that USB port for the plotter. The cable has now got a label warning ‘DO NOT REMOVE, EVER!’
😀 😀 😀 😀 😀
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