Pro-668: USB Device Not Recognized

[KC2GVX]

Between not being able to figure the software, to my computer not recognizing the scanner now- this thing is about a minute away from getting tossed in the street. It was recognized by my Windows 7 computer two weeks ago when I bought it, and I went to update the firmware and what not tonight- and it won't recognize the USB device. I tried to re-install the Radio SHack drivers many times, and Windows wont take it. Please help- I hate this stupid scanner.

 

[KC2GVX]

It keeps saying the malfunction balloon, and won't let me update the unknown device driver with the Radio Shack drivers which I can find in my folders.

 

[AtlasFBG2]

Are you trying to connect with the scanner powered on or off?

 

[RonnieUSA]

It keeps saying the malfunction balloon, and won't let me update the unknown device driver with the Radio Shack drivers which I can find in my folders.

Looks like You have a bad USB Cable, or a bad port.
Try plugging into a different port.

 

[KC2GVX]

I have tried this with the scanner powered on and off. I have two USB ports on the front of my Win 7 desktop that work for everything else. Maybe it is a bad cable? The (not so) funny thing is this cable worked two weeks ago when I first bought it.

Update: I just tried it on my wife's Windows 8 computer and it came right up perfectly. It assigned the scanner a drive letter and recognized it. The USB ports on my desktop do work, I have tried flash drives on them successfully. What gives with this stupid scanner?????

 

[KC2GVX]

Part 3

Okay, I installed the software on my wife's Windows 8 machine, and it opens the scanner up as a folder with a drive letter assigned to it. I was able to update the library, but I cannot update the scanner firmware. I constantly get the error message pictured below. I have tried plugging and unplugging the USB cable, but the same thing happens. I am beyond frustrated with this model- it is so close to getting returned to the store.

 

[Swipesy]

I am beyond frustrated with this model- it is so close to getting returned to the store.

See attached file for Windows 7 drivers that others have claimed resolved their scanner driver issues.

 

[Ghstwolf62]

Could be the SD Card too. I had headaches and finally bought a Sandisk and no problems since. They were much like you are having. The SD Cards in these new things are crap.

 

[KC2GVX]

Tonight's update: Tried a brand new SD card and a new cable. Still the same windows error and the software won't recognize the scanner. I also tried to download that link that Swipesy gave me, and that didn't work. It appears I have a broken unit- I will swap it out tomorrow.

 

[sfatony]

I had the same problem where my computer did not recognized my PRO 668. Found this previous thread and gave it a try and it worked!
http://forums.radioreference.com/gre-scanners/298161-ws1080-win-8-8-1-driver-instructions.html
I know it is for windows 8 but might be worth a try.

 

[KC2GVX]

OKay, I will try what you posted sfatony. I just got back from RS and swapped the unit. I am getting the same error messages with the new scanner. It appears the problem is mine.

 

[WQPW689]

OKay, I will try what you posted sfatony. I just got back from RS and swapped the unit. I am getting the same error messages with the new scanner. It appears the problem is mine.

I dont have the Pro-668, but I have the Whistler 1080 which I understand is a close clone and went thru much the same rigamarole. If you're confident you were able to successfully load the driver on your machine, one thing I found that works is to reboot the computer while the scanner is connected and not running. It never fails to recognize the USB driver that way. As a matter of fact, it remains the only way I can get the software to recognize the scanner.

Who knows? Give it a shot.

Edit: I want to stress that I do this with the scanner plugged in but not turned on. You should just see that time screen. Don't want to corrupt the SD card.

 

[scan18]

One thing to keep in mind... I believe the "USB Device not recognized" error is independent of the USB-Serial drivers. Ideally, if you plug the scanner into a PC even with no scanner software or drivers installed, it should at least recognize the microSD as a removable drive.

I have 4 Win7 pc's and 3 of them will recognize the microSD card when I plug in the scanner, but the 4th one I get the USB Device not recognized error. I still don't know why. I was banging my head against the wall messing around with the various USB-Serial drivers, then I realized I can install drivers until I'm blue in the face, but those drivers can't do anything into the USB device is recognized.

 

[KC2GVX]

Okay, I rebooted the computer with the scanner connected and powered off. It found it and worked fine. Then, I opened the software and attempted to update the firmware. It initially recognized it, then it hung up at the update screen (as pictured below) and won't do anything. I also got the USB NOT RECOGNIZED balloon pop up as it started to update. Very weird.

 

[scan18]

I just tried WQPW689's suggestion on the PC I was getting the "USB Device not recognized" on. If I reboot the PC with the scanner plugged in (and off), it does indeed recognize it. Thanks for that tip.

Then, the driver installed with no problem. I already have the latest CPU update, so I didn't actually attempt to do an update. But when I do a Check for updates, it seems to be able to successfully recognize my current firmware version, etc.

At least I now know I can get the software running on my backup PC's if necessary.

 

[WQPW689]

scan18, glad to hear the tip worked.

This seems to be some sort of Windows permission or admin type thing. I've tried everything I could to fix it, but I've simply given up and reboot the computer when I want to get into the scanner. It'll probably never be more than a couple of times a month, so reboots won't hurt and tend to keep the system uncluttered.

Sorry to hear the OP is still having problems, but I hesitate to offer any more suggestions, since the software and firmware on the 668 and 1080 are definitely different.

Good luck.

 

[beastieboy101]

I have the Pro-668 also and have had many problems with the scanner not being recognized by my laptop.

I believe your problem may be the type of USB slot you are plugging the USB cable into. My Pro-668 will only be recognized if I use the USB 2.0 slot. I have 3 USB 3.0 slots and 1 USB 2.0 slot on my laptop. I tried multiple times with USB 3.0 and could never get it to work right. 1st time I tried plugging it into the USB 2.0 slot everything worked perfect.

To distinguish between the two; USB 3.0 slots have blue in the plugs/receptacles and USB 2.0 are either black or white in the plugs/receptacles. I attached an image to further demonstrate this point.

Hope this helps you out. Good luck figuring this out.

 

[RonnieUSA]

USB3 Ports are also marked SS, at least on my HP Laptop.