[WT-support] Caution: latest Windows Update breaks fake "FTDI" USB-to-Serial adapters

[Bob Wilson, N6TV]

It looks like FTDI has reversed course.  Their new driver (to be released)
still won't work with a fake chip, but it won't change the PID.

See http://hackaday.com/2014/10/24/ftdi-screws-up-backs-down/ and
http://www.ftdichipblog.com/?p=1053 .

"Microsoft has since released a statement and rolled back two versions of
the FTDI driver to prevent counterfeit chips from being bricked. The
affected versions of the FTDI driver are 2.11.0 and 2.12.0, released on
August 26, 2014. The latest version of the driver that does not have this
chip bricking functionality is 2.10.0.0, released on January 27th. If
you’re affected by the latest driver, rolling back the driver through the
Device Manager to 2.10.0.0 will prevent counterfeit chips from being
bricked. You might want to find a copy of the 2.10.0 driver; this will
likely be the last version of the FTDI driver to work with counterfeit
chips."

73,
Bob, N6TV

On Wed, Oct 22, 2014 at 2:41 PM, Bob Wilson, N6TV <n6tv at arrl.net> wrote:

> I have not experienced this myself.  I don't know anyone personally who
> has seen this yet.
>
> Reports indicate that the latest Windows Update will permanently damage a
> USB-to-Serial adapter if it is found to be using a "fake" or "cloned" FTDI
> chip instead of a genuine FTDI chip.
>
> This applies to Windows 7 and later.  You can read more about it there:
>
>
> http://hackaday.com/2014/10/22/watch-that-windows-update-ftdi-drivers-are-killing-fake-chips/
> http://www.eevblog.com/forum/reviews/ftdi-driver-kills-fake-ftdi-ft232/
>
>
> Recommendation:  if you use a USB-to-Serial adapter based on the FTDI
> chipset, avoid any Windows Updates until after contest season, or use
> Windows XP instead of Windows 7 or 8.
>
> If you use an adapter based on Prolific, you may have other problems.  I
> believe there are far more fake Prolific adapters than fake FTDI adapters.
> These fake Prolific adapters often cause a random "Blue Screen of Death,"
> or they work for a little while then mysteriously stop working.
>
> How do you know if you have a genuine USB-to-Serial adapter or a fake
> one?  There apparently is no easy way to tell (yet).  Post something here
> if you discover a utility that can help.
>
> In the mean time, buy name brand (such as GearMo) from reputable dealers
> (such as Amazon.com), and you should be OK.
>
> 73,
> Bob, N6TV
>
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