Fun > The Porch

Caution - Windows update bricks fake FTDI chips

(1/2) > >>

n1ist:
FTDI has just released a new driver, pushed by Microsoft in a recent Windows update, that will render counterfeit USB-Serial chips non-functional.
This driver changes the data on the chip to have a product ID of 0 (invalid), so once it has been plugged into a Windows box with the new driver,
it won't work even if you restore the old driver.

This happens with many of the "clone" or "fake" FTDI chips found on the cheap eBay/Alibaba usb-serial, usb-rs485, arduino clones, et al.  So if a device was working and dies after this Windows update, it's the driver that's causing it.

For more info, and some workarounds, look at
You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login
You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login

/mike

Gary:
How would you know if yours is fake?

tbone321:
When you load the new driver in Windows, you will find out then.  If you are running Linux, then it is not an issue.  It is not the hardware that they are trying to stop, it is other people using their drivers that they are trying to put a stop to and IIRC, the Linux drivers are not owned by them like the Windows version so the Linux drivers have no negative effect.

Gary:
But I hope that if the parts were from Mouser, they wouldn't be counterfeit?

tbone321:
What exactly are you talking about?  If you are talking about a chip, I believe that Mouser may be one of their authorized dealers and the chip should be fine.  If Mouser said that it was a FTDI chip and it bricks, then they owe you a new chip because they didn't sell you what they advertised.

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[#] Next page