To get the cable working on Windows 10, you must obtain the official Leica USB driver suite. Do not rely on Windows Update to automatically find this driver, as it often installs an incompatible generic version. Method A: Via Leica myWorld (Recommended)
Click , then choose Let me pick from a list of available drivers on my computer . Select the older version from the list and hit next. Error: Yellow Triangle / Unrecognized Device
Download the driver ZIP from Prolific. In Device Manager > Update driver > Browse my computer > Let me pick from a list > Have Disk – then point to the extracted INF file. This bypasses automatic detection.
| Symptom | Likely Cause | Solution | |---------|--------------|----------| | Code 10 (Device cannot start) | Counterfeit Prolific chip & new driver | Use older driver (v3.3.2.105) with signature enforcement off, or buy genuine cable | | No COM port appears | Missing or wrong chip driver | Identify chip via Hardware IDs – download matching driver | | Driver installs but programming software fails | Wrong baud rate or flow control | Match port settings to device specifications | | Device disappears after reboot | Windows Update replaced driver | Use Group Policy or “Driver – Block automatic update” | usb download cable gev189 driver windows 10 upd
: In some cases, the device may appear twice (first as a USB converter, then as a Serial Port). You may need to repeat the "Update Driver" steps for the second entry if it still shows an error. Legacy Drivers
The “Windows 10 update” component of the query introduces the core paradox. Microsoft’s commitment to security and performance means that Windows 10 undergoes constant, significant updates. These updates often tighten driver signature enforcement, change the underlying architecture of the kernel, or deprecate older, less secure methods of device communication. A driver that worked flawlessly on Windows 7 or even the initial release of Windows 10 may be blocked, ignored, or rendered unstable after a routine feature update. Consequently, a user who successfully used their GEV189 cable six months ago may suddenly find their PC unable to recognize it. The update, designed to improve the system, inadvertently breaks the bridge between the computer and the external device.
A properly configured driver bridges the hardware gap. It converts the heavy-duty, outdoor-rated on the surveying instrument into a readable Virtual COM port over standard USB. Key Technical Specifications Specification Cable Model Leica GEV189 (Part Number: 734700) Internal Chipset FTDI FT232R USB UART Interface USB Standard Type-A to 0.B 5-Pin LEMO Supported OS Windows 10 (32-bit & 64-bit architecture) Primary Software Use Leica Geo Office, Leica Instrument Tools, Leica Captivate Step-by-Step Driver Installation Guide To get the cable working on Windows 10,
Official WCH (Nanjing Qinheng Microelectronics) driver.
A: Emerson/GE stopped hosting legacy drivers for GEV189 after 2018. Only Prolific or FTDI reference drivers are available.
If Windows detects the cable but fails to install the driver automatically: Select the older version from the list and hit next
Most GEV189 cables use Prolific PL-2303 HX/HXD/EA variants.
If your GEV189 cable is >8 years old, replacing it is cheaper and more reliable: