If this driver fails for you, consider:
| Alternative | Best for | |-------------|----------| | Prolific v3.8.26.0 (official) | Genuine PL-2303 chips on Windows 10/11 | | FTDI CDM driver | Switching to an FTDI-based adapter | | CH340/341 driver | Budget adapters (different chip, no driver war) | | Prolific v1.8.0 (older) | Windows 2000/XP legacy systems |
Disable automatic driver updates (Windows 10/11):
Run the installer as Administrator.
Plug in your USB-to-serial adapter – Windows should now use v3.3.3.114.
If Windows still forces a newer driver, use pnputil or Group Policy to block driver updates for VID_067B&PID_2303.
When using version 3.3.3.114 with a non-certified or older chip (e.g., PL2303HXD), the following occurs: