• biscuitswalrus
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    4
    arrow-down
    1
    ·
    4 days ago

    Those cables more than likely were using clone chips and for whatever reason Microsoft decided to back completely banning them when identified.

    You’ll probably know if your old one is a fake chip because it’ll say “not a prolific…” which isn’t just a reboot and edit to allow unsigned drivers, it’s dead.

    What’s worse, it’s absolutely impossible to tell if the cable you bought has the fake chip since legitimate stores and legitimate cable makers bought them so the loser is people.

    Works fine on Mac and Linux though. Naturally.

    • Fubarberry@sopuli.xyz
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      7
      ·
      4 days ago

      From what I’ve read, Microsoft just decided to drop support for the PL-2303HXA/ TA/TB/HXD/RA/SA/EA. Some people report that RA chipsets still work some of the time, but inconsistently.

      You can also sometimes forcibly install old drivers, that will continue to work.

      • biscuitswalrus
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        3
        ·
        4 days ago

        Ah sounds like two compounding issues then! I referenced this issue https://www.sleepyponylabs.com/blog/pl2303 since so many cables I had previously, even from the router and switch maker that came with the device, stopped working.

        Great to know that there’s a whole other bunch of issues around these cables further making life tough for consumers.