I've got a USB vag-com cable which I bought from ebay. It was

D'ont understand the problem if a driver is allready installed that is the equivalent to the one in the.rar file

It's not an equivelant, windows just seems to think it is. It's installing it as a usb to serial converter, not a vag-com interface. When I go into vag-com it can't find an interface...

not brilliant with computers and somebody else will probably come along and contradict me but, can't you uninstall what you have allready then custom install from the disc when windows finds the device again from scratch?

I've tried that, as soon as I plug it in it finds it and installs it automatically without asking me anything :( Thanks for your input.

you have to use a program called windows archiver or the like that upzips the .rar file (.rar = more efficient .zip file). Just do a search for .rar freeware.

several files will unpack and all will be fine after that!!

HTH

Bas

What Bas said WinRAR archiver, a powerful tool to process RAR and ZIP files get winrar. that will allow you to extract that .rar file and you should have a .inf file and other bits Windows will be able to use

It's installing it as a usb to serial converter, not a vag-com interface.

That's generally correct for a third-party interface. Third-party USB interfaces almost always emulate a serial port. VAG-COM cannot access them directly.

When I go into vag-com it can't find an interface...

Look in Device Manager and see which COM port is being emulated. If it's higher than COM4, you'll need to tweak it into the COM1 to COM4 range. Then select the corresponding port in VAG-COM.

See also:

Ross-Tech: VAG-COM: FAQ Page 3

-Uwe-

Thanks to all. I have tried unzipping the file with winrar but when trying to update the driver for the interface, I point the device manager at the folder containing the unzipped files and it just says it cant find any drivers. It says the same when used with the .rar which came with the cable and with the .rar I downloaded.

If I plug the cable into the computer and get the "found new hardware" thing in the corner it just installs itself as a USB to serial converter. When I looked at that in the device manager it was set as com port 6. I changed it to com port 4 and then in vag com I tested com port 4 but it just said "Port status : OK, Interface : NOT FOUND" but I'm guessing that is because I have been unable to install the correct drivers :(

Phil, what files are in the rar file?

Keep fiddling mate, you'll get it sorted eventually...

otherwise find a pimply teenager to sort it out

Good luck!

This is a screen shot of the files I get from the .rar

Don't know about asking a pimply teenager for help.... I might strangle one with the cable though!

The RossTech guy's have a good guide which may help with installing USB drivers -

Ross-Tech: VAG-COM: USB Driver Installation

I suggest you run the uninstall program (the one with the picture of a chip)

That should get rid of the existing drivers.

Download the latest drivers from here:

Virtual COM Port Drivers

Then start again reinstaling the USB cable & drivers and sorting out the comms port numbers, I don't think VAG-COM will see the interface until it's powered from the car.

Are you using any other USB device that uses the FTDI chip & drivers? If you are you may have some conflicts.

My advice is to buy the proper VAG-COM cable that can use the direct FTDI drivers these are much better at handling the precise timing required for this sort of application.

I changed it to com port 4 and then in vag com I tested com port 4 but it just said "Port status : OK, Interface : NOT FOUND" :(

Was the lead connected to the car, with the ignition on? The "Interface not found" could be because it isn't doing anything or because it relies on the car's diagnostics socket for its power, not the USB port in the computer.

i set mine to COM port 2 or 3 iirc , i think what you've also got to watch is that even though you are using it through the USB connector , you have got to set VAG COM saying you're using the serial connector , thats what i had to do on mine anyway