FT232RL Device Not Working After OS Upgrade

FT232RL Device Not Working After OS Upgrade: Troubleshooting and Solutions

Possible Causes of the Issue

After upgrading your operating system, many users have reported that their FT232RL USB-to-serial device stops working. The issue can be caused by several factors, including:

Driver Compatibility: After an OS upgrade, the FT232RL driver may no longer be compatible with the new system version. This can prevent the device from being recognized or functioning correctly.

USB Port Configuration: OS upgrades sometimes reset USB settings, which may affect how devices are connected and recognized by your system.

Power Management Settings: New OS versions may have power-saving features that affect USB ports, potentially cutting off power to connected devices, causing them not to function properly.

Firmware or Hardware Conflict: The OS upgrade could introduce conflicts with existing firmware, causing the FT232RL to malfunction or not be detected.

Corrupt Installation: The upgrade process may have caused file corruption, preventing the FT232RL driver or related files from functioning properly.

Step-by-Step Solution

If your FT232RL device stops working after an OS upgrade, try the following troubleshooting steps:

1. Check if the FT232RL is Recognized by the OS Windows: Open the "Device Manager" and check for the FT232RL device under the "Ports (COM & LPT)" section. If it appears with an error symbol, this indicates a problem. Mac/Linux: Use terminal commands (lsusb on Linux, or System Information on Mac) to check if the FT232RL is recognized by the system. 2. Update or Reinstall the Driver Visit the FTDI website and download the latest driver for your operating system version. Windows: Run the installer and follow the on-screen instructions to update or reinstall the FT232RL driver. Mac/Linux: You may need to manually install or update the driver using terminal commands. Follow the installation instructions on the FTDI website. After installation, restart your computer and check if the device is working. 3. Check USB Port and Cable Try plugging the FT232RL device into a different USB port. Sometimes, a USB port may malfunction after an OS upgrade, and changing to another port can resolve the issue. Check the USB cable for any damage. A faulty cable may also prevent proper communication between the FT232RL and your computer. 4. Disable USB Power Saving Features Windows: Go to "Control Panel" > "Device Manager". Right-click on the USB Root Hub under the "Universal Serial Bus controllers" section. Select "Properties", then go to the " Power Management " tab. Uncheck the box that allows the computer to turn off the device to save power. Mac/Linux: Check the system’s power management settings to ensure the USB ports aren’t being powered down automatically. 5. Check for Conflicts or Errors Look for any error messages in the "Device Manager" or the terminal logs on Mac/Linux. If the FT232RL driver has a conflict, you may need to uninstall other conflicting drivers or update them. Try using a different USB-to-serial device to confirm if the issue is specific to the FT232RL or if it’s related to the OS upgrade. 6. Roll Back OS Update (if necessary) If the issue persists and is directly caused by the OS upgrade, consider rolling back to the previous version of the OS where the FT232RL worked correctly. This should be a last resort after confirming that the OS upgrade itself caused the issue.

Conclusion

The FT232RL device may stop working after an OS upgrade due to driver compatibility, USB port settings, or power management changes. By following the steps outlined above, you can resolve most common issues. If these steps do not work, ensure that your drivers are up-to-date, USB ports are functioning properly, and power management settings are correct. If all else fails, rolling back the OS update may be necessary.