Right-click the faulted Prolific/Leica entry and click . Choose Browse my computer for drivers .

Modern Windows operating systems require digitally signed drivers. The older drivers included on mini-CDs shipped with cheap third-party cables are often based on outdated Prolific or FTDI chipsets, which are blocked by Windows 10/11 for security reasons.

The GEV189 cable acts as a bridge between the 0B 5-pin lemo connector on your instrument and the standard USB-A port on your PC. Internally, the cable uses a Serial-to-USB converter chip. Windows 10 frequently attempts to install a generic "Plug and Play" driver that is often incompatible with the GEV189's specific hardware version, resulting in the dreaded "Code 10" error or "Device cannot start" message in your Device Manager.

Struggling to connect your GEV189 programming cable to Windows 10? Here is the step-by-step guide to installing the correct driver, fixing Code 10 errors, and getting your device recognized.

A driver is a piece of software that enables your computer to communicate with a hardware device, in this case, the USB download cable Gev189. Without a driver, your computer won't be able to recognize the cable, and you won't be able to use it for data transfer. The driver acts as a translator, allowing your computer to understand the cable's protocol and communicate with it effectively.

Before plugging in your cable, follow these installation steps to avoid Windows default driver conflicts.

: It features a sturdy, 5-pin LEMO-compatible design specifically engineered for harsh surveying environments

Leica GEV189 USB download cable, the "new" driver compatible with Windows 10 (and Windows 11) is

: Match the exact COM port number observed in the Windows Device Manager.

Before running the installer, prepare your operating system to prevent file conflicts.

Locate the downloaded installer file (usually named Leica_USB_Driver.exe or PL2303_Prolific_DriverInstaller.exe ).

Open Leica Geo Office or your data transfer tool.

Ultimate Guide: Installing USB Download Cable GEV189 Driver on Windows 10/11

Technical background