Use Your Machine with Windows 7 or Vista!

First,there's a Windows 7 update at www.Futura-support.com.Click on lefthand side,then on CE100/150/250/350, etc, etc.Follow directions CAREFULLY.First, be sure the uninstall ALL Futura software you've attempted to install & reboot your PC.
If for some reason this doesn't solve you're problem,
YOUR PC RUNS WINDOWS 7 PRO OR ABOVE If you've Windows 7 Professional or Above,solution to running any XP software is fairly easy. Go to http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtual-pc/download.aspx.Select your Windows 7 system & language, follow ALL instructions, & Microsoft will take you through to running XP mode on your system! If you've still a problem with the USB cable being recognized,be sure you're plugging it into BACK of the PC, not through a hub or one of the front ports.The program for the embroidery machine & the cable require more power than these allow, a technical point Singer doesn't seem to be aware of.You should be fine to install the machine's software & run it from within the XP mode now.YOUR PC RUNS WINDOWS 7 HOME, STARTER OR VISTA Unfortunately, you'll need to have a CD of Windows XP for this,no way getting around it. Hopefully, you have a copy of it lying around,or a family member,neighbor or friend who does Doesn't matter if it's XP Pro or Home.This solution is a bit more complicated,but you can get there.You're going to download a free & SAFE software,VmWare Player.The download requires you to register, but there's no cost, it's updated regularly to keep it safe & has been thoroughly checked out by a lot of experts.It's available at http://downloads.vmware.com/d/info/desktop_downloads/vmware_player/3_0.Fill in required information,follow instructions from the email you're sent, & download. Normally,software will be downloaded to "Downloads" folder unless you download elsewhere.Before you do anything else,place the Windows XP CD in CD drive.Make sure you've the registration # ready.Now go to "Downloads" folder, double click on VmWare installation file(Vmware-player-etc,) & follow instructions to install.Once that's installed & you reboot your PC, double-click VmWare icon on the desktop.It'll open up a Welcome screen.Click "Create a New Virtual Machine."Next window will automatically show under installer disc "Windows XP (Pro or Home" detected." Just click next.Enter XP product key & keep entering required info in BLANK spots in the screens. ANY spot filled in LEAVE ALONE.Leave PC alone-process'll take about 20minutes.Once it's done,VmWare Player will launch Tools Installer to integrate virtual XP with your PC.It may have to download or update tools-if you see yellow banner at bottom of window,click Update Tools or Install Tools.Tools will download & install,thou you may have to approve prompt or 2.You'll be able to click between folders on your systems to copy & paste your designs back & forth.I strongly suggest whatever AntiVirus software you use you also install on XP-it'll look for updates on internet & will be subject to any viruses out there.Make sure you use any firewall,too,if you use something other than XP;s(you'll know if you do).Now-close VmPlayer completely. Don't restart it, close it-then reopen it.Get a message at the bottom that USB device connections are disabled?We've one more step before installing embroidery software.USB DEVICE CONNECTIONS DISABLED OR USB ARBITATION SERVICEFAILS/TERMINATED OR DEVICE ATTACHED TO THE SYSTEM IS NOT FUNCTIONING.Arggggh! One more thing?Okay, this is the technical part.You've got an AMD processor,not an Intel,in your PC.Congrats on a smart purchase.VmPlayer has a conflict with it.What you'll do may seem scary, but it's simple-& there's a backup if anything goes wrong.JUSTDOUBLE CHECK EVERYTHING YOU DO BEFORE YOU DO IT.OK.You're going into an area that's supposedly forbidden-nonsense. Make a backup, be careful,& understand others who know what they're doing have checked these instructions.And my PC works fine WEEKS after I've done this!First, let's make a back up.Click the Start icon in lower left hand side.See that blank line on the bottom just begging for something to be typed into it?Type "regedit" & hit ENTER.Click on FILE, EXPORT.Select DESKTOP on right, name file REG BACKUP & click SAVE.Now you've made full backup of registry so if anything goes wrong you can goright back into "regedit",go to FILE, IMPORT & select file.See?Easy.Now. In Registry Editor screen that you've opened, 1. ClickHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESystemCurrentControlSetControlClass(36FC9E60-C465-11CF-8065-444553540000).2. In right hand panel, if UpperFilters exists, delete it.YES,delete it.3. Go toHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESystemCurrentControlSetServices.4. Delete the usbfilter string.5. Close registry6. You'll want to go to Start,then Computer.Double Click on C, then WindowsSystem 32/Drivers. Scroll down to fileusbfilter.sys & delete it.Now reboot your PC.FINALLY-REINSTALL YOUR EMBROIDERY SOFTWARE ACCORDING TO THEORIGINAL INSTRUCTIONS FROM YOUR MANUFACTURER.I hope this helps everyone!