Singer Futura CE100 Connect Error. Check that USB cable is connected and power switch is turned on.

You did not indicate which operating system is used on your laptop. If you have Win Vista, 7, or 8, there is a patch that you can download from singerco.com, find your XL400, go to software and download the patch (should go to your download folder) . Next go to the Control Panel and uninstall the software. Re start your computer. Turn OFF your anti virus software and install the Base Singer software. Next, go to the download folder and double click on the Futura patch. Plug in your usb to the singer, then laptop, and turn on the sewing machine. At this point you can Launch the Futura software.
1. Turn on Computer
2. Plug in usb from XL 400
3. Turn on XL
4. Launch Software
Hope this helps - 8)

Suggest to also install the earlier windows version that can recognize your CE100 software into your computer.

Go to the Singer website and down load the driver for your machine.

IF YOUR WINDOWS 7 UPDATED TO 64 BIT, THE SOFTWARE WONT WORK ANYMORE

try these sites

http://www.sewingmachinesplus.com/Singer-Futura-Upgrade.php

http://cart.jennys-sewing-studio.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=72_77_82&products_id=222

http://www.sewamazed.com/futura-upgrade-2.html

http://www.futura-support.com/products/ce-100/software

This sounds like you have a problem with Windows 7 or Vista with the clem driver part.

First, there's a Windows 7 update available at www.Futura-support.com. Click on the lefthand side, then on CE100/150/250/350, etc, etc. Follow the directions CAREFULLY. First, be sure the uninstall ALL Futura software you've attempted to install and reboot your PC.

If for some reason this doesn't solve you're problem, I've posted a set of instructions at http://www.fixya.com/support/r8955271-use_machine_windows_7_or_vista that will allow you to run the software under XP on your Windows 7 machine. This is a bit more complicated a solution, but if you follow the instructions carefully, you should be fine. Try the Futura update first, though.

I hope this solves that problem.

Next, you say you're "still" having the connection error? Did I answer your problem before? I'm going to give you the answer to the problem I had with this, and if I already gave you this please leave me a comment on this. I check back daily, so I'll see it and we'll try and troubleshoot further from there. First, take care of the software problem. Next, make sure you're plugging the USB cable from the machine into a USB port in the BACK of your computer, not one of the front ports or a port on a USB hub. The cable and machine need more power than most of those ports provide, a technical detail that Singer doesn't realize. Good luck!

Make sure your USB cable is plugged into one of the USB ports on the BACK of your computer. The front ports or a USB hub doesn't have enough power to run the USB cable for the machine. Singer doesn't have enough computer knowledge to figure this out-this was finally solved for me by a PC expert at work after I went nuts for a few months! Hope this helps!

My computer is extremely touchy when I use my usb cable to attach to my machine. I have to use the SAME usb port that I used when the driver was installed or else it will not recognize that my machine is plugged in. Basically it is telling you it cannot find your machine. Reinstall the driver and mark which usb port you used to install the machine.
Also, in order to open the futura software, your machine must be powered on and connected via USB cable before you attempt to open the software on your computer.

Hi I had the same problem sent question to Singer and this was their reply

"Do you have Vista 32-bit or Vista 64-bits? Unfortunately the CE-100/200 machine will not be compatible with either Vista 64-bit systems or the newest Windows 7 computers. The CE-100/200 will only be compatible with Windows 98 through Vista 32-bit operating systems.

This appears to be a hardware issue and not something that we will be able to create a patch to correct. Drivers necessary for 64-bit operating systems are not compatible with the CE-100/200 machines." so I guess we are SOL

So here's what I did and it worked for me. Somehow the WinDriver that is on the software is uninstalling itself and needs to be listed with the drivers for Jungo for this software to work. I installed the software when I first got the machine with no problems, then suddenly I couldn't open it and was receiving the same connection error. When you go to http://www.futura-support.com/faq/machine.htm#2 to install the drivers, you'll notice their screen shot shows both the CLEM driver and the WinDriver. Check your machine following their instructions to see if you have both listed under the Jungo driver. If not, go to http://www.jungo.com/st/windriver_usb_pci_driver_development_software.html and select the link under "Available WinDriver Toolkits" for your operating systems (I selected WinDriver USB for Windows). It asks a bunch of questions which I didn't know the answer to so I selected "other" on almost everything then entered "NA"or "?" for the other description. Select Download now and it will need to restart your computer. Once done, I looked at the device manager again and now WinDriver is listed under Jungo and CLEM and the software opens, no problems.

This will at least temporarily solve the issue, however, it's a free trial which means the download will expire at some point. Good news is, the windriver is on the futura disk, I just don't know why it's not installing or staying on the machine. I am sending all of this to Singer to figure out what they're missing in the installation files and hopefully get a fix permanently.

Good luck!