YOUR PC RUNS WINDOWS 7 PRO OR ABOVE
If you have Windows 7 Professional or Above, the solution torunning any XP software is fairly easy. Go to
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtual-pc/download.aspx.Select your Windows 7 system and language, follow ALL the instructions, andMicrosoft will take you through to running XP mode on your Windows 7 system!Hurray! If you still have a problem with the USB cable being recognized, besure you're plugging it into the BACK of your machine, not through a hub or inone of the front ports. The program for the embroidery machine and the USBcable require more power than either of these allow, a technical point Singerdoesn't seem to be aware of. You should be fine to install the machine'ssoftware and run it from within the XP mode now.
YOUR PC RUNS WINDOWS 7 HOME, STARTER OR VISTA
Unfortunately, you'll need to have an original of Windows XPfor this, no way getting around it. Hopefully, you still have a copy of itlying around, or have a family member, neighbor or friend who does. Maybe acheap eBay buy? Doesn't matter if it's XP Pro or Home. This solution is quite abit more complicated, but you can get there. I run Windows 7 Home and I usethis solution to successfully run the embroidery software on my Singer FuturaCE-100; the application should be no different for any other machine requiringXP software and unable to run in either Vista or Windows 7, so take courage andcharge forward!
You're going to want to download a free and SAFE softwarecalled VmWare Player. The download requires you to register, but there's nocost, it's updated regularly to keep it safe and has been thoroughly checkedout by a lot of geek experts out there. It's available at
http://downloads.vmware.com/d/info/desktop_downloads/vmware_player/3_0.Fill in the required information, follow the instructions from the email you'resent, and download the software. Normally, the software will be downloaded tothe "Downloads" folder, unless you tell it to download elsewhere.
Before you do anything else, place the Windows XP CD in yourCD drive. Make sure you have the registration number ready. Now go to the"Downloads" folder, double click on the VmWare installation file(Vmware-player-etc, etc) and follow the instructions to install. Once that isinstalled and you've rebooted your PC, double-click the icon on your desktopfor the VmWare Player. It will automatically open up with a Welcome screen.Click on "Create a New Virtual Machine." The next window will automaticallyshow under installer disc "Windows XP (Pro or Home" detected." Just click next.Enter the XP product key and keep entering any required information in theBLANK spots in the following screens. ANY spot filled in LEAVE ALONE.
Now leave the PC alone-the process will take about 20minutes. Once it is done, VmWare Playerwill automatically launch the Tools Installer to integrate the virtual XP withyour computer. It may have to download or update the tools, so if you see ayellow banner at the bottom of your window, simply click Update Tools orInstall Tools depending on your situation. The tools will automaticallydownload and install, though you may have to approve a prompt or two.
You will be able to click between folders on your Windows7/Vista system and the XP Virtual Machine to copy and paste your designs backand forth. I strongly suggest that whatever AntiVirus software you use on yourWindows 7/Vista you also install on the XP, as it will look for updates on theinternet and will thus be subject to any viruses out there. Make sure you useany firewall, as well, if you use something other than the XP default (you'llknow if you do).
Now-close the VmPlayer completely. Don't restart it, closeit. Then reopen it. Do you get a message at the bottom telling you that the USBdevice connections are disabled? We have one more step, then, before installingthe embroidery machine's 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 really technicalpart. The problem is you have an AMD processor, not an Intel, in your machine.Congratulations on a smart purchase. VmPlayer has a little conflict with it.What I'm going to have you do may seem a little scary, but it is simple todo-and there is a backup so that if anything goes wrong we can fix it. JUSTDOUBLE CHECK EVERYTHING YOU DO BEFORE YOU DO IT. Okay.
Your going to go into an area that's supposedly forbidden inyour computer-nonsense. Make a backup, be careful, and understand that otherswho know what they're doing have written, gone over, and done theseinstructions before you. And my PC works just fine WEEKS after I've done this!
First, let's make a back up. Click onto the Start icon in thelower left hand side. See that blank line on the bottom just begging for somethingto be typed into it? Type "regedit" and hit ENTER. Click on FILE, EXPORT.Select DESKTOP on the right, name the file REG BACKUP and click SAVE. Now youhave made a full backup of your registry so if anything goes wrong you can goright back into "regedit" and go to FILE, IMPORT and select the file. See?Easy.
Now. In the Registry Editor screen that you've opened,
1. ClickHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\(36FC9E60-C465-11CF-8065-444553540000).
2. In the right hand panel, if UpperFilters exists, delete it. YES, delete it.
3. Go toHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\.
4. Delete the usbfilter string.
5. Close the registry
6. You will want to go into Start, then Computer.Double Click on C, then Windows\System 32/Drivers. Scroll down to the fileusbfilter.sys and delete it. Now reboot your computer.
FINALLY-REINSTALL YOUR EMBROIDERY SOFTWARE ACCORDING TO THEORIGINAL INSTRUCTIONS FROM YOUR MANUFACTURER.
And yell at them for not paying for the original programmerof the software to update the software properly to operate on Vista and Windows7!
I hope this helps everyone! It took a bit of research, butit's been well worth it. Happy embroidery!
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