USB Blaster not recognized in Windows 7

[Altera_Forum]

I am moving my project from a computer running Windows XP to one running Windows 7. I installed Quartus 10.1 sp1 and 15.0 on the Windows 7 computer. I used Windows Device Manager to install the 64 bit USB Blaster Drivers for Quartus 15.0. 

  When I run Signal Tap, the Hardware box says   "Disabled"  When I select "Setup" the "Hardware Setup" window that opens says "no Hardware". When I then select "Add Hardware..." The only option listed in the :Add Hardware window is Ethernet Blaster"  How do I get it to run USB Blaster?

[Altera_Forum]

so the device manager showed the blaster II presence when you plug in the cable to your win 7 computer?

[Altera_Forum]

Can you try to reinstall the drivers? Just in case there is any conflict with the QII 10.1sp1.

[Altera_Forum]

--- Quote Start ---  so the device manager showed the blaster II presence when you plug in the cable to your win 7 computer?  --- Quote End ---     The Device Manager shows USB Blaster. I am not using USB Blaster II

[Altera_Forum]

--- Quote Start ---  Can you try to reinstall the drivers? Just in case there is any conflict with the QII 10.1sp1.  --- Quote End ---    I uninstalled and re-installed the driver to no avail.

[Altera_Forum]

I think is time to throw this Altera USB-blaster to dustbin and use the Terasic blaster instead... as I saw many guys are their die hard supporter.... just joking... lol...

[Altera_Forum]

I am using the drivers from 15.0

[Altera_Forum]

I downloaded Quartus Prime Programmer and tools, which includes a stand alone version of Signal Tap. This software package automatically installs the USB Blaster drivers. I then ran the stand alone version of Signal Tap and it worked. After I rebooted the computer, I could run Signal Tap from Quartus 10.1.

[Altera_Forum]

Could it be that the drivers provided by Quartus installation package have some issue? Anyone facing similar case?

[Altera_Forum]

--- Quote Start ---  I uninstalled and re-installed the driver to no avail.  --- Quote End ---   could it be this only happen son 15.0 driver? had you tried with the 14.1 version just to isolate this is not the driver issue?

[Altera_Forum]

I have installed the USB Blaster successfully in the Device manager.  

However when I try to use it in the Quartus light 16.0.2 programmer it in not there. With Active Serial Programing selected then Hardware Setup, followed by Add Hardware offers: Byte Blaster MV or Byte Blaster II or tab to Ethernet Blaster.  No sign of USB Blaster.   Any one seen something similar.

[Altera_Forum]

Am experiencing the same problem with Prime Programmer 15.1, 15.2 and 16.0.....(with appropriate upgrades applied).... on Windows 7. 

After a computer reboot I can run the Programmer and it sees the USB Blaster. After one program cycle the USB Blaster disappears from the Hardware Setup and it is not listed in the Available Hardware Items.  From reading all the posts in this and other threads it seems a common problem with no satisfactory solution.  Seems like Altera isn't interested in solving this issue.

[Altera_Forum]

I have a similar problem with the programmer or Signal Tap not recognizing the USB Blaster when I load my DSP via a USB Jtag interface through Code Composer 

 I found this thread after I started my own thread, so I'll just copy my info here.   In Quartus Prime Programmer, after clicking the "Hardware Setup" button the USB Blaster hardware DOES appear or is recognized before loading my DSP through Code Composer. However, once the program STARTS to load the Quartus Programmer does not recognize the USB Blaster. If I stop Code Composer (hitting the red square) the programmer again recognizes the USB Blaster. The problem was originally found when trying to connect to the USB blaster when trying to use a signal tap file at the same time the DSP was loaded and running.   Things I did and it still does not work:   When the Programmer does NOT recognize the USB blaster, Windows 7 Device manager does recognize it and says the USB Blaster is working properly  I have updated to the latest USB Blaster Driver  I have reloaded and upgraded TI Code Composer  I have replaced all the hardware with know working pieces including, target board, USB Blaster, TI XDS100 emulator, cables etc  I have tried many different USB ports on the same computer   Things I did to get it to work:  I loaded Quartus on a separate computer and connected the USB Blaster to it, then ran Code Composer on the other computer and it did work   There seems to be some problem with both Code Composer XDS100 working with USB Blaster on the same USB hub.   One last note, this all worked fine at one time. The only thing that may have changed may be from automatic Windows Updates.   I'm out of ideas, using two computers it not feasable. Any help would be appreciated.   Thanks, Rich

[Altera_Forum]

I had a similar problem when I tried using the USB Blaster while using an FTDI TTL-232R-3V3 USB to RS232 cable. Altera said that the USB Blaster would not work if there was another cable that used FTDI USB chip.  

 Altera suggested that I should use a USB Blaster II.  One of my co-workers offered to build a USB to RS232 cable that used a different controller.   I just used two computers.

[Altera_Forum]

Not mentioned in rbattista's posts, but XDS100 JTAG adapter seems to use a FTDI chip. 

 If so, the post has been actually posted in the wrong thread. There are previous threads about the USB Blaster/other FTDI devices problem, which apparently got worse with Windows 7 and/or 64 Bit FTDI drivers, I'm not quite sure. See e.g. http://www.alteraforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2015  It's really annoying that Altera doesn't manage to fix the problem in the USB Blaster driver. No other device using FTDI USB bridges seems to have this kind of massive problems.

[Altera_Forum]

--- Quote Start ---  Could it be that the drivers provided by Quartus installation package have some issue? Anyone facing similar case?  --- Quote End ---    I'm having this issue also. We have Quartus II installed on Windows 7 machines in the lab (at a university). I get the exact same "no hardware" message, and the drivers for USB-Blaster are installed (according to Windows).  -SEAM

[MMont8]

USB Blaster is just impossible to install on windows 8, 8.1 and 10. It seems to be because it is an unsigned driver, then O.S. just reject installation. Apparently there are some side ways to install it, like restart computer in advanced options disabling signed drivers check function, or using terminal in administrator mode to run computer on a Test mode, but non of those alternative ways work. USB blaster is just impossible to install. I have a very nice looking DE0 develompent board, but just can not use it because can not communicate with it. Altera, Terasic and Intell support just ignore the problem. They send me to "post" my question on public blogs instead of provide an installable working USB blaster driver. After more than 1 year searching for a solution, there is no such. I am about to trash $191 usd and of course Altera, Terasic FPGA develpment boards are out as option for may university students.