So I go to install a new USB GPS receiver and the install CD that comes with the device is calling for a driver – ser2pl.sys. Odd that it wouldn’t be on the driver CD – but ok, I’ll go find it and download it from the web.

After a quick Google search I go to a couple sites and end up at floridaprobe.com and voila – I have myself a copy of the driver. Now I can install the driver and see the device in Device Manager. But my navigation software still doesn’t see any data, and as an added bonus my machine has learned how to BSOD with a root cause of ser2pl.sys. Great.

Back to Google I go, following the rabbit hole to a bunch of message boards who all tell me to visit tech.prolific.com.tw to get version 2.0.2.8 of the same driver (the one from Florida Probe was version 1.3.0.1). That site is no longer good, and you get redirected to the “new” support site. Seems promising, but no joy – the file doesn’t actually appear to be downloadable from their site – at least not from the section marked Downloads for GPS – where you might expect to find it.

But, if you go to the section for USB, I/O Port Controllers, PL2303 you can download the file you need. Here’s the link directly to the file: http://www.prolific.com.tw/ support/ files/ /IO%20Cable /PL-2303HX /Drivers /Generic /PL2303_XP2KME98Driver_Setup.zip

The Download page has more versions (64 bit, Mac, etc.) but they don’t seem to support Vista.

You can also try downloading the ser2pl.sys directly from here.