Installing the QSI programmer and driver

Overview:

The programmer has a USB interface, and here are some tricks to installing the driver. This is because certain versions of the USB driver are not "signed" and Windows won't normally allow this.

In addition, there are some cases that certain versions of the user software (the program to load sound files, and the JMRI-like configuration program) need DIFFERENT versions of driver and this also interacts with the Windows operating system version. Fun huh?

So, I'll give you a step by step installation for various operating systems. Read this carefully and do not skip steps.

Note: Since I primarily work with the LS Titan, and want the great new features very few people know about (using the ET / Emulator Technology features) I do not use the latest version of CVManager. The "engineering" menu was eliminated after version 3.0.x.x.x (starting with 3.1.x.x.x). If anyone can tell me what the subsequent versions have that is missing, let me know, all I know is all the new and great features (like louder 4th chuff, and changing the waveform for the chuff for different speeds) are only in 3.0.0.x

Prerequisites:

• Windows 10 or 11 computer (PRO version recommended)
• Turn off BitLocker all drives strongly recommended, you will normally encounter problems
• Do not plug in the USB dongle/programmer! You need to install the driver first!
• driver: commonly called: qprog_usbdriver_winxp_3_2 (yes it works on everything!!  also it is really version 3.2.0.0)
• Q2Upgrade install .exe: I use the latest install I can find: 3.1.0.1 (the latest I can find)
• Quantum upgrade standalone .exe file: version: 3.1.0.5 from 2016 (the latest I can find)
• CVManager install .exe: version 3.0.0.000
• CVManager standaline .exe: 3.0.0.018 (latest version with the "engineering" menu with all the extras)

Note: to install the 2 softwares, you need the "install" package.... when QSI updated the program itself, it just supplied the program only, not the whole install. So you have to run the install file, and then copy over the updated program into the system directory.

Installing the hardware driver on Windows 10 / 11

OK, so a feature first (strictly) introduced in windows 10 called "driver signing policy" basically makes it impossible to load a unsigned driver without going through some hoops. Since it costs $$, QSI did not sign up. Really stupid.

The USB driver comes in a zip file from Silabs. Download the zip file, and put it in a new subdirectory, best not to do this on the desktop.

Now extract the zip file, all you have to do is (using the file explorer) right click on it, and extract all, and it will put the extracted files in a subdirectory of your directory you made for the zip file.

Now, you need to put your computer into a special mode to accept unsigned drivers. This mode is called "allow unsigned drivers" You will set this up, the computer will reboot, and after installing the driver, this special mode will go away after the next reboot. Note well: if you don't get the driver installed and you reboot, you need to start the procedure over.

Please note: some newer versions of the programs may need a different driver, I found this on the newer CVManager. Since I use the Titan ET features, I use the older driver as already explained.

Again, reminding you to make sure bitlocker is off on your install drive, which is usually C:

Put computer in the mode to allow unsigned drivers (windows 10 & 11):

One way is to do this is:

Windows 10:

• Open the action center (you should know what this is otherwise google it)
• go to all settings
• then update & security
• then recovery
• then advanced startup.

Windows 11:

• Right click on the time in the lower right
• click "Notifications Settings"
• Click "System" on the left menu
• Scroll down to "Recovery" and select it
• On the "Advanced Startup"line, click RESTART on the right
• the computer will reboot, log back in

Continue windows 10 & 11

After rebooting

1. Continue
2. Troubleshoot
3. Turn off

Choose Troubleshoot

Then the following menu appears:

• Refresh your PC
• Reset your PC
• Advanced Options

Choose Advanced Options

Then the following menu appears

• System Restore
• System Image Recovery
• Automatic Repair
• Command Prompt
• Windows Startup settings

Choose Windows Startup Settings, then Click Restart.

Now the computer will restart and the boot menu appears.

Choose: “Disable Driver signature Enforcement” from the menu. Now windows will start and you can do the installation of the driver that is not signed.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Windows 8 procedure:

Here is a link to the procedure for Windows 8 with pictures: http://www.craftedge.com/tutorials/driver_install_windows8/driver_install_win8.html

(why in the heck are you still running windows 8?)

Earlier windows:

You can install the driver on XP, Vista and Windows 7. Nothing special, except there is/was a different driver for Vista 64 bit.

Now to install the driver (windows 10):

Sometimes you need to log in as the actual local administrator user. By default, this user is often disabled. Google "enable administrator user windows 10"

I still do the troubleshooting way, but some people can directly install from here.

Clearly, navigate to the folder where you unzipped the driver.

Then right click on the installer executable: QP_USBXp_Installer.exe and select "troubleshoot compatibility"

I pick the "troubleshoot program", then tick the boxes for "earlier versions of windows" and "requires additional permissions"

On the operating system selection, I pick Windows 7

This is pretty much the most bulletproof method. Sometimes you don't need all of this, sometimes you do.

Once the software installs, THEN plug in the programmer

If you get stopped from running the program, you can change the  HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System\EnableLUA to 0 in regedit. you will probably have to reboot.

For using the 3.0.0.18 CV Manager, the usb driver I have installed is a USB device, called "Quantum Programmer", version 3.2.0.0, with a date of 2009_11_1

Installing the hardware driver on Windows 8 / 8.1 / 10 / 11

This can be a real pain in the ass. The driver needed seems to vary also with the version of the CV Manager software

Do not plug in the dongle! You need to install the software first!

The driver will not install on windows 8 or 10 with the normal install. Part of this is because it is unsigned, and Windows 8 and 10 won't allow this by default. The other part of the difficulty is that it needs to be installed in a troubleshooting / compatibility mode for windows 8/8,1

First, have the silabs driver already downloaded and in it's own subdirectory (unzip the file). The file I use is from the QSISolutions site named: qprog_usbdriver_winxp_3_2.zip

Now, you need to put your computer into a special mode to accept unsigned drivers. This mode is called "allow unsigned drivers" You will set this up, the computer will reboot, and after installing the driver, this special mode will go away after the next reboot. Note well: if you don't get the driver installed and you reboot, you need to start the procedure over.

Please note: some newer versions of the programs may need a different driver, I found this on the newer CVManager. Since I use the Titan ET features, I use the older driver.

Important Tip: make sure bitlocker is off on your install drive, at least C:

Driver versions vs o/s and CVManager versions

Ensure bitlocker is off on all your drives to avoid issues.

Windows 11, and latest QSI programs, Silabs CP210x USB to UART Bridge, version 10.1.10.103, dates 1/8/21

first install latest 3.0.0.x cvmanager

Installing on XP

Installing on Windows 7

Installing on Windows 8/8.1

Installing on Windows 10

Installing on Windows 11

Driver versions vs o/s and CVManager versions

Ensure bitlocker is off on all your drives to avoid issues.

Windows 11, and latest QSI programs, Silabs CP210x USB to UART Bridge, version 10.1.10.103, dates 1/8/21

first install latest 3.0.0.x cvmanager

Greg's preference - latest CVManager that has all the extra Titan ET menus/cvs in it

install 3.0.0.000 (the base complete install)

then copy the last version ( .exe only) to the program files directory - version 3.0.0.018

now copy the xp drivers, but after you have booted into the mode to allow unsigned drivers

Using/debugging programmer after driver installation: Firmware version/upgrading

You need to install the software driver first, which makes the programmer available via a "COM" port. The following sections address the selection and installation of the driver. DO THAT NEXT, and then come back here.

After installation, you should check for upgrade of the firmware in the programming "dongle" at least when you get one. It's in a really weird place in the programming software.

• right click on the upper left of the title bar of the Quantum Upgrade window, right on the words "Q2Upgrade"
• Yes, there is nothing up there, but when you do it, you get a menu you cannot get any other way.

• Now click on "Quantum Programmer...", click that, and then you get another menu.

• Click "retrieve firmware version".. you will then see the version in your dongle. If you get nothing back, then you are NOT communicating with the dongle, or it is dead.
• Also check "get error status"
• If your firmware version is not 2.0.5, then you should be able to upgrade the firmware. This is the latest firmware as of 2021

Now if everything is good so far, we can check the "final stage" of the programmer, the connection to the decoder.

• Click on the "Diagnostics..." menu
• now you get the menu below:

• Click the "Measure Baseline Current" button.
• You should see something between 2 (decoder only) to about 15 (maybe some lights)
• ZERO means that there is no connection detected, either you are not connected to the decoder, or the output of the programmer is bad (broken)
• very high, like over 100 means you have a dead short (either short circuit across the output, or the programmer is bad or the decoder is bad.

Installing the hardware driver on Windows 8 / 8.1 / 10 / 11

This can be a real pain in the ass. The driver needed seems to vary also with the version of the CV Manager software

Do not plug in the dongle! You need to install the software first!

The driver will not install on windows 8 or 10 with the normal install. Part of this is because it is unsigned, and Windows 8 and 10 won't allow this by default. The other part of the difficulty is that it needs to be installed in a troubleshooting / compatibility mode for windows 8/8,1

First, have the silabs driver already downloaded and in it's own subdirectory (unzip the file). The file I use is from the QSISolutions site named: qprog_usbdriver_winxp_3_2.zip

Now, you need to put your computer into a special mode to accept unsigned drivers. This mode is called "allow unsigned drivers" You will set this up, the computer will reboot, and after installing the driver, this special mode will go away after the next reboot. Note well: if you don't get the driver installed and you reboot, you need to start the procedure over.

Please note: some newer versions of the programs may need a different driver, I found this on the newer CVManager. Since I use the Titan ET features, I use the older driver.

Driver versions vs o/s and CVManager versions

On windows 11, and latest QSI programs, Silabs CP210x USB to UART Bridge, version 10.1.10.103, dates 1/8/21

Put computer in the mode to allow unsigned drivers (windows 10):

One way is to do this is:

• Open the action center (you should know what this is otherwise google it)
• go to all settings
• then update & security
• then recovery
• then advanced startup.

Your computer will reboot, and then after some time you will be prompted with a menu with following options.

1. Continue
2. Troubleshoot
3. Turn off

Choose Troubleshoot

Then the following menu appears:

• Refresh your PC
• Reset your PC
• Advanced Options

Choose Advanced Options

Then the following menu appears

• System Restore
• System Image Recovery
• Automatic Repair
• Command Prompt
• Windows Startup settings

Choose Windows Startup Settings, then Click Restart.

Now the computer will restart and the boot menu appears.

Choose: “Disable Driver signature Enforcement” from the menu. Now windows will start and you can do the installation of the driver that is not signed.

Windows 8 procedure:

Here is a link to the procedure for Windows 8 with pictures: http://www.craftedge.com/tutorials/driver_install_windows8/driver_install_win8.html

(why in the heck are you still running windows 8?)

Earlier windows:

You can install the driver on XP, Vista and Windows 7. Nothing special, except there is/was a different driver for Vista 64 bit.

Now to install the driver (windows 10):

Sometimes you need to log in as the actual local administrator user. By default, this user is often disabled. Google "enable administrator user windows 10"

I still do the troubleshooting way, but some people can directly install from here.

Clearly, navigate to the folder where you unzipped the driver.

Then right click on the installer executable: QP_USBXp_Installer.exe and select "troubleshoot compatibility"

I pick the "troubleshoot program", then tick the boxes for "earlier versions of windows" and "requires additional permissions"

On the operating system selection, I pick Windows 7

This is pretty much the most bulletproof method. Sometimes you don't need all of this, sometimes you do.

Once the software installs, THEN plug in the programmer

If you get stopped from running the program, you can change the  HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System\EnableLUA to 0 in regedit. you will probably have to reboot.

For using the 3.0.0.18 CV Manager, the usb driver I have installed is a USB device, called "Quantum Programmer", version 3.2.0.0, with a date of 2009_11_1