Hi guys,
We completely understand your frustration and have stopped selling all NiTek download devices to make a point to Seiko that we cannot sell a computer that is not downloadable. About 90% of folks who purchase a dive computer (in our experience) do not use the software, but the 10% that do are really pissed at this point. We know.
Our challenge is that after we spent a gajillion dollars on the original software development years ago, Seiko has refused to update for Vista or Windows 7 due to a licensing situation with Microsoft (another burr in our side as Microsoft loves to make money). We have asked for the protocols from Seiko so we can hire our own engineer to get this resolved and for the last year they have ignored us.
So we took the downloaders off our website and put up warnings that the NiTek Trio/Duo/Plus line does not work with Vista or Windows 7. Our only recourse is to squelch sales until Seiko gets it.
In the meantime, I saw a thread a while back on this forum with a potential fix...not perfect, but it may work for those of you who already have the downloader. Here it is:
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/dive-rite/251715-nitek-duo-docking-station-vista-32-bit.html
The workaround mentioned is for Vista 32bit, however others have reported it works with Windows 7:
Go to Vista Device Manager, look under Other devices.
2. Right click on USB-Serial Controller and Update Driver Software
3. Click on Browse My Computer for Driver Software
4. Instead of selecting the drivers folder in system32, click on Let me click on a list of devices on my computer
5. Leave the selection on Show all Devices and click Next
6. Uncheck "Show all compatible devices", there should now be 2 selections for PL-2303, one is PL-2303X OnlyUSB Driver, the other is PL-2303 OnlyUSB Driver (notice no X).
7. Select the one with no X, PL-2303 OnlyUSB Driver, Click on Next
8. Read and disregard Microsoft compatibility warning
9. It installs itself and seems to work just fine.
Sorry for the ongoing frustration.
Kathleen