Cyclone II Windows 7 x64 USB Serial Bus

Here are the steps I followed...

( From <alterasite>/download/drivers/usb-blaster/dri-usb-blaster-vista.html )

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USB-Blaster Driver for Windows Vista

Home > Support > Downloads > Cable & Adapter Drivers > USB-Blaster Driver for Windows Vista

You must install the Altera® USB-BlasterTM download cable driver before you can use it to program devices with Quartus® II software.

The first time the USB-Blaster download cable is plugged in, the Windows Vista Found New Hardware dialog box prompts you to install the driver. (Note: Do not use the Add Hardware Wizard from the Control Panel.)

You must have system administration (Administrator) privileges to install the USB-Blaster download cable driver.

Driver Installation

Plug the USB-Blaster download cable into the PC. The Found New Hardware dialog box appears.

Select Locate and install driver software (recommended).

Select Don't search online.

When you are prompted to Insert the disc that came with your USB-Blaster, select I don’t have the disc. Show me other options.

Select Browse my computer for driver software (advanced) when you see the Windows couldn’t find driver software for your device.

Click Browse... and browse to the <Path to Quartus II installation>\drivers\usb-blaster directory. Click OK.

Select the Include subfolders option and click Next.

If you are prompted Windows can’t verify the publisher of this driver software, select Install this driver software anyway in the Window Security dialog box.

The installation begins.

When The software for this device has been successfully installed appears, click Close.

To complete your installation, set up programming hardware in the Quartus II software.

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Where I differ from the instructions is that the instant I plug in the cable I have two choices...

# 1. Do nothing and let the window come up near the clock which mentions "Installing Device Hardware" and the system installs the USB Serial Bus Converter Driver.

# 2. Click on the window that pops up and cancel the auto-installation of the USB Serial Bus Converter Driver, which leaves me with a "USB <-> Serial" item in my 'Other Devices' in my device manager. Following this course of action, I attempted to point it to the USB blaster drivers via the 'Update Driver Software' - 'Browse my computer for driver software', and the blaster directory. Nothing is found for the hardware.