programming software for USB Blaster

Assuming you are using the "Windows" version of Quartus, the most likely issue, is the USB driver is not linked to the USB blaster.

Try going into your device manager and seeing if the "Altera USB-Blaster" is listed under the "Universal Serial Bus Controllers" section.

If it has a yellow exclamation point it probably doesn't have a driver (Or if you have something in the Universal Serial Bus Controllers that that has the exclamation point).

Right click on the item.

Say no to the Can Windows search for it..

Click on install from a list or specific location

Browse to the location of the driver (usually something like c:\altera\11.1\quartus\drivers\usb-blaster\ x32 or x64 depending on 32bit or 64 bit version of windows)

It should now start showing up in quartus. You may need to exit and restart the programmer for it it show up.

Yes you did overkll on your installation, but it does work You can open up just the programmer by making a shortcut to the quartus_pgmw.exe in the altera\11.1\quartus\bin directory..

Pete