SA380 TXL driver installation on Windows 8/8.1 64-bit

Note: A simpler set of instructions is available at SA380 TXL driver installation on Windows 8. If these fail please proceed as below.

After installing MPEC dPanel on Windows 8 64-bit and connecting an SA380-TXL to the computer via a USB port, dPanel may not be able to see the SA380-TXL. This is because the required drivers for the SA380-TXL could not be automatically installed. This guide will take you through the required steps to install the drivers.

Step-by-step guide

1. From the Windows 8 Start Screen, type "advanced startup options", this should bring up some search results. Click on the "Change advanced startup options" link in the search results.
   
   
   
2. Select the "Recovery" item in the list on the left hand side and then click the "Restart now" button under the "Advanced startup".
   
   
   
3. Select the "Troubleshoot" option.
   
   
   
4. Select the "Advanced options" option.
   
   
   
5. Select the "Startup Settings" option.
   
   
   
6. Click the "Restart" button.
   
   
   
7. The computer should now restart. After a short while the "Startup Setting" screen shot appear, press the number "7" key to disable the driver signature enforcement, the computer should continue booting into Windows.
   
   
   
8. From the Windows 8 Start Screen, type "device manager", this should bring up some search results. Click on the "Device Manager" link in the search results.
   
   
   
9. Once device manager has opened, you should see the device "SA380TXL" listed under "Other devices" in the list, double-click on the device to open up its properties dialog.
   
   
   
10. You will notice that the properties dialog indicates that the drivers for the device are not installed. Click the "Update Driver" button.
    
    
    
11. You should see a dialog which prompts to search for the drivers. Select the "Browse my computer for driver software" option.
    
    
    
12. Click the "Browse" button.
    
    
    
13. Browse the the location where MPEC dPanel was installed and press "Ok", this will typically be something like: C:\Program Files(x86)\MPEC\MPEC dPanel... 
    
    
    
14. You should now see the location you selected in the previous step appear in the field labelled "Search for driver software in this location:". Press the "Next" button.
    
    
    
15. You should see a "Windows Security" dialog appear during the installation, click on the "Install this driver software anyway" to continue installation.
    
    
    
16. The driver should now have been successfully installed, click "Close" on the dialog.
    
    
    
17. When you return to the device properties dialog you should see the device status indicating that the device is working properly.
    
    
    

18. In "Device Manager" you should now see "SA380TXL USB Communications Port" in the list.

    The "COM" port listed in device manager may be different on your computer to the one in the screenshot below.

    
    

19. If you launch MPEC dPanel you should now see the SA380TXL in the list of devices when you select "USB". 
    
    
    
20. You have now successfully installed the SA380TXL driver on Windows 8/8.1 64-bit.