AcraDyne Gen IV Controller System Port Connectivity Software User Guide

June 5, 2024
AcraDyne

AcraDyne Gen IV Controller System Port Connectivity Software

Gen IV Controller Troubleshooting

System Port Connectivity Issues with some Windows 10 (or later) Personal Computers

The AcraDyne® Generation IV ACE Platform Controllers utilize a commonly used device known as an
RNDIS/Ethernet Gadget as a means to connect a PC to the controller. This device in essence allows a USB port to connect to a device in a similar manner as an Ethernet Port.
Since the advent of the WINDOWS 10 Operating system, there have been updates and configurations outside the control of AcraDyne (and many other peripheral device makers) which has caused this connectivity to lose functionality.
The AcraDyne® engineering team has found a means to restore this functionality should a user currently find themselves unable to connect.

Symptom: When a cable connection between PC USB Port and Controller SYSTEM PORT is made, Device Manager will assign the connection as a COM Port versus a USB Ethernet/RNDIS Gadget as it should.

Solution: The solution outlined below is in 2 steps. The first step in the process forces the computer to stop assigning the connection on its own. The 2nd step in the process installs the device driver to the connection. Once these steps have been completed, they will no longer be needed unless a future Windows update makes changes we have no ability to predict

1st Half of Process

  • Right-click on the Windows icon (lower left corner on most desktops)

  • Click on Device Manager AcraDyne Gen IV Controller System Port Connectivity Software fig 2

  • Find device current assigned as a COM port. Typically, it will appear under Ports (COM & LPT and look something like

  • Confirm device is the correct one by disconnecting the cable. The COM port identified device will disappear from the list when cable is removed. Upon re-installation of the cable, the COM port will reappear on the list. This confirms that it is the correct one to work with

  • Right Click on the Device (identified as a COM port as above) and select PROPERTIES

  • Select the DETAILS tab and in the Property drop down, select Hardware Ids

  • The Value window will appear and contain one or more values.

  • Copy ONE of the values shown to your clipboard (right click, COPY)

  • Now, run Local Group Policy Editor by:

  • Right click on Windows icon (lower left corner on most desktops)

    • Click on Search AcraDyne Gen IV Controller System Port Connectivity Software fig 5
    • Type into Search box
    • Gpedit.msc and hit Enter
    • If Gpedit.msc is reachable (Windows 10) skip to page 6. Otherwise continue as follows
    • In the event you are using Windows 11 or Windows 11 Home version, you may not be able to find Gpedit.msc. In this case additional steps are necessary to reach that programming.
    • Windows 11 / Windowns 11 Home
      • Copy the code below (exactly) and paste it in Notepad. Save the file with the .BAT extension like Script.BAT or GPEDIT.BAT, the name doesn’t matter.
        @echo off
        pushd “%~dp0″
        dir /b %SystemRoot%\servicing\Packages\Microsoft-Windows-GroupPolicy- ClientExtensions-Package~3.mum >List.txt
        dir /b %SystemRoot%\servicing\Packages\Microsoft-Windows-GroupPolicy- ClientTools-Package~3
        .mum >>List.txt
        for /f %%i in (‘findstr /i . List.txt 2^>nul’) do dism /online /norestart /add-package:”%SystemRoot%\servicing\Packages\%%i”
        pause
  • Right-click on the BAT file that was saved and Run it as Administrator. AcraDyne Gen IV Controller System Port Connectivity Software fig 7

  • A command-prompt window should open. This is the DISM command, which installs the relevant packages to enable GPEDIT on your computer. Wait for the process to be completed, it may take a few seconds. You’ll know when it’s done, when you see a message that says “Press any key to continue”. AcraDyne Gen IV Controller System Port Connectivity Software fig 8

  • Tap any key and the command window should close.

  • Click the Start button and type Gpedit.msc, and you should see the tool appear in the result click on it (or use the Run command with Win + R, followed by Gpedit.msc), and you will be able to access the Group Policy Editor. (In some cases you need to restart your computer so you can find Gpedit.msc) AcraDyne Gen IV Controller System Port Connectivity Software fig 9

  • With Gpedit.msc working in either Windows 10, Windows 11 or Windows 11 Home, you can move forward with these steps: AcraDyne Gen IV Controller System Port Connectivity Software fig 10

  • Navigate through the menu tree

    • Computer Configuration
    • Administrative Templates
    • System
    • Device Installation
    • Device Installation Restrictions
  • Double click on Prevent installation of devices that match any of these device IDs

  • On left side of the screen, click on Enabled

  • Lower down the screen on left side, click on ShowAcraDyne Gen IV Controller System Port Connectivity Software fig 11

  • In the Show Contents box that appears, click on a blank like and right click, paste to place previously copied device ID to this window. This is what tells the PC that when it sees this device do NOT assign as a COM port AcraDyne Gen IV Controller System Port Connectivity Software fig 12

2nd Half of the Process

  • Download driver for RNDIS Ethernet Gadget. Navigate to https://www.aimco-global.com/software and click on GEN IV System Port Connectivity – Windows 10 RNDIS Driver
  • The driver will automatically download a Zip file to your PC’s Download folder. Copy and name the folder RNDIS Driver and place into Documents. Unzip folder to Documents so it has a home on the PC that can be found easily
  • Return to Device Manager (still open from Step 1). Right Click on the device the PC assigned as a COM port in the beginning.
  • Select Uninstall Device and the COM port assigned device will be removed
  • At the top of the Device Manager screen, click on the Monitor Icon which will scan for Hardware Changes 
  • The device will now appear depending on your PC configuration as an RNDIS Ethernet Gadget or a COM port.
  • Right-click on the Device that appeared and selects Update Driver
  • Click on Browse my computer for driver software
  • Click on Let me pick from a list of available drivers on my computer and Have Disk
  • Select driver from folder placed in PC Documents
  • Install driver
  • In Device Manager, the device should now appear as USB Ethernet/RNDIS Gadget and connectivity will be functional.

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References

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