PathCam HD: Restore Camera Controls — USB-to-RS485 Driver (Windows 10/11)

Last updated: Aug 14, 2025

Who is this for? All facilities using the PathCam HD Imaging System — including hospital pathology labs, universities, medical examiners’ offices, veterinary diagnostic laboratories, and biotechnology/research organizations — where the PathCam HD camera is operated with USB-to-RS485 camera control. This information applies to both technical/IT personnel and end users such as pathologists, researchers, and lab managers.

What this does: Fixes missing camera control COM port in Device Manager (common after Windows updates) and ‘Check Control Cable’ errors on Zoom/Brightness sliders.

What you’ll need

Windows 10 or 11 PC with local administrator access
Your PathCam USB-to-RS485 cable (unplugged the ‘clear’ USB from PathCam host PC to start)
Driver uninstaller and driver installer (download links below)

Download (external links)

Tip: If your PC recently installed a major Windows 11 update, running this full process usually restores the missing COM port.

Steps (about 5 minutes)

Step 1 — Remove any existing USB-to-RS485 drivers before installing fresh.

Disconnect the cable. Unplug the the ‘clear’ USB-to-RS485 cable from the PC before you begin.
Download and extract CDMUninstaller_v1.5 (see Driver Uninstaller (ZIP) link above).
Double-click CDMUninstallerGUI_v1.5.exe.
When prompted, click Yes to allow the uninstaller to run.
- This tool is published by FTDI (Future Technology Devices International Ltd.), the verified and certified manufacturer
  of the RS485 cable used in the PathCam HD System. It is safe and trusted for use.
In the uninstaller window:
- Enter Vendor ID: 0403
- Leave the Product ID field blank
- Click Add
- Click Remove Devices
- There should be a notice that the drivers were removed, or if the driver install never completed, you’ll get a notice that there weren’t any drivers to remove – that’s OK.

Step 2 — Install the current USB-to-RS485 driver before plugging in the RS485 cable.

Install the current driver (as Administrator). Download and extract CDM212364_Setup (see Driver Installer (ZIP) link above), right-click CDM212364_Setup.exe → choose Run as administrator. Complete the installer wizard with the cable still unplugged.
Plug in RS485 USB cable into the PC: Connect the USB-to-RS485 cable to a known-good USB port and wait a few seconds while Windows finishes setup.
Verify the COM port: Open Device Manager → expand Ports (COM & LPT) → confirm you see USB Serial Port (COMx).
Still not seeing it? Try a different USB port and repeat Steps 1 & 2. If the port never appears on this PC, test the same cable on another Windows 10/11 machine.

Troubleshooting

“Access denied” during install: Right-click the installer and choose Run as administrator.
COM port appears and disappears: Try a rear motherboard USB port (desktop) or a powered hub approved by your facility.
After every Windows update: Repeat the full uninstall → install process above.

Need assistance? If you’ve completed these steps and still can’t restore the COM port, contact your PathCam representative with your Windows version and a screenshot of Device Manager.