Hello Carolyn

My son helped me find your blog as I bought the serial to usb cable. I have found most of the nooks and crannies to make the computer talk to the pfaff 2144 (upgraded to 2170).

When I pull up the VIP file assistant I am getting an error message ‘error occurred while getting a folder listing  from the machine’.

Any thoughts on fixing this error? I am runing Vista 32bit on my computer. The computer seems to be running the program fine, I thought maybe I need to update the file assistant somehow.  Thank you for any assistance.

Maria

Carolyn Duncan’s latest 4D ExpressDesign Wizard 2 DVD explains how to make designs using the Express Trace Option and is suitable for both Pfaff & Husqvarna versions of 4D Embroidery Extra/4D Design Creator Module.

Hi,

I know I have read this somewhere in here before….but I bought a Pfaff 2170 and I have no driver software to upload to my computer so that it can read the 2144 usb port.  Can someone direct me to the specific place to go to download that software….someone said it before…I am pulling my hair out!  Thanks - Donna:)

Hi Donna,

After searching our blog site thoroughly, I found this post which may be the one you remembered seeing previously - Pfaff Cables/Drivers.  I hope this helps.

 Good Luck - The Team @ Secrets

With the release of Windows 7 due in October the official position on the 3D software at September 2009 is:

“The 3D Embroidery system was developed to operate on Windows XP computers. We cannot guarantee that the 3D embroidery software or previous versions of embroidery software will function correctly on Windows 7. There are no other adjustments to the 3D Embroidery system in respect to Windows 7. We recommend using your 3D Embroidery software on a Windows XP computer. Please note that the 3D Embroidery System is NOT compatible with any Windows 64bit Operating System. Please visit your authorized dealer to learn more about the 4D Embroidery software. It is compatible with Windows XP,Windows Vista and Windows 7.”

Windows 7 will be a refined version of Windows Vista so any Windows XP user migrating to Windows 7 will find the kind of device compatibility issues that users encountered migrating to Vista.  SVP finally released the drives for Vista so lets hope they will work for Windows 7.

by Carolyn Duncan
Author of Pfaff, Husqvarna and Sewing Tutorials

Could someone explain to me STEP by STEP how to send a design to my usb stick? I have a Designer 1 USB. I am so confused it’s pathetic. Thanks - Fran

 Hi Fran

Carolyn Duncan has created a fantastic tutorial containing instructions on How to Transfer Designs using a USB Stick.  Best of all, the tutorial is free.

We hope this will cure your frustration.

The Team at Secrets

I have a PFAFF 7570 Creative Machine can this be converted to any newer version? Thanks - Miel

Hi Miel,

Unfortunately no, as this was the last of the Pfaff 7000 series machines. The 2000 series that replaced them started with the 2140 model that could be upgraded to a 2144 and then to a 2170.

Anyone who purchased a 2170 would not be able to upgrade it further as the CV range came out next and replaced the 2000 series. At present the CV is the only model that can be upgraded. I would assume that Pfaff are probably working on the next range to replace the CV series. It makes you wonder what features can be added but back in the 70’s I thought my TOL 1200 series pfaff was really flash. In those days computers took up the whole floor of a building and the internet was only used by academics to keep in touch. I wonder what the next 40 years will bring? As I need to live to be 150 to be able to achieve all I want to do in my life, I plan to be around to find out. I have heard it said that the infants at school today will finally graduate and go to jobs that do not exist yet !

Carolyn Duncan
Sew What Designs
Author of Pfaff, Husqvarna & Sewing Tutorials

Hi Carolyn,

Anyway, when I plug in the USB cable into the XP computer the dialog box comes up saying “Detected New Hardware” and begins the process of finding drivers for it. Of course, it cannot find any. To my knowledge there is not a driver CD disk that came with the cable connection that needs to be installed. I thought maybe there might be drivers on the 3D Embroidery CD disks that I inadvertantly did not install so I looked and I found two drivers for USB, that were not installed, but they were for the Viking.

I just don’t have a clue how to get the designs from the software to my machine. What should I do?

Thank you so much for this blog!

Robin

P.S. I do have a StitchLink II that came with all of this “stuff” I got in my package from the dealer the day I bought my Pfaff 2144. It is a wireless technology, but not really sure how to connect it all together either, but it does have a disk for drivers.

Hi,

The 2144 originally had a serial pin cable to transfer designs to the SM. About the time that the 2170 was released the USB cable became available. The drivers for the cable are downloaded from the cable manufacturers site. If it is a belkin cable then  Belkin support will have the driver.  You will need to know the number of the cable to get the correct driver.  There are different drivers for XP and Vista.

The USB cable is only compatible with 3D File Assistant version 7 or later and will not work with earlier versions.  If this is the case you will need to get a USB Serial Adapter.  This converts a USB port to a serial port, which is how the earlier cables and versions of File Assistant worked. Three USB Serial Adapters that are compatible with the 2170 are:

- Belkin F5U103

- Belkin F5U109

- Keyspan USA-19QW

You should be able to get 3D running on Vista.  Drivers for the dongel are available on the Pfaff site.

Carolyn Duncan
Sew What Designs
Author of Pfaff, Husqvarna & Sewing Tutorials

I know this isn’t your problem but I thought I would give it a try.  I see that you are in New Zealand and I reside in USA.  I bought a 7570 in 1996 and had no problem with PC-Designer–downloading software and transporting to the 7570.  I used a Toshiba laptop with Windows 98. Several years ago I bought a computer which had Windows XP.  I did not have a local a Pfaff dealer near me so called a dealer that I found on the Pfaff website (where you locate dealers nearest you, etc.).  I was told I would be able to use the laptop but would need a Belkin USB Serial Adapter (since my new laptop didn’t have a serial port).  I purchased the Belkin and set it up to use.  It did not work on the first try but did on the second try (this is transferring the stitches to the sewing machine). 

I did not like getting the error message and decided to go back to the old laptop with Windows 98.  To my annoyance, I got the same message now on the old laptop which had worked perfectly before.  I used the old cable, of course.

After receiving a General Protection Fault, I can close PC-Designer and then open it again and it will send the stitches to the machine. I felt like the Belkin had to be part of the cause of the problem but was surprised when I went back to the initial setup with my old laptop with Windows98 and had the same problem.I called the Pfaff dealer that told me to get the Belkin in the first place and left a message for the individual that I had talked to the first time.  He never returned my call.  The shop went out of business soon after that.I have been ill for several years and haven’t been able to deal with this problem.  I am now better and would like to find a solution.  I have read on the Internet how many have been able to make their machine work with WindowsXP, but haven’t found anyone to contact about my problem.  My old laptop’s CD drive isn’t working well and this is another reason I need to find a solution. I know I have given you more info that you need but am hoping you know someone who can give me some answers.  I do not know how to contact Pfaff directly.

Thanking you in advance for reading this.
Barbara Blades, Cleveland, TN.
(abridged)

Dear Barbara,

You have done well to get to where you are with the PC Designer software as it was designed to run on Win 95 and Win 98 but not Win XP.

The Belkin adapter is the only one that will work with the Pfaff  7570 cable and if you can get a design to transfer at all then the cable system is fine. I am impressed that you can even do that as I would not have thought that the Belkin adapter would work at all Win 98, as it was introduced for Win XP and the VIP software.  This could be the cause of your problem which means that you are lucky to get one design to transfer at a time.

If it is a BIOS problem a computer technician will be able to fix it.  I had a similar problem with my 7560 when it needed a new board in it.  Luckily my son was ok to fix it but you can do a lot of damage in the BIOS ( Basic Internal Operating System) if you do not know what you are doing.

You could leave well enough alone and transfer one design at a time and reopen the software as any changes you make could mean that you might loose the ability to transfer entirely. It is frustrating not knowing if you will get a transfer or an error message but the error message is basically saying “no can do”  There is no Pfaff software available now that can communicate with the 7570.

Have you considered getting an Ultimate Box to transfer to a blank pfaff card.  By the time you pay a tech to look at your computer you would have easily covered the cost of one of these.  This comes with the transfer software and plugs into a USB port - I recommend that you toss the cable and adapter and get one of these if the budget permits. You might even be able to sell the cable and adaptor on e-bay and recoup some of the cost of the Ultimate box.

Carolyn Duncan
Sew What Designs
Author of Pfaff, Husqvarna & Sewing Tutorials

I have a Husqvarna Viking Orchidea and a Pfaff 7570. Both have only outdated software and computer connections and the digitizing programmes are on stiffies - stiffies I can transfer to cd, but… I am returning to the world of machine embroidery after a break of 8 or so years and if it all works out I would like to build it into a small business with the idea of eventually getting a multi-head, industrial machine. For now I am more than happy to use my ‘old fashioned’ machines. The crunch is this - I am planning on getting the Embird programme for digitizing, converting etc, but I need to decide whether I need to try work-arounds for the antiquated computer connections or go for an Ultimate Box.

Living in South Africa, this is all very expensive for me so I really need to do my homework and if I buy anything it needs to be able to work with whatever I decide to buy later (ie industrial machine). All opinions, help, advice will be very much appreciated as to the best option. I believe I cannot do better than Embird as a software programme, but what about hardware? Do I buy now for the future, do I ‘make do’ with what I have and wait, what would the best buy be (i have looked at the Ultimate Box II as that supports both the Husqvarna and Pfaff cards).

Please help.

Many thanks

Janet

This is to Carolyn Duncan.  I have the Designer 1 machine that uses floppies instead of the USB.  I want to put designs on a floppy, but when I click on accessories in 4D Pro, I see disk manager USB (which has both the USB and floppy icons).  I click on the disk manager USB, and it shows the USB sticks at the top, as well as the floppies icons, but the floppy icons are grayed out.  The only thing that is available is the USB stick. 

I cannot figure out how to use the disk manager with the floppy icons.  In 4D configure, I have Designer 1 checked, and the disk checked, but for some reason, the floppy icons are not available in Disk manager USB.  Should there be a listing for Disk manager disk as well as DM USB?

How do I put designs on my floppies? Your help will be greatly appreciated. - Gay

Hi Gay,

If you have told the software that you have a D1 in 4D Configure then you should have the Floppy Disk Option in USB Disk Manager available and not greyed out.  Make sure that it is listed in the Machine Manager Option as well as the Send 1 or Send 2.

If you click on the small  +  alongside the floppy disk icon it will open up the usual 4 menus and you can select a menu and transfer designs over to it.

You can open files just like in the embroidery module using either the  open or view tools and they will be shown in the menu you have selected.

You can write to,or read from, floppy disks using the icon tools as long as your system has a floppy drive installed.  They will be greyed out otherwise.  My desktop does not have a floppy drive so I have to use my laptop to make D1 disks.  Even so my desktop will let me load files into the Floppy disk menu of the 4D Disk Manager software.

Let me know if this helps,

Carolyn Duncan
Sew What Designs
Author of Pfaff, Husqvarna & Sewing Tutorials