Targus PA088E USB to Serial Port Adapter is a legacy device that does not have an official, dedicated Windows 10 64-bit driver hosted on the main Targus support site . However, because it typically uses a
chipset, you can often get it working using the following methods: 1. Recommended Driver Link (Third-Party)
Users have reported success using drivers from chipset manufacturers or similar adapters that share the same hardware IDs: MCT Driver
: A common fix for PA088 models on Windows 10 64-bit is the driver from Prolific PL2303 Driver
: If the device identifies as a Prolific adapter, you can download the latest " PL2303 Windows Driver " from the Prolific Official Support Page 2. Manual Installation via Windows Update targus+pa088e+driver+windows+10+64+bit+link
Windows 10 may already have a compatible driver in its database. To check: Plug in the adapter and open Device Manager (right-click the Start button).
Find the device (it may be under "Other devices" or "Ports (COM & LPT)"). Right-click it and select Update driver Search automatically for drivers
. Windows may pull a generic "USB-Serial Controller" driver that works. Microsoft Learn 3. "Let Me Pick" Workaround
If you install a driver but see a "Code 10" error (Device cannot start), try this: Device Manager , right-click the device > Update driver Browse my computer for driver software Let me pick from a list of available drivers on my computer Select an older version (e.g., from Targus PA088E USB to Serial Port Adapter is
or earlier) if multiple versions appear. Older Prolific chips often only work with older driver versions on Windows 10. Microsoft Learn Official Support Resources Targus PA088E Product Page (Archived) Targus General Driver Support Are you seeing a specific error code
(like Code 10 or Code 38) in Device Manager when you plug the adapter in? AI responses may include mistakes. Learn more PA088E – Targus USB To Serial Port Adapter Cable
If you attempt to install the driver found on old Targus support pages (often labeled for Windows 7/Vista), Windows 10 will often reject it, or the device will show an error code (usually Code 10: "This device cannot start").
| Feature | Detail | |---------|--------| | Model | Targus PA088E (ACP51US / ACP50USZ) | | Chipset | DisplayLink DL-1x5 (First Generation) | | Max Resolution | 1280x1024 or 1440x900 (not 1080p) | | Host Connection | USB 2.0 Type-A | | Driver Type | DisplayLink Core Software (v7.6 M2 or earlier) | | Windows 10 Support | Limited – No native driver after Win 8.1 | Accept the terms
You can also use Targus’s own legacy driver archive. Copy and paste this exact URL into your browser:
https://www.targus.com/us/support/productdownloads?skuid=PA088E
Once there:
Note: As corporate websites update frequently, if the direct link changes, always fall back to the DisplayLink DL-165 search.
After reboot, check the following:
| Component | How to verify |
|-----------|----------------|
| Video out (VGA) | Right-click desktop → Display Settings → Detect (you may need to click "Multiple displays" → Extend) |
| Ethernet (LAN) | Control Panel → Network Connections – Look for "DisplayLink Ethernet Adapter" |
| Audio | Sound settings → Output device – "DisplayLink Audio" |
| Driver version | Device Manager → Display adapters → DisplayLink DL-1x5 → Driver tab → Version should be 7.6.56276.0 |