New Computer has no Serial Port. How to do ICD?

[g-hoot]

Well, I have been having problems with a program, so i bought Version 5 of MicroCode Studio to be able to use the ICD functionality, but looks like I have to have a serial port? Is there any way to do this through USB?

[Demon]

Google USB to serial converters.

Robert

[g-hoot]

Thanks for the feedback Robert. I have one that is for programming picaxe chips. It is com 3 and Microcode Studio sees that it's there, but when I try to run the IDC, it says that it's unable to connect to the PIC. The programming cable has input and output, but power is provided to the chip from a 5V supply connected to the programmer board. Not sure if that would cause a problem or not? I'm hoping this will work and I'm just doing something wrong, since I'm very ignorant about this stuff. Never done any of the serial stuff. I'm using the PIC16F648A.
The last page here shows the schematic for the cable:
http://www.picaxe.com/docs/axe027.pdf
Should that work?

[Demon]

Have you installed the USB drivers?

Robert

Edit: I don't think you can program a PIC using a cable meant for a PICAXE. Compare that last page in the PDF with the programming circuit in your PBP manual.

[Demon]

http://m.walmart.ca/canada-estore/catalog/productdetailpagecontainer.jsp?skuId=10054744

You want something like that.

Make sure to get the proper RS232 connector; male or female.

Robert

[richard]

for icd use an usb-rs232 adapter with a genuine fdti chip I it , I have nothing but trouble with the prolific adapters

[g-hoot]

Yeah, I have melabs programmer for programming the PIC chips. I just figured since the USB programming cable for the PICAXE uses serial communication to the PICAXE chip to program it that it might work. Yes, I have the driver installed and use it all the time for programming the picaxe chips. It shows up in Micro Code Studio also, on the drop down where you select the COM port for the ICD. I'll go ahead and get one like you guys are showing though, just to make sure I got it right. Thanks for the help fellas.

[g-hoot]

I just ordered this one. I like that it has the LEDs.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AHYJWWG/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A36K7LZ3H1W18W