I need to run the qx5 on my new laptop that does not have a CD. can I down load the software or transfer it from CD to thumb drive?

I gather than your new laptop doesn't have a CD drive. See if you can borrow a desktop with a CD drive, and copy the files to at least an 8 G thumb drive; from there, you can plug in the thumb drive into your new laptop and install the PSW software from there.. You can also use a smart card with a smart card converter box that plugs into your USB drive (I got mine from eBay for about $7.00), copy the files to the smart card, and then plug in the smart card into your machine, OR you can buy a USB to serial cable, Belkin FSU 409--and a null modem cable.to communicate directly with your machine. There are a number of serial to USB cables available, but it MUST have that specific chip to work with your XL-5000. You will also have to install the driver for that cable, and the install CD will come along with your cable. The easiest place to purchase them is probably eBay.

Do you have a Thumb drive? I dont know what computers you are using or the OS's of the laptop and desktop. A thumb drive or a CD. Load the Pics on one or the other and transfer. Do you have a home network? If so you can share the info. Wired or wireless network?

John - the easiest way is to download the needed software and install it. If your notebook is not connected get access to another PC, download the software (or copy it from that PCs optical drive) and put it on a USB thumb drive and plug it into the notebook to install. If you don't have a thumb drive you can get one almost anywhere now, supermarkets, chain drug stores, etc.
Good Luck, Mikeywaf

You can download the drivers directly from Dital blue website. Just choice the driver for you operating system and follow the instruction:

http://www.digiblue.com/customer-service/downloads/

According to the Digital Blue website, there are a variety of things that can cause this error, including USB configuration issues, QX5 connectivity problems, or an improperly installed device. To troubleshoot, try the following steps. If one does not work, try the next until the problem is resolved.
1. Exit from the application, unplug the QX5 from your computer, and restart your computer. Once your computer has rebooted, plug in the microscope and restart the application.
2. If you are using a USB hub (an external device that allows you to connect additional USB products to your computer), exit the application and plug the microscope directly into the USB port on your computer. If the microscope works when plugged directly into your computer, there may be a problem with your hub, or it may not be supplying enough power to run the microscope. If your hub does not have a power adapter, you will need to plug the QX5 into your computer's USB port or use a hub that is powered.
3. If you are not using a USB hub, try different USB ports. Always exit the application, unplug the QX5, and then plug into a new USB port. Wait at least one full minute to make certain that Windows recognizes the QX5. Then start the application again. If you are still experiencing the problem, try another USB device (if possible). If no USB devices are working, there is a chance your USB ports are not working properly and you should contact your computer manufacturer to resolve the problem.
4. If you have a laptop, make sure the laptop is using its power adapter. When running on battery, some laptop computers don't supply enough power to USB ports and as a result the QX5 will not work properly.
Note: The following steps require some experience with Windows computers. If you are comfortable modifying advanced settings on your computer (like the Device Manager or BIOS), proceed at your own risk. Otherwise, respond to this email and provide your phone number so a member of our technical support team can assist you.
5. Plug in the QX5. Go to Start > Settings > Control Panel and double click on the System icon. For each of the following items (if present), select that item, then click the Remove button:

• Any devices that have a ? or ! next to them, or that are listed as "USB Camera Device."
• The driver named "Digital Blue QX5™ Microscope #2" (located under Imaging devices).

After removing all the devices, click the Refresh button.
6. Try lowering the hardware acceleration of your video adapter. To do this, follow the steps below that apply to your operating system:
If using Windows 98, Windows 98 Second Edition, or Windows Me:

1. Click on Start > Settings > Control Panel.
2. Double-click on Display.
3. Click on the Settings tab
4. Click on the button labeled Advanced
5. Click on the Performance tab
6. -proceed to 'fix continued...

If using Windows 2000 or Windows XP (classic view):

1. Click on Start > Settings > Control Panel
2. Double-click on Display
3. Click on the Settings tab
4. Click on the button labeled Advanced
5. Click on the Troubleshoot tab
6. -proceed to 'fix continued...

If using Windows XP (XP style category view):

1. Click on Start > Control Panel
2. Click Appearance and Themes
3. Click Display
4. Click on the Settings tab
5. Click on the button labeled Advanced
6. Click on the Troubleshoot tab
7. -proceed to 'fix continued...

...'fix continued'
While in the Performance tab, move the slider for Graphics Hardware acceleration one notch to the left. After you do this, the panel should indicate "basic accelerator function". Click OK, then click OK again to exit from the Display Properties window. Restart your computer and launch the QX5 software. If this does not fix the problem, repeat the process until all the available HW acceleration settings have been tried. (Different video adapters disable the acceleration at different points on the slider.)
7. Unplug your QX5 microscope and restart your computer in "Safe Mode." To get into "Safe Mode," you must reboot your computer and press the appropriate key before the Windows logo screen appears. If you do not know how to do this refer to your computer's manual or contact your computer manufacturer.
If you are successful in starting in Safe Mode, there will be a "Safe Mode" logo in each corner of your desktop. Then follow these steps:
a. Click Start/Settings/Control Panel.
b. Double-click the System icon.
c. Go to the Device Manager tab.
d. For each of the following items (if present), highlight the item, then click the Remove button:

• Any device that has a ? or ! next it or is listed as "USB Camera Device."
• The "Digital Blue QX5(tm) Microscope #2" driver (located under Imaging Devices).

e. Close the device manager, and restart your computer
f. Go to Start/Settings/Control Panel and double click the Add New Hardware icon.
Go through the Add New Hardware Wizard. When the Wizard asks if you want Windows to search for new hardware, select "Yes".
Note: You may be asked to insert your Windows CD or the CD that came with the microscope. If you are prompted to insert one of these CDs, you MUST do so or the microscope will not be properly installed. (Contact your computer manufacturer if you cannot find your Windows CD.)
g. When the new hardware installation is complete, restart your system, then try running the QX5 software again. 8. Uninstall the QX5 software (which will not delete any video or images you may have captured as long as you re-install to the same directory) by following these steps:
a. From the start menu, open the QX5 program group and select the uninstaller.
b. Follow the instructions to uninstall.
c. Restart your computer.
d. Insert your QX5 CD-ROM and follow the install instructions.
e. Plug in your QX5, wait a minute for Windows to recognize and install.
f. Start the application.

Several ways:
1.) 4GB flash drive
2.) External USB drive (320GB or more)
3.) Burn CD or DVD on the desktop and copy to the laptop
4.) Connect them in a local or ad hoc network (not too easy)
I'm sure other expers will have more ideas...

Anyway, at the desktop, run the "Files and Settings Transfer Wizard" to gather your desktop info, such as favorites, desktop icons, My Documents, etc:
[Start]
[All Programs]
[Accessories]
[System Tools]
[Files and Transfer Wizard] [Next]
At the desktop, answwer [Old Computer] [Next]
Cintinue to answer the questions
If you have a lot of music or loots of pictures, then just transfer the "Settings Only".

After a successful transfer of the settings, run the wizard again and transfer your "Data Only"

Hope this gets you started.

The drivers can be found here...

http://digiblue.com/customer-service/downloads/drivers/QX5.zip

I have the same microscope, I ordered the actual disk from digital blue, was like 5 bux plus shipping, flee bay has em for 10 bux, the down loaded ones off internet are just drivers so your pc only can see
the device.

Do not plug the QX5 in until the software is installed.

I got mine to work on Vista 32bit. Insert the cd, cancel autorun, view files on the cd. locate setup.exe, right-click on the setup and go to properties; then compatibility; then put a check in "run this program in compatibility mode for windows xp" AND put a check mark in "run this program as an administrator; the click Apply and click OK.

Right-click on the setup.exe again, this time choose, Run as Administrator.

Install away from the default. My recommendation is c:\users\(your user name\digitalblue.

Plug in the QX5, then go to Start, Programs, Digital Blue, click on QX5

the microscope may be trying to draw too much current from your USB ports, your computer will disable the device if it does this. When this happens one of the easiest (and cheapest) solutions is to acquire a Powered USB Hub (with it's own Plug top power supply). This should aleviate any extraneous current draw to the Power supply.