Computer said that the usb cable is not connected.

There are a few possible reasons to get the USB connection error. You could have a bad USB cable, a bad port (on the computer or the sewing machine). If you are using a USB hub, try a direct connection. Try a different USB 2.0 cable (type A to type B) of 6' or less in length connected to a different port. You might simply be opening the program before the driver is completely installed. Wait a few minutes after turning on the sewing machine; look for the New Hardware Found message disappear indicating that the new driver has been associated the USB device. Usually the new hardware found is announced with a beep.

If you are connected to a USB 1.0 port, you need to turn off the computer, connect the sewing machine's USB cable to both devices and then turn on the sewing machine. Then turn on the computer and wait for the driver to be installed completely. (The first generation USB protocol was not plug and play. It only recognized devices on restart/boot.)

To check if the driver for the sewing machine is found by the computer, open the Device Manager. Expand the Human Interface Devices section. If the entry for the CE-350 has an exclamation point or a red x, the driver hasn't been properly installed. If you right-click on the device, choose Properties. Check the General section to see if the computer thinks it is working. Look the events tab for details like a "Further Installation needed" message.

I hope this helps.

Cindy Wells
(Note: some USB ports do not hold the cable properly. If the cable is wobbling in the port, you might hear the Hardware found beep several times as the connection appears and disappears with the machine. Under some circumstances, the port can be damaged by high voltage demands (charging with a bad cable or too many devices on a USB hub) or a surge coming through the computer. You can sometimes check this by connecting a USB device that works on another port or machine to the port that may be faulty.)

First try a different USB cable. (It's a standard USB 2.0 A/B male at both ends cable; it's often sold as a USB printer cable. The cable should be 6' or shorter.) Try a different port on the computer; ports can fail either due to high or low current issues. Ports also fail if the cable is loose in the port slot. If you are using a USB hub, try a direct connection. Make sure that you are using the type B port on the sewing machine.
If you still have problems and the computer USB ports work with other devices, then try putting your embroidery design on a USB drive (note: FAT32 format and less than 4GB capacity drives are more likely to work). Check if the USB type A port works with the flash drive. These machines only talk to Windows OS machines.

If the USB devices fail, you may need to have the machine serviced. Fixing the USB port requires opening the sewing machine.

I hope this helps.

Cindy Wells
(The most common problems with all USB connections is a bad cable preventing full communication between the device and the computer.)

If your computer indicates that there's no USB connection to the machine, and therefore the Futura program refuses to start, there are several possibilities. The most likely is your cable is bad, although I have had USB cables that worked fine elsewhere, but didn't on the machine. Try switching the cable you're using with your printer cable.

Sometimes if you originally installed it using one USB port, it doesn't want to work if another port is used. Although I have not had that problem on this line of Futuras, others have. Try switching the port you're using.

Another possibility is the USB plug on the machine doesn't "seat" very well. That's true of all the Futuras. Make sure that the plug is sitting squarely in the machine. Personally, I tape the plug in using masking tape, then plug and unplug it from the computer side.

Some of the Pantograms software programs require a USB dongle connected to the computer. However, the driver for this dongle has to be installed before you install the software or connect the dongle. I suspect you may not have installed the driver or the dongle is missing.

Assuming that the dongle is connected:
Close your embroidery software program and all of the Pantograms software, including the Network C software, on your computer and remove the USB device. Put the software install CD into your machine's optical drive. (If your new machine doesn't have an optical drive, get a USB optical drive or copy the files from the CD to a 1GB+ USB flash drive at another computer with an optical drive.) If Windows XP starts the autorun routine for the CD, click Exit. Then double-left click on My Computer to launch File Explorer. Go to the CD drive (or USB drive if you used the work-around) and double-click on it. Open the Rainbow Drivers folder and then open the XP folder. Double click on the program: setup.exe . Choose Complete install as the program executes. Then close File Explorer when the install is done. Now insert the USB dongle and follow the on-screen message about New Hardware found to install the Rainbow driver from C: .

If you do not see the New Hardware found message, try putting the dongle into a different USB port. (Make sure to avoid USB hubs - they can add to USB device issues.) If the dongle doesn't work at any port, you may need to use a different method. There is a flash reader available for connecting a USB flash drive to the Toyota 830 here: http://www.plrelectronics.com/lab/usb_reader.php . (Scroll down to the Toyota machine section. This isn't cheap but it is cheaper than some of the newer embroidery software packages.)

I hope this helps.

Cindy Wells

I have a singer quantum xl5000 embroidery machine. One Thing I can tell you is that you have to use the original cord that came with the Card writer. The cables that come with the card writer is a null modem Cable. It suppresses the modem signal through the computer to the cable. Then you can adapt it to say USB with another cable. You hook your new cable to the cable that came with the card writer. The original cable must be hooked to the card writer first. Then use an adapter or the new cable to hook to the computer. The new cables Must also have a fdti chipset in them. If you have all that your computer will be able to talk to the card writer and it will work. If it still doesn't work then your USB port needs a new driver. You might check the USB port first to make sure the drivers good. That's very simple just go into the control panel on your computer click system folder and go down through the list until you see the USB ports your porch should be listed. Just click on the file and see if it says working properly if it doesn't realize the driver

Make sure you're plugging the USB cable from the machine intoa USB port in the BACK of your computer, not one of the front ports or a porton a USB hub. The cable and machine need more power than most of those portsprovide, a technical detail that Singer doesn't realize. If you're using a laptop, keep trying different USB ports until you find one that works. Good luck!

Check with your machine's dealer. You probably need a dongle rather than a USB cable.

Try another USB cable to see if that works. Also try pluging the cable into another port on your computer in case the port you use for that application is worn causing a bad connection. start with basics first.

Your software still is looking for the 25 printer pin connection from the motherboard. I don't know computer set up from an engineering concept, but I do know that the usb connection you purchased doesn't work with that software. You'll need to either get the new software or a used computer with the printer port hook up.

My computer is extremely touchy when I use my usb cable to attach to my machine. I have to use the SAME usb port that I used when the driver was installed or else it will not recognize that my machine is plugged in. Basically it is telling you it cannot find your machine. Reinstall the driver and mark which usb port you used to install the machine.
Also, in order to open the futura software, your machine must be powered on and connected via USB cable before you attempt to open the software on your computer.