Computer says the microscope isnot plugged in but it is.

Here are the instruction for installing the QX3 (or QX3+) Microscope with Vista and Windows 7. You must be using a 32-BIT VERSION. The QX3 is not compatible with 64-bit versions.

Note, DO NOT use the software from the CD that came with the microscope.
DO NOT plug in the QX3 microscope until Step 4.

Step 1. Download and install the QX3PLUS.EXE software from:
http://tinyurl.com/QX3-Win7-Files

Step 2. Download and install the QCODINSTL.EXE software from:
http://tinyurl.com/QX3-Win7-Files

Step 3. Download and extract the QX3 Drivers from:
http://tinyurl.com/QX3-Win7-Files

Step 4. Now, plug in the microscope.
When the "Found New Hardware" wizard appears you will see a message saying that the driver installation was not successful. Click the Close box. You need to install the driver manually by following these steps:
a. Click START - Select Devices & Printers
b. Right-click on the Intel QX3 Icon and select Properties
c. Click the Hardware tab - click Properties
d. Click Update Driver - select "Browse my computer for driver software"
e. Browse to the folder with the extracted QX3 drivers from Step 3. above. The driver software should install successfully.
IMPORTANT: Before you run the QX3Plus program for the first time, right click the "Intel Play QX3 Microscope" icon on the desktop, click "Properties", click the "Compatibility" tab, check the box next to "Run this program in compatibility mode for:", then choose "Windows 98 / Windows ME" in the drop-down box. You should also check "Run as Administrator" if your account is a "Standard user". Click "Apply" then "Ok".
Step 5. Finally, double-click the "Intel Play QX3 Microscope" icon on the desktop and the program should run.
If you get a message that the microscope is not plugged in, quit and restart the program.
If the program hangs or crashes, reboot the computer, then restart the program.
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Comments and suggestions to mmehall [at] yahoo.com

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Here are the instruction for installing the QX3 (or QX3+) Microscope with Windows 8 and Windows 8.1. You must be using a 32-BIT VERSION of Windows 8 or 8.1.
Note: The QX3 is not compatible with 64-bit versions of XP, Vista, Windows 7 or 8.

Note, DO NOT use the software from the CD that came with the microscope.
DO NOT plug in the QX3 microscope until Step 4.

Step 1. Download and run the QX3plus.exe program from:
http://tinyurl.com/QX3-Win8-1
After the program installs, uncheck "I would like to view the README file." Click "Finish".

Step 2. Download and run the qcodinstl.exe program from:
http://tinyurl.com/QX3-Win8-1
If asked about NTVDM, click "Install this feature" then click "Close"

Step 3. Download IntelQX3driverXP.zip and save (do not open) the file from:
http://tinyurl.com/QX3-Win8-1

Step 4. Now, plug in the microscope. The driver should load silently.
If the "Found New Hardware" wizard appears and you get a message saying that the driver installation was not successful. Click the Close box. You need to install the driver manually by following these steps:
a. Right-click START - Select "Device Manager"
b. Right-click on the Intel QX3 Icon and select "Update Driver Software", select "Browse my computer for driver software"
e. Browse to the Download folder with the extracted QX3 drivers from Step 3. above. The driver software should install successfully.

IMPORTANT: Before you run the QX3Plus program for the first time, right click the "Intel Play QX3 Microscope" icon on the desktop, click "Properties", click the "Compatibility" tab, check the box next to "Run this program in compatibility mode for:", then choose "Windows 98 / Windows ME" in the drop-down box. You should also check "Run as Administrator" if your account is a "Standard user". Click "Apply" then "Ok".
Step 5. Finally, double-click the "Intel Play QX3 Microscope" icon on the desktop and the program should run.
If you get a message that the microscope is not plugged in, quit and restart the program.
If the program hangs or crashes, reboot the computer, then restart the program.
------------
Comments and suggestions to mmehall [at] yahoo.com

Here are the instruction for installing the QX3 (or QX3+) Microscope with Vista and Windows 7. You must be using a 32-BIT VERSION. The QX3 is not compatible with 64-bit versions.

Note, DO NOT use the software from the CD that came with the microscope.
DO NOT plug in the QX3 microscope until Step 4.

Step 1. Download and install the QX3PLUS.EXE software from:
http://tinyurl.com/QX3-Win7-Files

Step 2. Download and install the QCODINSTL.EXE software from:
http://tinyurl.com/QX3-Win7-Files

Step 3. Download and extract the QX3 Drivers from:
http://tinyurl.com/QX3-Win7-Files

Step 4. Now, plug in the microscope.
When the "Found New Hardware" wizard appears you will see a message saying that the driver installation was not successful. Click the Close box. You need to install the driver manually by following these steps:
a. Click START - Select Devices & Printers
b. Right-click on the Intel QX3 Icon and select Properties
c. Click the Hardware tab - click Properties
d. Click Update Driver - select "Browse my computer for driver software"
e. Browse to the folder with the extracted QX3 drivers from Step 3. above. The driver software should install successfully.
IMPORTANT: Before you run the QX3Plus program for the first time, right click the "Intel Play QX3 Microscope" icon on the desktop, click "Properties", click the "Compatibility" tab, check the box next to "Run this program in compatibility mode for:", then choose "Windows 98 / Windows ME" in the drop-down box. You should also check "Run as Administrator" if your account is a "Standard user". Click "Apply" then "Ok".
Step 5. Finally, double-click the "Intel Play QX3 Microscope" icon on the desktop and the program should run.
If you get a message that the microscope is not plugged in, quit and restart the program.
If the program hangs or crashes, reboot the computer, then restart the program.
------------
Comments and suggestions to mmehall [at] yahoo.com

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file the plugged in area gently then connect it.it may be workouut try it once

Here are the links to the available downloads from Digital Blue:

QX5/Smithsonian Computer Microscope Drivers for WIN ME, 2000, XP, Vista 32-Bit

Download Drivers

QX5 V2 Computer Microscope Drivers for Windows Vista 64-Bit

Download for Windows Vista 64-Bit

QX5 V2 Computer Microscope Drivers for Windows 7

Download Windows 7 32-Bit

Download Windows 7 64-Bit

QX3, QX5 V1, QX5 V2 Computer Microscope for Mac OSX 10.4-10.6

Visit Webpage for Download

QX5 Computer Microscope V1 Video Codecs for 32 bit versions of Vista/Windows 7

Download Codecs

Here are the links to the available downloads from Digital Blue:

QX5/Smithsonian Computer Microscope Drivers for WIN ME, 2000, XP, Vista 32-Bit

Download Drivers

QX5 V2 Computer Microscope Drivers for Windows Vista 64-Bit

Download for Windows Vista 64-Bit

QX5 V2 Computer Microscope Drivers for Windows 7

Download Windows 7 32-Bit

Download Windows 7 64-Bit

QX3, QX5 V1, QX5 V2 Computer Microscope for Mac OSX 10.4-10.6

Visit Webpage for Download

QX5 Computer Microscope V1 Video Codecs for 32 bit versions of Vista/Windows 7

Download Codecs

I think it maybe because you haven't installed the "Driver" either at all, or properly. Uninstall any/all software. Reboot, DO NOT plug in unit. now, re-install the Software and Driver. Reboot, NOW plug in the unit, it should now be detected, and work.
You don't say what OS you are using? If Vista or Win 7, try installing as Administrator and also set Compatibility Mode for XP SP2 and run the main .exe as Administrator too.

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

Try a different computer and install the QX3Plus application (for Win 2K-XP). If it works okay, then completely remove (uninstall) it from your Dell 4600 and clean up the registry of unusable strings (try Advanced Registry Optimizer, its a free download). Then do a clean QX3Plus install BEFORE you plug in the USB cable. If the QX3 did not work on a different computer, the QX3 is faulty and maybe you should look at the QX5 as a replacement. The QX3 was discontinued at around the turn of the Century. However, if you are only missing the SPLAT; try locating the green button at the lower left corner of the image screen, it produces drop-down dialog boxes to splat screens. Good Luck!

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.