Device Manager:
└── SIMATIC NET
└── Siemens PC Adapter USB A2 (Driver: 2.0.0.1, Date: 2010-02-15)
Report ends.
The Siemens PC Adapter USB A2 Go to product viewer dialog for this item.
(Order No. 6GK1571-0BA00-0AA0) is compatible with Windows XP. The driver is typically bundled with SIMATIC STEP 7 (v5.5 SP4 or higher) and TIA Portal software.
If you do not have the software installed, you can obtain the standalone driver via the PC Adapter USB A2 Driverdisk V1.0 . How to Install on Windows XP
Download the Driver: You can find the official Driverdisk V1.0 download on the Siemens SiePortal.
Run as Administrator: Right-click Setup.exe and select Run as..., then choose the Administrator account.
Follow the Wizard: The setup will install necessary components like the Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 Redistributable and Simatic Device Drivers.
Restart & Connect: Reboot your PC, then plug in the USB adapter. Windows XP should show the Found New Hardware Wizard. Select "Install the software automatically" . Verify: Open Device Manager. You should see Simatic PC Adapter USB A2 listed under "Simatic Net". Troubleshooting & Tips
Virtual Machines: If you are using a VM (e.g., VMware), ensure the USB compatibility is set to USB 2.0 in the VM settings; otherwise, the adapter may fail to start. Set PG/PC Interface: After installation, select " PC Adapter USB A2
" in the Set PG/PC Interface utility. Avoid using the "Auto" setting, as manually selecting MPI or PROFIBUS is often more reliable.
Alternative Sources: Third-party sites like Driver Scape also host versions of these drivers, though official Siemens sources are recommended for security. If you're having trouble with the connection, let me know: Which PLC model (S7-200, 300, etc.) are you connecting to? Are you using STEP 7 or TIA Portal, and which version? Download Driver for PC Adaptor USB A2 . - Siemens SiePortal
The red light on the factory machine’s control panel blinked incessantly, a digital scream for help that no one in the modern IT department could understand.
The year was 2024, but inside the maintenance office of the old textile plant, time had stopped somewhere around 2003. Arthur, the plant’s only remaining senior automation engineer, rubbed his temples. He was staring at a beige, brick-like laptop—a Panasonic Toughbook CF-29.
"Artie," the plant manager, Dave, said, leaning against the doorframe with a coffee cup. "Line 4 is down. The servo drive is faulted out. We need that machine running by second shift, or we miss the shipment."
Arthur nodded slowly. "I know, Dave. The logic is corrupted. I need to plug into the PLC to reload the backup. But I can’t get the laptop to talk to the processor."
"Why not?"
"Drivers," Arthur grunted, the word tasting like ash.
Arthur opened his worn toolbox and pulled out the artifact: a Siemens PC Adapter USB A2. It was a small, purple and green dongle, a vital bridge between the ancient RS-485 serial world of the PLC and the USB port of a computer.
The problem was simple and devastating. The Toughbook had been wiped and re-imaged last week by a young intern from the head office. The kid meant well, but he had installed a stripped-down version of Windows XP Professional. He had installed the base OS, but he hadn’t installed the specific, finicky driver required for the PC Adapter USB A2.
Arthur plugged the adapter into the USB port. Windows XP chimed its cheerful, four-note "device connected" jingle.
Then, the nightmare began.
A speech bubble popped up from the system tray: Found New Hardware: PC Adapter USB A2.
Arthur watched the "Found New Hardware Wizard" splash screen appear. He clicked the radio button for Install from a list or specific location (Advanced). He pointed the wizard to the C:\Siemens\Drivers folder, praying the intern had at least copied the installation files.
The wizard whirred. The hard drive clicked.
And then, the dreaded message: "The hardware was not installed because the wizard cannot find the necessary software."
Arthur cursed under his breath. The A2 adapter was notorious for this. It wasn't a standard serial-to-USB converter; it used a proprietary Siemens protocol. Without the exact Simatic Net drivers or the specific A2 driver package, it was nothing but a plastic paperweight.
He tried Windows Update. A futile gesture on an XP machine in 2024, but he tried it anyway. The browser spun and died. The Microsoft support pages for XP were long gone, digital ghosts in the machine.
"Artie?" Dave’s voice came from the door again. "We got corporate on the line. They're asking why we can't just remote in."
"Because this machine was built when people still used pagers, Dave!" Arthur snapped, then softened. "Look, I need ten minutes. I have to dig up the legacy files."
Arthur opened the file cabinet labeled LEGACY SOFTWARE - DO NOT THROW AWAY. He riffled through stacks of 3.5-inch floppies and CD-ROMs labeled Simatic Step 7 v5.4. He found a scratched CD sleeve with Siemens Simatic Net 2008 written on it in Sharpie.
He slid the CD into the drive. It whirred loudly, struggling to read the surface. pc adapter usb a2 driver windows xp
Arthur navigated to the Device Manager. He saw the yellow question mark next to Other devices > PC Adapter USB A2. He right-clicked and selected Update Driver.
He selected Don't search. I will choose the driver to install.
He clicked Have Disk.
He browsed to the CD drive, navigating through the labyrinthine folder structure: CD_Drive > Software > Simatic_Net > Drivers > USB.
He saw a list of .inf files. He selected Simatic_USB.inf.
A list of devices populated the window. He scrolled down past the "PC Adapter USB" and found the specific entry: "PC Adapter USB A2".
He highlighted it and clicked Next.
A warning box appeared: "The software you are installing for this hardware has not passed Windows Logo testing..."
This was the classic XP hurdle. In the modern world, signed drivers were mandatory. In the world of industrial automation on Windows XP, "signed" was a luxury they rarely had.
Arthur didn't hesitate. He clicked "Continue Anyway."
The progress bar appeared. Files copied from the CD to the deep, dark corners of the C:\Windows\System32\drivers folder. Arthur watched the bar creep forward, his heart rate synchronizing with the progress bar. If this failed, he would have to drive two hours to his home office to find his backup hard drive.
Copying file: siusbx64.sys... (No, wrong architecture, the wizard skipped it). Copying file: siusbx86.sys... (There it was. The 32-bit driver).
The wizard screen changed. "Completing the Found New Hardware Wizard."
Arthur let out a breath he didn't know he was holding. He clicked Finish.
He looked at the Device Manager. The yellow question mark was gone. In its place, under the "Simatic" category, sat the PC Adapter USB A2, solid and recognized. Device Manager: └── SIMATIC NET └── Siemens PC
"Dave," Arthur called out. "I'm in."
He opened the Step 7 programming software. The interface was grey, blocky, and utilitarian. He set the PG/PC Interface to the PC Adapter. He plugged the purple end of the cable into the PLC’s MPI port.
He clicked Connect.
The status bar at the bottom of the screen flickered: Establishing connection to PLC...
Then: Online.
Arthur navigated to the Block folder. He saw the corrupted logic block. He selected his backup file and clicked Download.
Outside the office window, the massive hum of Line 4 starting up vibrated through the floor. The red warning light on the machine turned green.
Dave poked his head back in, looking relieved. "We're moving again. Nice work, Artie. What was it?"
Arthur unplugged the adapter and gently placed it back in its protective case. He looked at the old Windows XP desktop, the Bliss hill wallpaper faded and worn.
"Just a conversation lost in translation, Dave," Arthur said, patting the laptop. "The hardware was screaming, but the software didn't know the language. I just taught them how to talk again."
He closed the laptop lid. The crisis was over, but he knew the adapter and the XP driver would have to do this all again tomorrow. That was the life of a bridge builder between the old world and the new.
Here’s a clear, ready-to-use text you can use for a download page, forum post, or internal documentation regarding the PC Adapter USB A2 driver for Windows XP.
How to install the PC Adapter USB A2 driver on Windows XP
If you need to connect a Siemens PC Adapter USB A2 to a Windows XP computer, follow these steps:
⚠️ Note for Windows XP users: