13.x - iMPACT cannot find cable driver after installing ISE 13.1 on Windows 7

AR#	41442	Search For Another Answer
Topic	Configuration
Last Updated	12/16/2011
Status	Active

Description

After installing ISE Design Suite 13.1 on Microsoft Windows 7, iMPACT cannot find the cable driver which prevents me from downloading designs.

Solution

Xilinx has identified a scenario where attempting to install ISE Design Suite 13.1 on Microsoft Windows 7 can result in not being able to connect to the cable driver. In most of the currently identified scenarios, users who experience this issue had some prior release of the ISE design tools installed on the machine (typically, one of the ISE 12.x tool releases).

Users have been able to work around this issue by following the steps below.

1. Make sure that the USB pod is connected. 
2. Completely uninstall the current driver (e.g., that from the prior ISE tool release).
   This should be done through the Device Manager (Start Menu -> right-click on Computer->  Properties -> Device Manager (upper left).  
   NOTE: It is important to ensure that Microsoft Windows performs a complete uninstall (see Figure 1).
   
   
   Figure 1
   
   Figure 1:  Confirm Device Uninstall dialog box
3. After completely un-installing the driver, disconnect the USB pod from the computer.
4. Run the "install_drivers.exe" program from <ISE_INSTALL_PATH>\bin\nt(64)\.
   Note that, depending on user privileges, it might be necessary to right-click on the executable and select Run As Administrator.
5. The "install_drivers.exe" program launches an MS-DOS command prompt window that closes automatically when finished. When it is finished, re-connect the USB pod to the computer and try again.

Alternatively, you might find a solution using (Xilinx Answer 44397).