I have an IOgear USB-Serial Adapter that ive been using successfully since July, however just recently it doesnt work. I reinstalled the driver and unplugged/replugged the thing about 10x's but it wont work now.
GSAK says "Error: Cant Intialize COM5"
Topo5: Wont recognize it period.
The device manager registers the adapter at COM5. However none of the programs see it.
Any help/ideas?

Are you using any other COM devices, such as Palm devices, that may be conflicting with this one? Does the Device Manager show that the peripheral is working properly?

Try to override the automatic configuration and se tup the device as COM2 or COM3. I've run into a few programs that wouldn't recognize anything over COM3.

Yes. The Palm is set to only hotsync through USB. Is there any speical setup to maiking it work. like plugging GPS in then turning it on or anything like that? Im gunna try that route because ive tried everything dealing with the computer and drivers and stuff.

You might try shuting down hotsync manager, it might have the usb port in use. Just an idea.

Are you sure the cable is good?
I just threw one out last week that had bad connectors.
Just a thought.

I use the same adapter, and it has always worked fine on my laptop in Win ME, but on my desktop in Win XP it has some problems. It worked OK for a while, then XP got into a habit of switching the device between COM4 and COM5 ... I never knew which port it was going to put it on ... but it did not work on either one anyway. I have found that if I plug it into the computer before booting, it stays on the same COM5 port, and it works. So I usually just leave it plugged into one of my desktop's rear USB ports.

FWIW,
CharlieP