yes I can. however I not get any error at all.
Basically if I launch SimpleBGC v2.40b7 (or v2.2b2)

there is nothing listed on the PORTS pulldown menu.

I have installed CP210x_VCP_Windows (and running the installer - it informs me the CP210x USB to UART bridge drivers were successfully installed and silabenm Ports (10/18/2013 6.6.1.0)

Tried running SimpleBGC again - no dice. Never anything on the pulldown menu for ports.

Tried downloading Xloader - same thing - nothing listed on the ports pulldown menu.
Btw same thing happened on another PC I tried (both of them running win 7 64-bit) and on another Macbook Pro (running OS X 10.9)

This is quite strange.
Because I would have imagined the ports should be "visible" to the O/S even without the board functioning correctly.

in other words

DEAD BOARD should not EQUAL - DEAD port

In this case I am very confused...especially since three computers exhibit the same problem.

FYI (this might seem like a stupid question - but I presume I should use the 8bit version of software (that's what I am currently using - although I tried 32bit also - same result)

All the while do you have another board to test? If not from what you have mentioned, I feel the broad is dead.

You should contact CAME because I believe they are not in the list of the official distributors or sellers. This version u have shown me is not the official design I have seen in this website. It's better you contact CAME for a exchange

if your not seeing any virtual ports the the issue is not the board but your PC side, your board from your description sounds like its working fine, as mine does the same when connecting the USB plug to the board.

What is your operating system, and which version of the drivers are you using?

ok I'm running the same OS as you - does the device show up in device manager when you connect the gimbal to your PC?

I wish. unfortunately the COM port doesn't show up in the device manager. If It did I imagine it would show up in the BGC software also ;)

Just to be clear I did the following

1. Install drivers (for board)
2. Connect board (observe flashing lights etc)
3. Hope that I will now see a virtual port show up - but no dice.

I have no port listed at all. That's why I'm thinking the board might be dead.

IF it wasn't for the fact I tried three other computers I would assume something was wrong with my computer - but getting the same result on 2 other PCs and 2 other MAC would usually indicate either that the operator is a moron ;) (i.e. me) - or that there's something wrong with the board.

OMG I'm a complete moron.

;)

Thank you @Garug. It's a bad cable.
In my defense (although I'm still a complete moron ;)) - I don't have many mini USB devices anymore (almost all are micro USB) so when I quickly tested it on an old external drive - as soon as the light came on - on the drive - I thought it was fine.

But I dug out another cable and it turns out that cable number one is faulty.

Board is good. panic over. Now I can go back to figuring out how to make it all work

Wow guys just replaced my cable and it worked, seems the socket on the board is not to good.
Broke my IMU socket off in the process I'll have to fix it so I can move forward.
Thanks Garug

d'ailleurs, en parlant de prise usb sensible, mon câble usb débranché du pc a touché le châssis aluminium support des moteurs avec la batterie sur on, ça a grillé le ship interface usb sur le board

I got the same problem either if using good USB cables, no way to see the virtual port in the scroll down menu of the proper GUI on my Mac...Most curios, I always see it if connecting a 32 bit version, but no way if connecting the previous 8 bit version (which works fine at all with same virtual port installed on PC). I would love to continue to use it with my Mac, as i already do with all my other 8 and 32 bit gimbal controllers, any idea why this trouble with my latest 8 bit controller? Thx!