Troubleshooting - Usb PLC Service does not start and I cannot connect my PC to my Modicon PLC via USB cable

Issue
Troubleshooting - When I try to connect my Modicon PLC to my computer via USB connection, the Windows USB driver cannot detect it and the "Usb PLC" service does not start.

Product Line
EcoStruxure Machine Expert (SoMachine v4.1+, SoMachine Basic): Modicon M238, M241, M251, M258, LMC058, M221 PLCs
EcoStruxure Control Expert (Unity Pro v12+): Modicon M340, M580 PLCs
Schneider Electric PLCUsb Driver x64 Suite

Environment
Windows 10, USB Drivers

Resolution
This FAQ will go through some troubleshooting steps on this topic specifically if the Usb PLC Windows Service does not run.

Before going through the following steps, please contact Schneider Electric Support to obtain the latest 'PLCUsb Driver X64' Suite. This Microsoft signed driver package is compatible with all PLC families from EcoStruxure Machine Expert (SoMachine) and EcoStruxure Control Expert (Unity Pro).

A) Check if the 'Usb PLC' service is running:

1. Click the Windows Start button.
2. Run "Services.msc".
3. Scroll down to the Service names that start with the letter 'U'.
4. In the row named "Usb PLC", check the  Status column.
5. If the Status column is blank, right click on the row and choose "Start".
6. If this is not possible or an error appears, check the Startup Type, is it blank?
7. If so, Right-click on the row and go to Properties.
8. Change the Startup Type to Manual, and Start the Service with the Start button.
9. If an error appears "Windows could not start the Usb PLC service on Local Computer. Error 2: The system cannot find the file specified." go to the next set of steps.

B) Check whether or not UsbConnect.exe and UsbConsole.exe are running:

1. Right-click on the Windows Taskbar and choose "Task Manager" (or Ctrl+Alt+Delete and choose "Task Manager")
2. Go to the Details Tab in the Windows Task Manager.
3. Scroll down to the process names starting with the letter 'U'
4. Check if 'UsbConnect.exe' and 'UsbConsole' are running.
5. If they are not running, go to C:\Windows\System32\ to see if UsbConnect.exe and UsbConsole.exe appear at this folder level. If they do not,

C) If these conditions two occur: (A.9) "The system cannot find the file specified" and (B.5): both UsbConnect.exe andUsbConsole.exe do not exist in the C:\Windows\System32\ folder,
we will need to remove the 'Usb PLC' service from Windows:

1. Unplug the USB cable from your PC
2. Close the File Explorer open to "C:\Windows\System32\".
3. Close the Services window (services.msc).
4. Run CMD in Administrator Mode.
5. If the location is not already 'C:\WINDOWS\System32\', change the directory with the command: cd C:\windows\system32\
6. Type: sc delete "Usb PLC"
7. Hit the Enter key. This will remove the Usb PLC service from your computer's registry.
8. Run services.msc, once again to confirm it is removed.

D) Next, we will uninstall the Schneider Electric 'PLCUsb Driver X64' suite:

1. Go to Windows Control Panel-> Programs and Features.
2. Find "PLCUsb Driver X64".
3. Right-click on it and Uninstall.
4. Restart your PC.

E) Install the PLCUsb Driver X64 suite.

1. Install the new PLCUsb Driver X64 suite.
2. Restart your PC.
3. Go to Services.msc and check that the 'Usb PLC' service is Running.
4. Go to Task Manager and check that 'UsbConnect.exe' and 'UsbConsole.exe" are running.
5. Plug in the USB cable connecting the PLC to your PC.
6. Go to Windows Device Manager.
7. Expand the 'Modem' node.
8. If there is a yellow triangle by the node of the PLC, right-click on that node and "Uninstall Device".
9. Once the device disappears from your Device Manager, unplug the PLC's USB cable from your PC.
10. Wait 30 seconds.
11. Plug the PLC back into the USB port of the PC.

At this point, you should be able to connect to the PLC using its respective configuration software (EcoStruxure Machine Expert / SoMachine or EcoStruxure Control Expert / Unity Pro).
If the issue persists after these troubleshooting steps, please contact Schneider Electric Customer Care.