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How Can I Check if an Augusta is Working?

How Can I Check if an Augusta is Working?

Owned by Chris Barton
Feb 10, 2025
4 min read

Checking the working status of an Augusta reader has several steps, including verifying your computer can detect the reader, verifying the reader’s output mode, and swiping a test card to verify functionality.

Check if your computer sees the Augusta

The first steps is to verify that your computer sees the Augusta as an input device.

  1. Connect the Augusta to your Windows computer.

  2. Open the Control Panel.

  3. Open Device Manager.

  4. Expand the list of Human Interface Devices.

    image-20250211-002530.png

  5. Scroll to the bottom of the Human Interface Devices list and find the devices labeled USB Input Device. Note that you may have a different number of USB Input Devices.

    image-20250211-002538.png

  6. Right-click the first USB Input Device and select Properties.

    image-20250211-002546.png

  1. In the Properties menu, go to the Events tab.

    image-20250211-002553.png

  2. Check the Information panel for the device VID; ID TECH devices display VID_0ACD.

    image-20250211-002559.png

  3. If the device you are checking does not have VID_0ACD, close the Properties window and repeat steps 6 through 8 with each USB Input Device until you find one that displays VID_0ACD.

What do I do if there is no USB Input Device with VID_0ACD?

If you cannot find a USB Input Device with VID_0ACD, you have a couple of options.

  1. First, switch the Augusta reader to a different USB port and repeat the steps above.

  2. Second, if you still cannot find the USB Input Device, contact ID TECH Customer Support to RMA the device. Check Augusta’s display to see if it shows a status message, which you will need to include in the RMA request.

  3. If the display does not light up at all, contact ID TECH Customer Support to RMA the device.

My computer recognizes the Augusta; what do I need to do next?

After you’ve verified your computer recognizes the Augusta, you need to check if the reader is in QuickChip mode.

Note: Although QuickChip mode is analogous to USB-KB, the command to set USB-KB mode does not work with Augusta readers.

To check the Augusta’s input mode, you will need the following for your computer:

Follow these steps to test your Augusta reader:

  1. Install and open the Universal SDK Demo app.

  2. Connect the Augusta to your computer.

  3. In the Universal SDK Demo app, expand the Device list under COMMANDS.

  4. Select KB Mode Status, then select Execute Command.

    image-20250211-002650.png

  5. The Results pane prints the reader’s current KB mode.

    image-20250211-002658.png

  6. If you are testing a reader that should be in KB mode:

    1. If your device is not already in KB mode, under Device select QuickChip Mode ON and select Execute Command, then select OK in the Switch Mode? dialog.

      image-20250211-002707.png

    2. After the device enters KB mode, open your Notepad app.

    3. Insert a test card into the Augusta’s ICC slot. If the ICC slot is working correctly, it will print card data directly to the Notepad app.

    4. Next, dip the non-chip end of the card into the ICC slot. When the Augusta’s LED flashes red, perform an MSR swipe. If the MSR slot is working correctly, it will again print card data directly to the Notepad app.

    5. Run a transaction in your payment software to verify functionality. 

Next Steps

Are you still having issues after making sure your Augusta reader is in the correct output mode and testing a card read?

  • If your Augusta is not reading cards, contact ID TECH Customer Support to RMA the device.

  • If your reader is working correctly, but not functioning with your software, contact your payment software’s customer support team for assistance.

 

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