Template:FAQNext/sandbox

PS4 + USB

Options:

• ps4

FAQ

General troubleshooting

TODO: Make better formatting

Installation fails, some library dependencies are not satisfiable, what can I do? (Linux)

Make sure your Ubuntu or Raspbian version is supported (check the requirements).
Make sure you added 'universe' to the repositories.
Make sure you have an internet connection when you install the package.
Make sure Ubuntu / Raspbian is up-to-date (for Ubuntu or Raspbian, run "sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get upgrade" in a terminal).

I'm having lag issues and/or movement glitches, what can I do? I want best performances, what should I check?

If you are using a TV, make sure to enable the gaming mode (not all the TVs have such a mode, read the user manual).
If you have lag even with a genuine sixaxis/dualshock 3, the lag is probably not due to GIMX.
Increase your mouse frequency as explained there: link.
Make sure your mouse frequency is between 250Hz and 500Hz, and at least twice the GIMX update frequency.
Make sure your mouse can track at least 2000 DPI, and make sure your mouse is running at the highest DPI setting.
Don't use the calibration GUI or the terminal output while playing.
Close any other application (Firefox...).
Avoid usb extension cables and hubs. Some of them are weak and result in poor performances.
Some bluetooth dongles are reported to generate lag issues. It is recommended to use a bluetooth dongle with a CSR Bluecore4-ROM chip.

I can't save my config file? I can't see the config file I saved?

Save your config files in the right directory: C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\gimx\config or /home/<username>/.gimx/config (Linux).
GIMX 1.12 and older: C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\emuclient\config or /home/<username>/.emuclient/config (Linux).
GIMX 0.51 and older: C:\Program Files\GIMX\config (Windows 32bits) or C:\Program Files (x86)\GIMX\config (Windows 64bits).
In Linux, the folder named ".gimx" is hidden. Press ctrl+h to display hidden folders!
Don't run anything as root user.

I can't edit my config file? Modifications are not saved?

File permissions are probably wrong.
Start a terminal: Click on the Ubuntu Dash, type "terminal" in the search bar, and click on the terminal icon.
Then type:

ls -l ~/.gimx

You'll see something like this:

total 8
drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 4096 2012-02-24 15:27 config
drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 4096 2012-02-24 15:27 macros

In the above example, file ownership is wrong.
To fix it, type:

sudo chown -R owner:usergroup ~/.gimx

Replace owner and usergroup with the appropriate values, which are usually your username for both.
If you are not sure just type:

ls -ld ~

You'll see something like this:

drwxr-xr-x 94 username group 4096 2012-02-24 16:24 /home/username

Do the same for the ~/.gimx-launcher directory.

Is it possible to use a virtual machine?

Yes and no. It's not officially supported and I don't give support for that. Running the software may work, but for compatibility and performance reasons, you should not use GIMX in a virtual machine.

Is there a mac os solution?

No, not yet. There probably will be a solution some day, but I have no idea about the date.

USB specific FAQ

Why can't we use a male to male usb cable?

A simple male to male cable is irrelevant due to the usb protocol. A PC is a usb host, it can't be a usb device. Usb to usb cables not designed to work with GIMX such as file transfer cables won't work.

Can we use a normal serial port? (usb adapter)

No. The serial port (RS232 port) that can be found on old PCs does not work at the right voltage levels. It works at -12V/+12V instead of 0V/+5V.

I can't flash firmware using Teensy Loader to my Teensy board

Your Teensy is probably FAKE. Buy genuine one.

My DIY USB adapter isn't working. What can I do?

• Do not use atmega16 or atmega90 boards. There are known issues with these. Recommended one is atmega32u4
• Double check your wiring as explained here: link. A bad wiring results in failure at startup.
• Check your USB cables, one might be bad. Only use shielded USB cables. A bad cable results in disconnection after a variable time.
• Connect the USB to UART adapter directly to your computer. Using USB extenders is discouraged, especially on this side of the adapter.
• Check the wires between the USB to UART adapter (e.g. CP2102) and the AVR USB board (e.g. Teensy 2.0). Make sure there is no bad contact. Loose contact (not soldered and not using jumper wires) is not acceptable and results in inconsistent behavior, such as failure at startup or disconnection after a variable time.
• Test your USB to UART adapter as explained below.

How can I test my serial adapter?

Only connect the rx pin to the tx pin.
Download the Arduino IDE.
Start the Arduino IDE (don't forget to extract the archive...).
Select the right serial port in the "Tools>Serial Port" menu.
Click on "Tools>Serial Monitor".
Type something in the small text area at the top of the serial monitor, and click on the "Send" button.
If your adapter works correctly, you should see what you typed appearing in the main text area.
It is possible to test the serial adapter for different transmission speed (from 9600 to 115200 bauds).

I can't see the COM port in gimx-launcher? (windows+usb adapter)

Check the COM port in the device manager.

PS4 specific FAQ

I get connection errors, what can I do? (Linux+bluetooth)

Make sure you use compatible bluetooth dongle.
Make sure you loaded 'EMUPS4PAIRING' firmware into your adapter.
Make sure you paired PS4 controller correctly as stated in Quick Start tutorial.
Make sure to turn your adapter off before starting emu.
If it still doesn't work, try another dongle. TODO: review PS4 connection errors

Disconnection happens after 5-10 minutes (PS4)

This is probably due to a failure in the authentication process, which requires a Dualshock 4 to be wired all the time to the computer.
This can either be due to a bad USB cable, or the Dualshock 4 not being powered off before connecting it to the computer.
Also make sure you have disabled power saving for the USB devices.

WRC7 - Controller disconnects while im trying to play this game

This is a known issue. There's a bug in this game that requires DS4 to be connected together with driving wheel so you need two DS4 controllers. One to PS4 and one to emulate Steering Wheel with GIMX

How can I configure touchpad when using Mouse/Keyboard?

Use gimx-config instead of gimx-fpsconfig. If game requires sweeping through touchpad you may need to create a switch-back profile in config and use mouse for sweep direction.

PS3 + USB

Options:

• ps3

FAQ

General troubleshooting

TODO: Make better formatting

Installation fails, some library dependencies are not satisfiable, what can I do? (Linux)

Make sure your Ubuntu or Raspbian version is supported (check the requirements).
Make sure you added 'universe' to the repositories.
Make sure you have an internet connection when you install the package.
Make sure Ubuntu / Raspbian is up-to-date (for Ubuntu or Raspbian, run "sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get upgrade" in a terminal).

I'm having lag issues and/or movement glitches, what can I do? I want best performances, what should I check?

If you are using a TV, make sure to enable the gaming mode (not all the TVs have such a mode, read the user manual).
If you have lag even with a genuine sixaxis/dualshock 3, the lag is probably not due to GIMX.
Increase your mouse frequency as explained there: link.
Make sure your mouse frequency is between 250Hz and 500Hz, and at least twice the GIMX update frequency.
Make sure your mouse can track at least 2000 DPI, and make sure your mouse is running at the highest DPI setting.
Don't use the calibration GUI or the terminal output while playing.
Close any other application (Firefox...).
Avoid usb extension cables and hubs. Some of them are weak and result in poor performances.
Some bluetooth dongles are reported to generate lag issues. It is recommended to use a bluetooth dongle with a CSR Bluecore4-ROM chip.

I can't save my config file? I can't see the config file I saved?

Save your config files in the right directory: C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\gimx\config or /home/<username>/.gimx/config (Linux).
GIMX 1.12 and older: C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\emuclient\config or /home/<username>/.emuclient/config (Linux).
GIMX 0.51 and older: C:\Program Files\GIMX\config (Windows 32bits) or C:\Program Files (x86)\GIMX\config (Windows 64bits).
In Linux, the folder named ".gimx" is hidden. Press ctrl+h to display hidden folders!
Don't run anything as root user.

I can't edit my config file? Modifications are not saved?

File permissions are probably wrong.
Start a terminal: Click on the Ubuntu Dash, type "terminal" in the search bar, and click on the terminal icon.
Then type:

ls -l ~/.gimx

You'll see something like this:

total 8
drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 4096 2012-02-24 15:27 config
drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 4096 2012-02-24 15:27 macros

In the above example, file ownership is wrong.
To fix it, type:

sudo chown -R owner:usergroup ~/.gimx

Replace owner and usergroup with the appropriate values, which are usually your username for both.
If you are not sure just type:

ls -ld ~

You'll see something like this:

drwxr-xr-x 94 username group 4096 2012-02-24 16:24 /home/username

Do the same for the ~/.gimx-launcher directory.

Is it possible to use a virtual machine?

Yes and no. It's not officially supported and I don't give support for that. Running the software may work, but for compatibility and performance reasons, you should not use GIMX in a virtual machine.

Is there a mac os solution?

No, not yet. There probably will be a solution some day, but I have no idea about the date.

USB specific FAQ

Why can't we use a male to male usb cable?

A simple male to male cable is irrelevant due to the usb protocol. A PC is a usb host, it can't be a usb device. Usb to usb cables not designed to work with GIMX such as file transfer cables won't work.

Can we use a normal serial port? (usb adapter)

No. The serial port (RS232 port) that can be found on old PCs does not work at the right voltage levels. It works at -12V/+12V instead of 0V/+5V.

I can't flash firmware using Teensy Loader to my Teensy board

Your Teensy is probably FAKE. Buy genuine one.

My DIY USB adapter isn't working. What can I do?

• Do not use atmega16 or atmega90 boards. There are known issues with these. Recommended one is atmega32u4
• Double check your wiring as explained here: link. A bad wiring results in failure at startup.
• Check your USB cables, one might be bad. Only use shielded USB cables. A bad cable results in disconnection after a variable time.
• Connect the USB to UART adapter directly to your computer. Using USB extenders is discouraged, especially on this side of the adapter.
• Check the wires between the USB to UART adapter (e.g. CP2102) and the AVR USB board (e.g. Teensy 2.0). Make sure there is no bad contact. Loose contact (not soldered and not using jumper wires) is not acceptable and results in inconsistent behavior, such as failure at startup or disconnection after a variable time.
• Test your USB to UART adapter as explained below.

How can I test my serial adapter?

Only connect the rx pin to the tx pin.
Download the Arduino IDE.
Start the Arduino IDE (don't forget to extract the archive...).
Select the right serial port in the "Tools>Serial Port" menu.
Click on "Tools>Serial Monitor".
Type something in the small text area at the top of the serial monitor, and click on the "Send" button.
If your adapter works correctly, you should see what you typed appearing in the main text area.
It is possible to test the serial adapter for different transmission speed (from 9600 to 115200 bauds).

I can't see the COM port in gimx-launcher? (windows+usb adapter)

Check the COM port in the device manager.

PS3 specific FAQ

I get connection errors, what can I do? (Linux+bluetooth)

Make sure the sixaxis was already paired with your PS3 (the sixaxis should be able to turn on the ps3 remotely).
Make sure the sixaxis is not a fake one: link.
Make sure to turn your sixaxis off before starting emu: unplug the usb cable, and if it does not turn off by itself, press the PS3 button until it turns off.
If it still doesn't work, try another dongle.

PS4 + BT

Options:

• ps4

FAQ

General troubleshooting

TODO: Make better formatting

Installation fails, some library dependencies are not satisfiable, what can I do? (Linux)

Make sure your Ubuntu or Raspbian version is supported (check the requirements).
Make sure you added 'universe' to the repositories.
Make sure you have an internet connection when you install the package.
Make sure Ubuntu / Raspbian is up-to-date (for Ubuntu or Raspbian, run "sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get upgrade" in a terminal).

I'm having lag issues and/or movement glitches, what can I do? I want best performances, what should I check?

If you are using a TV, make sure to enable the gaming mode (not all the TVs have such a mode, read the user manual).
If you have lag even with a genuine sixaxis/dualshock 3, the lag is probably not due to GIMX.
Increase your mouse frequency as explained there: link.
Make sure your mouse frequency is between 250Hz and 500Hz, and at least twice the GIMX update frequency.
Make sure your mouse can track at least 2000 DPI, and make sure your mouse is running at the highest DPI setting.
Don't use the calibration GUI or the terminal output while playing.
Close any other application (Firefox...).
Avoid usb extension cables and hubs. Some of them are weak and result in poor performances.
Some bluetooth dongles are reported to generate lag issues. It is recommended to use a bluetooth dongle with a CSR Bluecore4-ROM chip.

I can't save my config file? I can't see the config file I saved?

Save your config files in the right directory: C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\gimx\config or /home/<username>/.gimx/config (Linux).
GIMX 1.12 and older: C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\emuclient\config or /home/<username>/.emuclient/config (Linux).
GIMX 0.51 and older: C:\Program Files\GIMX\config (Windows 32bits) or C:\Program Files (x86)\GIMX\config (Windows 64bits).
In Linux, the folder named ".gimx" is hidden. Press ctrl+h to display hidden folders!
Don't run anything as root user.

I can't edit my config file? Modifications are not saved?

File permissions are probably wrong.
Start a terminal: Click on the Ubuntu Dash, type "terminal" in the search bar, and click on the terminal icon.
Then type:

ls -l ~/.gimx

You'll see something like this:

total 8
drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 4096 2012-02-24 15:27 config
drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 4096 2012-02-24 15:27 macros

In the above example, file ownership is wrong.
To fix it, type:

sudo chown -R owner:usergroup ~/.gimx

Replace owner and usergroup with the appropriate values, which are usually your username for both.
If you are not sure just type:

ls -ld ~

You'll see something like this:

drwxr-xr-x 94 username group 4096 2012-02-24 16:24 /home/username

Do the same for the ~/.gimx-launcher directory.

Is it possible to use a virtual machine?

Yes and no. It's not officially supported and I don't give support for that. Running the software may work, but for compatibility and performance reasons, you should not use GIMX in a virtual machine.

Is there a mac os solution?

No, not yet. There probably will be a solution some day, but I have no idea about the date.

BT specific FAQ

Why isn't there a bluetooth version for windows?

The windows bluetooth stack is weak. It does not provide the low-level access to bluetooth that is required to emulate a sixaxis.

Why can't we use any bluetooth address?

A ps3 doesn't allow communications from an unknown bluetooth address, it only allows communications from bluetooth addresses of paired devices.
Two bluetooth devices are paired means that each device knows the address of the other, and each device allows communications from the other device.
Unpaired devices usually can't communicate. The bluetooth pairing is usually performed over bluetooth, but that's not the case for a sixaxis.
The sixaxis pairing is performed over usb: plug the male to mini usb cable, and press the PS button.

I get an error message when I click "Set Dongle Address", what can I do? (Linux+bluetooth)

Some bt dongles are not compatible. Try another one.

How can I set my old bdaddr back? (Linux+bluetooth)

Start a terminal: Click on the Ubuntu Dash, type "terminal" in the search bar, and click on the terminal icon.
Then type:

sudo bdaddr -i hciX YY:YY:YY:YY:YY:YY

Replace X with the dongle index (0, 1, 2...), and YY:YY:YY:YY:YY:YY with the bdaddr to set. If you have multiple dongles and if you are not sure about the dongle index, type bdaddr -i hciX to see the current bdaddr of the dongle with index = X.

PS4 specific FAQ

I get connection errors, what can I do? (Linux+bluetooth)

Make sure you use compatible bluetooth dongle.
Make sure you loaded 'EMUPS4PAIRING' firmware into your adapter.
Make sure you paired PS4 controller correctly as stated in Quick Start tutorial.
Make sure to turn your adapter off before starting emu.
If it still doesn't work, try another dongle. TODO: review PS4 connection errors

Disconnection happens after 5-10 minutes (PS4)

This is probably due to a failure in the authentication process, which requires a Dualshock 4 to be wired all the time to the computer.
This can either be due to a bad USB cable, or the Dualshock 4 not being powered off before connecting it to the computer.
Also make sure you have disabled power saving for the USB devices.

WRC7 - Controller disconnects while im trying to play this game

This is a known issue. There's a bug in this game that requires DS4 to be connected together with driving wheel so you need two DS4 controllers. One to PS4 and one to emulate Steering Wheel with GIMX

How can I configure touchpad when using Mouse/Keyboard?

Use gimx-config instead of gimx-fpsconfig. If game requires sweeping through touchpad you may need to create a switch-back profile in config and use mouse for sweep direction.

PS3 + BT

Options:

• ps3

FAQ

General troubleshooting

TODO: Make better formatting

Installation fails, some library dependencies are not satisfiable, what can I do? (Linux)

Make sure your Ubuntu or Raspbian version is supported (check the requirements).
Make sure you added 'universe' to the repositories.
Make sure you have an internet connection when you install the package.
Make sure Ubuntu / Raspbian is up-to-date (for Ubuntu or Raspbian, run "sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get upgrade" in a terminal).

I'm having lag issues and/or movement glitches, what can I do? I want best performances, what should I check?

If you are using a TV, make sure to enable the gaming mode (not all the TVs have such a mode, read the user manual).
If you have lag even with a genuine sixaxis/dualshock 3, the lag is probably not due to GIMX.
Increase your mouse frequency as explained there: link.
Make sure your mouse frequency is between 250Hz and 500Hz, and at least twice the GIMX update frequency.
Make sure your mouse can track at least 2000 DPI, and make sure your mouse is running at the highest DPI setting.
Don't use the calibration GUI or the terminal output while playing.
Close any other application (Firefox...).
Avoid usb extension cables and hubs. Some of them are weak and result in poor performances.
Some bluetooth dongles are reported to generate lag issues. It is recommended to use a bluetooth dongle with a CSR Bluecore4-ROM chip.

I can't save my config file? I can't see the config file I saved?

Save your config files in the right directory: C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\gimx\config or /home/<username>/.gimx/config (Linux).
GIMX 1.12 and older: C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\emuclient\config or /home/<username>/.emuclient/config (Linux).
GIMX 0.51 and older: C:\Program Files\GIMX\config (Windows 32bits) or C:\Program Files (x86)\GIMX\config (Windows 64bits).
In Linux, the folder named ".gimx" is hidden. Press ctrl+h to display hidden folders!
Don't run anything as root user.

I can't edit my config file? Modifications are not saved?

File permissions are probably wrong.
Start a terminal: Click on the Ubuntu Dash, type "terminal" in the search bar, and click on the terminal icon.
Then type:

ls -l ~/.gimx

You'll see something like this:

total 8
drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 4096 2012-02-24 15:27 config
drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 4096 2012-02-24 15:27 macros

In the above example, file ownership is wrong.
To fix it, type:

sudo chown -R owner:usergroup ~/.gimx

Replace owner and usergroup with the appropriate values, which are usually your username for both.
If you are not sure just type:

ls -ld ~

You'll see something like this:

drwxr-xr-x 94 username group 4096 2012-02-24 16:24 /home/username

Do the same for the ~/.gimx-launcher directory.

Is it possible to use a virtual machine?

Yes and no. It's not officially supported and I don't give support for that. Running the software may work, but for compatibility and performance reasons, you should not use GIMX in a virtual machine.

Is there a mac os solution?

No, not yet. There probably will be a solution some day, but I have no idea about the date.

USB specific FAQ

Why can't we use a male to male usb cable?

A simple male to male cable is irrelevant due to the usb protocol. A PC is a usb host, it can't be a usb device. Usb to usb cables not designed to work with GIMX such as file transfer cables won't work.

Can we use a normal serial port? (usb adapter)

No. The serial port (RS232 port) that can be found on old PCs does not work at the right voltage levels. It works at -12V/+12V instead of 0V/+5V.

I can't flash firmware using Teensy Loader to my Teensy board

Your Teensy is probably FAKE. Buy genuine one.

My DIY USB adapter isn't working. What can I do?

• Do not use atmega16 or atmega90 boards. There are known issues with these. Recommended one is atmega32u4
• Double check your wiring as explained here: link. A bad wiring results in failure at startup.
• Check your USB cables, one might be bad. Only use shielded USB cables. A bad cable results in disconnection after a variable time.
• Connect the USB to UART adapter directly to your computer. Using USB extenders is discouraged, especially on this side of the adapter.
• Check the wires between the USB to UART adapter (e.g. CP2102) and the AVR USB board (e.g. Teensy 2.0). Make sure there is no bad contact. Loose contact (not soldered and not using jumper wires) is not acceptable and results in inconsistent behavior, such as failure at startup or disconnection after a variable time.
• Test your USB to UART adapter as explained below.

How can I test my serial adapter?

Only connect the rx pin to the tx pin.
Download the Arduino IDE.
Start the Arduino IDE (don't forget to extract the archive...).
Select the right serial port in the "Tools>Serial Port" menu.
Click on "Tools>Serial Monitor".
Type something in the small text area at the top of the serial monitor, and click on the "Send" button.
If your adapter works correctly, you should see what you typed appearing in the main text area.
It is possible to test the serial adapter for different transmission speed (from 9600 to 115200 bauds).

I can't see the COM port in gimx-launcher? (windows+usb adapter)

Check the COM port in the device manager.

PS3 specific FAQ

I get connection errors, what can I do? (Linux+bluetooth)

Make sure the sixaxis was already paired with your PS3 (the sixaxis should be able to turn on the ps3 remotely).
Make sure the sixaxis is not a fake one: link.
Make sure to turn your sixaxis off before starting emu: unplug the usb cable, and if it does not turn off by itself, press the PS3 button until it turns off.
If it still doesn't work, try another dongle.

X360 + USB

Options:

• x360

FAQ

General troubleshooting

TODO: Make better formatting

Installation fails, some library dependencies are not satisfiable, what can I do? (Linux)

Make sure your Ubuntu or Raspbian version is supported (check the requirements).
Make sure you added 'universe' to the repositories.
Make sure you have an internet connection when you install the package.
Make sure Ubuntu / Raspbian is up-to-date (for Ubuntu or Raspbian, run "sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get upgrade" in a terminal).

I'm having lag issues and/or movement glitches, what can I do? I want best performances, what should I check?

If you are using a TV, make sure to enable the gaming mode (not all the TVs have such a mode, read the user manual).
If you have lag even with a genuine sixaxis/dualshock 3, the lag is probably not due to GIMX.
Increase your mouse frequency as explained there: link.
Make sure your mouse frequency is between 250Hz and 500Hz, and at least twice the GIMX update frequency.
Make sure your mouse can track at least 2000 DPI, and make sure your mouse is running at the highest DPI setting.
Don't use the calibration GUI or the terminal output while playing.
Close any other application (Firefox...).
Avoid usb extension cables and hubs. Some of them are weak and result in poor performances.
Some bluetooth dongles are reported to generate lag issues. It is recommended to use a bluetooth dongle with a CSR Bluecore4-ROM chip.

I can't save my config file? I can't see the config file I saved?

Save your config files in the right directory: C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\gimx\config or /home/<username>/.gimx/config (Linux).
GIMX 1.12 and older: C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\emuclient\config or /home/<username>/.emuclient/config (Linux).
GIMX 0.51 and older: C:\Program Files\GIMX\config (Windows 32bits) or C:\Program Files (x86)\GIMX\config (Windows 64bits).
In Linux, the folder named ".gimx" is hidden. Press ctrl+h to display hidden folders!
Don't run anything as root user.

I can't edit my config file? Modifications are not saved?

File permissions are probably wrong.
Start a terminal: Click on the Ubuntu Dash, type "terminal" in the search bar, and click on the terminal icon.
Then type:

ls -l ~/.gimx

You'll see something like this:

total 8
drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 4096 2012-02-24 15:27 config
drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 4096 2012-02-24 15:27 macros

In the above example, file ownership is wrong.
To fix it, type:

sudo chown -R owner:usergroup ~/.gimx

Replace owner and usergroup with the appropriate values, which are usually your username for both.
If you are not sure just type:

ls -ld ~

You'll see something like this:

drwxr-xr-x 94 username group 4096 2012-02-24 16:24 /home/username

Do the same for the ~/.gimx-launcher directory.

Is it possible to use a virtual machine?

Yes and no. It's not officially supported and I don't give support for that. Running the software may work, but for compatibility and performance reasons, you should not use GIMX in a virtual machine.

Is there a mac os solution?

No, not yet. There probably will be a solution some day, but I have no idea about the date.

USB specific FAQ

Why can't we use a male to male usb cable?

A simple male to male cable is irrelevant due to the usb protocol. A PC is a usb host, it can't be a usb device. Usb to usb cables not designed to work with GIMX such as file transfer cables won't work.

Can we use a normal serial port? (usb adapter)

No. The serial port (RS232 port) that can be found on old PCs does not work at the right voltage levels. It works at -12V/+12V instead of 0V/+5V.

I can't flash firmware using Teensy Loader to my Teensy board

Your Teensy is probably FAKE. Buy genuine one.

My DIY USB adapter isn't working. What can I do?

• Do not use atmega16 or atmega90 boards. There are known issues with these. Recommended one is atmega32u4
• Double check your wiring as explained here: link. A bad wiring results in failure at startup.
• Check your USB cables, one might be bad. Only use shielded USB cables. A bad cable results in disconnection after a variable time.
• Connect the USB to UART adapter directly to your computer. Using USB extenders is discouraged, especially on this side of the adapter.
• Check the wires between the USB to UART adapter (e.g. CP2102) and the AVR USB board (e.g. Teensy 2.0). Make sure there is no bad contact. Loose contact (not soldered and not using jumper wires) is not acceptable and results in inconsistent behavior, such as failure at startup or disconnection after a variable time.
• Test your USB to UART adapter as explained below.

How can I test my serial adapter?

Only connect the rx pin to the tx pin.
Download the Arduino IDE.
Start the Arduino IDE (don't forget to extract the archive...).
Select the right serial port in the "Tools>Serial Port" menu.
Click on "Tools>Serial Monitor".
Type something in the small text area at the top of the serial monitor, and click on the "Send" button.
If your adapter works correctly, you should see what you typed appearing in the main text area.
It is possible to test the serial adapter for different transmission speed (from 9600 to 115200 bauds).

I can't see the COM port in gimx-launcher? (windows+usb adapter)

Check the COM port in the device manager.