This installation is exactly the same for Windows 11, 10 and 7 with a couple of extra screenshots where 7 may differ re driver installation.

Open Device Manager within the Control Panel. You’ll notice, alphabetically, that "Ports" is not listed (unless you have other USB hardware attached to your computer. If a port with eLink is showing (rare if eLink is not connected) and there is no software for RailMaster installed then delete the port along with its driver ticking any box on a pop up window asking if you want to remove the driver also. If no RailMaster port is showing in the list initially then that is fine... no need to worry. Leave this screen open from hereonin.

IMPORTANT:
Open each popup using the linked buttons below for instructions to follow and close each window when complete.
Imperative links are marked: IMP

No open port for RailMster is shown while its USB cable is disconnected

Device Manager ~ No RM Port

While your eLink unit is not connected via a USB socket there should be no reference to it on the Device Manager dialogue as shown on the right.

At this stage of the install process this is exactly as it should be. On the image I have other ports being used and this simply highlights where things are displayed for ease of purpose.

Now you are almost ready to begin so with your PC or laptop on, switch on the eLink unit. When your computer is ready to go make sure the Device Manager dialogue window is open if you did not leave it open after the initial steps above.

When the eLink unit is ready attach the USB cable to the PC or laptop via one of the USB ports. Do NOT connect via a USB hub at any time and you should always use the SAME USB socket each time the eLink is attached to the computer. This means the same port number is always used and this should always be port number 4 or below. By using the same USB socket each time the unit is easily recognised by Windows immediately and you should have no further issues with COM Ports and having to change settings later in RailMaster itself.

If you have left open the Device Manager window as requested you will now see ’Ports’ appear in the hardware list.

New open port for RailMster is shown while its USB cable is connected

IMP: Device Manager ~ New RM Port

While your eLink unit is connected via a USB socket there will be a reference to it on the Device Manager dialogue as shown on the right.

You can see from the previous image that the port allocated to RM upon connection is COM3 in this case. You may have a different port number but it should always be 4 or below.

IMPORTANT:
Something that is NOT mentioned a lot is that when you switch OFF your eLink unit and continue to use your computer is that the driver for the eLink is automatically unloaded (NOT uninstalled) and is not visible in Device Manager. Do not worry about this as the diver is still there and this is why you should ALWAYS use the same USB socket/port for the eLink unit.

Windows 7 users may see the following before the driver is installed:

Windows 7 users may see the above when you first plug in your USB cable

RS-232 Demo

If you see the CDC RS-232 Emulation Demo appear in Device Manager do not worry.

Windows 7 will automatically, within a minute or so, install the correct driver for you.

You should have an Internet connection and also the .NET v4.0 Framework installed although the former is usually enough at this stage.

Windows 7 users, once the driver is installed, will see the following:

Windows 7 users should now see the following after the driver is installed

Windows 7 Driver

The driver for Windows 7 should install automatically in moments after connection of the USB cable to the computer.

If you cannot install the driver then download this document which explains what to do for Windows XP through to Windows 8:

Instant Download
How to Install the Elite eLink Driver for RailMaster - Win XP to Win 8.

* Note: The COM port shown here is 4. Yours should be 4 or less dependent upon the USB socket used on the computer.

Click the small arrow or plus sign to the left of this and see the hardware for the eLink listed as ’USB Serial Port(COM?)’. The ? will have a number in your case and this should be 4 or less as stated above. If not, you are strongly recommended to remove the USB cable from your PC or laptop and reconnect now to a different USB socket. If this means moving other USB plugs then do so.

Locate the downloaded file for installation (you should always use the latest downloaded file and not the CD as it is now too old - but DO NOT throw it away. If the download is not available you can use this and update afterward). Right click that file and select Properties.

Giving Admin rights
to the installer

IMP: Admin Rights

Before installing RailMaster it is vitally important you ensure you run the installer as an Administrator.

On the popup select the Compatibility tab and tick the box for ’Run this program as an administrator’. Click OK (this is the same as clicking Apply then OK). If a User Access Control window pops up about security just click "Yes" to continue.

Upon looking at the very top of this dialogue window you will note that the program you are adding rights to is the correct one as it says rm_setup 1.65.1 Properties. Of course this also tells the version of the file you are modifying.

You may, dependent upon the version of Windows 10 you are using, get a dialogue box telling you that ‘Windows protected your PC’. This is Windows Defender trying to keep your system safe from malicious files. Do not click ‘Don‘t run’... simply click ‘More info’ and then ‘Run anyway’.

Select the language preference (default is English) and click OK. A "Welcome to the RailMaster Setup Wizard" dialogue pops up and this will show the RM version you are about to install (your version number is probably the same or newer).

RailMaster Install Wizard Welcome window showing current version of
RailMaster about to be installed

Starting Install

This is the first meaningful window you will see that tells you that RailMaster is about to be installed.

From hereonin there are not many more windows to configure during this process.

On the right near the top of the window you will see the current version of the software you are about to run (your number may be higher than that here if you have a newer version of rm_setup.exe) so if this is not correct then start this install again with a newer version if available.

Click Next. Accept the License Agreement and click Next. Click Next on the "Select Start Menu Folder" dialogue and leave as RailMaster which is the default name for it unless you must change it for your own reasons.

The next screen shows tick box selections which are all optional. I only select the Quick Launch setting but these are personal so choose whichever you need.

Install additional help guides

Install Additional Guides

The first option is to install the RailMaster desktop icon and is optional, as are the rest here, but I prefer a clean desktop so do not install it. The second option places the quick launch icon to the taskbar which requires only a single click to open the program.

The other options are purely to install guides for the use of RailMaster where Handhelds, Internet Security and Drivers are concerned. The first in that list is a general guide on RailMaster itself. The latter three are not exhaustive and offer basic guidance. See this site or the forum for further help.

Click Next and check the install settings. Go Back to change any or simply click Install. When done click Finish to complete the installation.

Installion progress bar to show the program is installing

Installation Progress

RailMaster will not take too long to install and is usually pretty quick. The last one third of files fairly whip in so no time to do anything while waiting. If the installer does not work then try reinstalling from the start.

There is not much else to say here apart from there is no time to make a cuppa during the install so make sure you have one with you if you need one.

RailMaster should now be installed but before you run off and start playing with it there are one or two things to set up or check first.

Locate your shortcut on the Taskbar for starting up RailMaster (if the shortcut is not there click the Start button and find the yellow folder for RailMaster and open that to see the shortcut, right click on that and find and select Pin to Taskbar). Next, right click the shortcut you just placed and move up to RailMaster and right click again then select Properties. In the popup window click the Compatibility tab and then ensure you have, or place, a tick next to ’Run As Administrator’. Click Apply or Next. Clicking Next automatically applies the change. This step is essential.

Make sure at this stage that you have a working connection to the Internet via Ethernet cable or Wireless.

If all steps have been completed correctly then you should be ready to run RailMaster so go ahead and start the program. You may get a UAC window popping up (User Access Control) so just accept that and usually you will just accept the default settings next on the Setup Wizard... i.e. English Language, eLink Controller and MPH for miles per hour. The Train Set can be left blank unless you have one of the sets in the drop down list and have built that layout. A tick box to load Hornby loco profiles should be left as is and only tick others if you have any of that stock.

The beginning of the setup wizard which gives
RailMaster its basic core settings

RailMaster Setup Wizard

Normally the default settings are enough to get RailMaster running. However, you may wish to change the language for the program (which should have been done earlier), the controller or speed units.

The train set is not set by default but there a few to get you going with set track plans which are editable of course.

The bottom half of the window allows you to include in the RailMaster database any other of the makes listed if you do have those on your layout or plan to include them. This can be changed later.

Click the green tick when done. At this point you MAY get a message telling you that RailMaster cannot communicate or handshake with the eLink DCC controller (eLink unit).

RailMaster is unable to communicate
or handshake with the eLink DCC unit

IMP: RailMaster Handshake

This is not always going to come up on installation of RailMaster but for those where it does do not panic.

It is easily remedied. There is usually a couple of windows to deal with first though so pop back to the instructions and read on and the fix for this will be shown in order.

Click the green tick to close that dialogue window. We will come back to that situation in a moment. When that window is closed you are now likely to see TWO windows pop up on screen.