Why is Vol-FCR telling me there is an "interface error?"

[bmdubya1198]

I have a Volvo FCR cable with a serial to USB adapter to use on my Windows 10 laptop, and when I have everything connected to my '98 V70 and laptop correctly and open Vol-FCR and try to connect, it tells me that there is an interface error, and to check connections. (Wow... that's a lot of "and"s...) Everything was properly connected, and I don't know why it's doing this now. I changed the port to COM1, like I was told to do, and the program doesn't tell me that it can't find the connection, but it still says there is an interface error. What can I do about this? Should I just buy a VAG-COM cable to use instead? Or is there some way I can make the provided cable work along with my USB adapter?