Hi Paul,
I installed the latest FTDI drivers on the newly reinstalled WIN7 and I tried one known good BUB2, it recognized and works perfectly as COM3. I tried another known good BUB2 and it works perfectly on COM4. A BUB1 was tried next (not one of the ten known good units) and it installed and is working perfectly as COM5. Life is good. So far.
I then tested BUB2 #1 of the bad five. It returned failed with the "...request for the USB device..." as did the other four BUB2's. After testing the bad five, I connected in a known working BUB2 and it installed perfectly COM6.
All five units:
The 3-Pin headers are installed and the solder pads on the back have never been soldered. None have the 3V regulator installed.
Pins 1 and 3 show 5vdc as they should. All five units blink three times when first connected to the USB cable. All fifteen units show the same current draw (+/- some random amount) at the USB port measured with Fluke benchtop DVM.
I am familiar with the Windows removal of unused devices but I'm afraid this isn't the issue with these five little demons especially after the WIN7 test.
What is the warranty on these BUB2's? If I spend any more time playing with the bad ones, labor alone will have purchased replacements. <grin> And I'm retired!!
Thank you!!

joe