How to Program The Radio - Vertex VX-2200E Programming Cable - Tips & Tricks

I was looking to purchase the Vertex VX-2200E programming cable. The programming cable has been discontinued and is no longer available. Also, I hesitate to order from China due to the shipping delays. Here is how I programmed my radio. This is for the Vertex VX-2200E model.
The Programming Cable
In order to program the radio, you must first connect the programming cable to the radio. I used a spare ethernet cable and cut it in half. I connected the other end to an FTDI Serial Adapter FT232RL. Also important is a fast switching diode. You can probably use any fast diode.
Virtualbox and Programming Software
The programming software I used was CE82_Setup_EXP_5_01. This software does not work on the Windows 7 64 bit system. I used the Windows XP 32 bit OS.