For the record...

None of the above instructions worked for me. I could get the Microsoft USB Sync installed, but I still kept getting the communication error.

For me to get it working, the difference was in selecting which drivers to install.

When I got to the driver update popup box that asked me if I wanted to Browse for the location of the driver or Let me pick from a list...



I browsed to the Universal Remote Control folder on my hard drive, Complete Control Program folder, then selected my remote control folder, which happened to be the MX-880. Then I selected the 64-bits folder.



I ignored the system warning about installing the driver.

Now my driver shows installed in the Device Manager under Universal Serial Bus Controllers as URC USB Sync FW1.



Communication now works fine. 

I have installed it this way on a couple of laptops with no issues... nothing else works for me.