Laptop (it is Cerbera related before it gets moved lol)

[Mad Mark]

I am looking at getting my own laptop to run the Cerbera diagnostics on. I used to use my brothers but that has become unavailable.
I know this has been discussed on here many times in the past.

Just wondering what the requirements were?
As far as I can recall its Xp software and serial port. Is that correct? I know there are serial to usb converters but weren't they a bit hit or miss as to if they work or not?
I have seen a Dell Laptop on ebay for £85 with XP and a RS232 Serial Port and wifi would that do?
I have only just started looking around just need to be sure I am looking at the right things.

[Tanguero]

Yes, XP and a physical RS232 is the ideal combination the rest of the spec is neither here nor there really. USB to Serial converters will work but even the best ones tend to drop the connection intermittently. The connection with a real serial port is rock solid stable, and the diagnostic software if fairly undemanding otherwise so a low (by current standards) spec machine is perfectly fine.

[ukkid35]

Tanguero said:

Yes, XP and a physical RS232 is the ideal combination the rest of the spec is neither here nor there really. USB to Serial converters will work but even the best ones tend to drop the connection intermittently. The connection with a real serial port is rock solid stable, and the diagnostic software if fairly undemanding otherwise so a low (by current standards) spec machine is perfectly fine.

Peter's probably right, but I can vouch for eBay 370464905270, works great for me and costs peanuts.

[Mad Mark]

That's pretty much as i thought.
Cheers Peter.

[Byker28i]

Just out of interest, I've recently bought one of these usb to serial convertors for using on networking equipment.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0030IT780/ref=...

Works a treat. Yet to try it on the diags as I don't have my car currently.

[Mad Mark]

I was thinking of this one and paying a little more than originally planned but getting one that is useful for other things as well as the car.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Dell-D630-Laptop-Core-2-...

[Supateg]

I wouldn't get hung up on a rs232 port requirement.

I use Usb, with FTDI chipset. No issues, works fine even with Win 7 64bit using oracle with xp installed.