Laptop for diagnostics

[caduceus]

What are the minnimum requirements in a laptop for just doing the Cerb diagnostics and setup?
I want to buy a cheap one off fleabay.

Cheers

[Steve_T]

By an old pentium one or pentium two laptop (P166 or whatever) running windows 98 and make sure it has a built in serial port (I have an IBM). You can get spare batteries (Power and CMOS) for these and generally renewing these batteries is all that's needed to get them going again.

Steve.

Edited by Steve_T on Tuesday 7th April 10:37

[ridds]

bigpockets.co.uk have some nice cheap lappys for Diag usage.

[Storer]

My "laptop" is actually an old desktop on a trolley in my workshop. My laptops are all too new for serial port but as the old desktop was not doing anything it was pressed into use.

[driverrob]

Steve_T said:

By an old pentium one or pentium two laptop (P166 or whatever) running windows 98 and make sure it has a built in serial port (I have an IBM). You can get spare batteries (Power and CMOS) for these and generally renewing these batteries is all that's needed to get them going again.

Steve.

+1
I'm using a refurbished IBM T23 I bought for exactly the same purpose. Less than £200 and perfectly usable for everything else, too.

[David Smith]

I USE MY NEW LAPTOP WITH SERIAL USB ADAPTOR AND IT WORKS FINE ..

I know some people have had issues getting connection tho ..

DAS

Edited by David Smith on Tuesday 7th April 22:03

[anonymous-user]

Does the software have any pre-req's (i.e Operating system)?
Purchased a USB to serial cable yesterday - lets hope its works when it arrives

[caduceus]

Thanks for the replies chaps.

I've got my eye on a few on fleabay at the mo, which are a good price. One needs a battery and charger. I'll only ever be using it for the Cerb, as I have a decent desktop already for everything.

[Budaholic]

caduceus said:

Thanks for the replies chaps.

I have a decent desktop already for everything.

Good one sir!

[nakedguy]

Did the software connect with the USB convertor, I can't get mines to pick up the ecu

[JensenA]

caduceus said:

Thanks for the replies chaps.

I've got my eye on a few on fleabay at the mo, which are a good price. One needs a battery and charger. I'll only ever be using it for the Cerb, as I have a decent desktop already for everything.

A battery and a charger can easily cost at least £50!

This'll do £35 and 12 mins left :

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/HP-Compaq-Omnibook-6100-Lapt...

[Tanguero]

nakedguy said:

Did the software connect with the USB convertor, I can't get mines to pick up the ecu

Make sure that you have the convertor set to COM1 in the advanced settings in Windows.

[Byker28i]

nakedguy said:

Did the software connect with the USB convertor, I can't get mines to pick up the ecu

The software expects by default to be using Com1. You can change the ports in the software but it's easier to ensure the serial port on your laptop is com1.

Or are you using a USB to serial?


Assuming XP, right click my computer, select system properties (or press windows key and break together)

Pick the hardware tab, then device manager.
Hit the plus sign on Ports to expand that section and see what Com ports you have.
If you have something on Com1 and you're USB to serial isn't Com1 then:

Right click on Com1, select properties.
Choose the Port Settings tab, and the advanced button.
Change the Com Port number to something else.

Repeat for the USB to serial device, changing the Com port to Com1.


Fire up the laptop and the software.
Turn on the ign
press the button to turn off the immobiliser - i.e. the car has to be ready to start

Voila it all fires into life. (I spent ages working this out when I first got the car).

[caduceus]

I ended up buying a lappy off ebay with a serial port. Came with mains lead and carry case, all for just 36 quid. And it worked fine..... eventually