Netbook for diagnostics

[moizeau]

All computers from about 10 or more years ago are 64 bit compatible. It's the chip inside that decides this. OS is better being 32 bit, saves complicating things. Win7 32 bit, 4gb ram with a processor that has a benchmark of over 1500 on the 'passmark' site.

[dave_xsara]

Is running via a 32 bit VM out of the question totally (as per Marc's reply on the previous page)?

[GiveMeABreak]

That will be fine.

[dave_xsara]

That will be fine.

It is?
Sorry was looking at another thread on this matter. I thought it was out of the question (or was that specific to this case: viewtopic.php?f=51&t=46686&start=1455):

I personally wouldn't even consider using any VMs with Lexia / Diagbox and certainly would not use a 64 bit OS - there are too many variables to troubleshoot when things go wrong. A cheap 32 bit laptop running Win 7 will do just fine. Trying to get this running on a 64 bit OS with a VM is just introducing too many variables and makes troubleshooting a much harder job.

[GiveMeABreak]

My response has crossed over another post. I'm now not clear what you are asking.

The main issue with all this is that if you need to use the Lexia or Peugeot Planet 2000-specific software (cars circa 2007 an earlier), either stand alone or from within Diagbox, then you cannot run these on a native 64 bit windows operating system. This is because they are written in 16 bit code and a native 64 bit operating system does not support 16 bit subsystems. To circumvent this on a 64 bit OS, users can create a virtual machine within the 64 bit OS. Once the VM is setup, they install a 32 bit OS and then this can run 16 bit apps via the VM.

I personally don't recommend this as I have found it can cause many problems with the hardware pass-through from the host OS to the guest OS, resulting in USB ports not working properly, which is a requirement of the VCI hardware that Lexia / Diagbox uses. In other words it can add another layer of problems if not configured corectly.

For Windows 7, only the Ultimate, Enterprise, and Professional editions (32-bit and 64-bit) support Hyper V VMs.

A 64 bit OS is not the same thing as 64 bit capable hardware. Obviously to run a 64 bit OS you need to have a 64 bit capable PC or Laptop.

[dave_xsara]

Thanks for the reply.

Question is really, are both of the following equally feasible?

- 64 bit laptop running a 32 bit OS
- 64 bit laptop running 64 bit OS, with lexia being run through a VM with 32 bit OS.

Easy diagnostic website listed a number of OS up to win 10 so just want to ensure I don't purchase a paperweight.

[doctle]

Surely software designed for 16 bit machines should run pretty good on the 32 bit machine? my mechanic that uses WOW Snooper uses a very ol HP laptop

[GiveMeABreak]

Thanks for the reply.

Question is really, are both of the following equally feasible?

- 64 bit laptop running a 32 bit OS
- 64 bit laptop running 64 bit OS, with lexia being run through a VM with 32 bit OS.

Easy diagnostic website listed a number of OS up to win 10 so just want to ensure I don't purchase a paperweight.

Yes and Yes

Surely software designed for 16 bit machines should run pretty good on the 32 bit machine? my mechanic that uses WOW Snooper uses a very ol HP laptop

Yes, that's what I said You can't run 16 bit code on a 64 bit Operating System, but you can on a 32 Bit OS

[doctle]

What I was trying to say is if it runs on 16 bit a fairly low spec laptop running XP or Windows & should be fine?

[GiveMeABreak]

No the laptop specs have got nothing to do with this element of the question.

Of course the better the laptop you can get the better it will run generally along with 4Gb RAM. But the question is all
About the software coding. Lexia software and PP2000 software are older versions written yonks ago to support cars from about 2007 and earlier.

They are not native windows programmes, and were written using 16 bit code. You must therefore run these programmes under a 32 bit version of the Windows operating system (whether directly on a Win 32 bit system or under a 64 bit System that uses a Virtual Machine that is running a 32 bit operating system.

That is the important part. You can have the best laptop or the worst, but without a 32 bit operating system neither Lexia nor PP2000 will run.

[Gibbo2286]

Any chance the fakers will bring it (Lexia) into the modern world?

[GiveMeABreak]

They already have, it's what all the ones on the market are - clones of the original. The VCI hardware is designed to work with Diagbox / Lexia / PP2000 software, so is constrained by PSA's software requirements.

[dave_xsara]

I've got an old laptop here which I'm not sure would be powerful enough for the job, so went looking online and found the following device which has a car list showing the Xsara amongst others. I've not seen this one mentioned anywhere else.
Does anyone have any knowledge of it? To read the codes for circa £40 would be good if it was a feasible device. However, I suspect it would have gained wider knowledge if it was a suitable replacement for the Lexia.

The laptop I've got has an Intel Core Duo 1.66GHz processor and Win7 32 bit. However, it would need a complete reinstall to freshen it up and a load of old apps removed. Does it run happily on a standard HDD, or is an SSD better for the older laptops to prevent freezing?


http://www.obd2diy.fr/wholesale/nouveau ... agbox.html

Product Description
Peugeot / Citroen PSA COM (lexia 3) diagnostics and Programming interface can access various electronic control units (ECU), such as engine, gearbox, ABS, Airbag / SRS, etc. PSA com displays identification, reads fault code memory, displays and saves measurement values ​​and performs actuator tests.
PSA COM Program BT PSA-COM Bluetooth Diagnostic for Peugeot / Citroen Replacement Lexia 3 pp2000 Diagbox

PSA Bluetooth COM is a diagnostic tool for Peugeot / Citroen, diagnostic level of dealer and advanced device programming, it is able to communicate with Bluetooth.

PSACOM BT PSA-COM Hardware:

Our OBD2 to USB interface PSA-COM contains 8x ISO9141 K-Line, 1x ISO9141 L-Line, CAN-BUS circuits and analog measurement.

PSA-COM Bluetooth Compatible Protocols:
ISO15765, PSA2000, Bosch KW71 and PSA2.

Operating System (OS):
PSA-COM Bluetooth diagnostic interface is compatible with Windows 2000 / XP / Vista / 7/8 / 8.1 / 10 or Linux and Mac OS / X (using wine emulation)

Fully multiplexed Bluetooth-in-one interface
automatic ECU recognition
automatic vehicle scan
ECU identification: - find all available calculators in the car by pressing the button.
Bluetooth - wireless connectivity to your laptop or Windows tablet
Fault code (DTC) read
Clearing fault code, with the ability to store DTC vehicle history forever
Freeze frame playback
Measurement values ​​/ Live data logging of data, fully dynamic with graph up to 6 data streams at a time, recording and other manipulations
diagnostic protocol printing
Test actuators, test components via direct ECU access

Special Functions - Perform Level Reseller Programming High End / Coding such as:

the Programming Key
resetting the service
DPF (Diesel Particulate Filter) regeneration
EGR (Exhaust Gas Recirculation) self-test
Airbag Programming
the programming of the injector
power steering calibration
Programming ECU
car configurations
other special functions like DPF, EGR, service delivery, etc.

[GiveMeABreak]

The hard drive will b fine - get as much RAM as you can 4 Gb would be good as it will allow the Operating System to use about 3072 and if you have integrated graphics, then the remainder of the RAM may be used by the graphics card (depending on what you have). Often with some integrated graphics chips it uses some of the system RAM for video memory and this take it away from what the system has, meaning more disk caching has to be used.

Also, don't burden the laptop with anything unnecessary - if this is going to be for diagnostics only (recommended), then you won't be connecting to the internet for anything - so once you have the system updated and patched it, you can disable services like Windows Update as that really can affect Diagbox performance. Plus you don't really need any Anti Virus software, so that can go. Just keep the basics only - no bloatware.

As for that interface - it is not a replacement for the Actia VCI - I've heard mixed reviews about it but personally I'm sticking to my Actia.

[doctle]

Most of the cheapo old 32 bit laptops I see on auction sites only run 2 gigs of RAM max. I suppose these are of little use?