Using same Lexia on different machines

[xsaras4ever]

Hello ,

we have a Lexia clone which works successfully with Diagbox on a desktop PC in our garage. We can wheel it around and it does a good job.

We have recently been given an old Laptop which works, but is too puny to run Diagbox.

It will however run an older version of the Lexia software in stand-alone, without Diagbox.

Is it ok to install the older Lexia software and connect our interface and activate the software, or does it update something within the Lexia interface which ties it to the Laptop and means it cannot then be used on our desktop with Diagbox ?

Thanks

[Mandrake]

Should be fine - it may try to downgrade the firmware on the interface to an older version but when you run Diagbox next time it will upgrade it again. Or you could disable firmware updates on both installs so that neither of them tries to change the firmware on the interface. (Assuming the old Lexia software works with the newer firmware - which it probably will)

To do that edit the file c:\awroot\bin\launcher4\ap with notepad, find the line MAJ_COM=TRUE near the top, edit this to say MAJ_COM=FALSE then save the file.

On your install on your laptop make sure you leave the interface unplugged from the laptop until you have completed the install process AND edited this file, then you can connect it.

By the way, what are the specs of the laptop ? CPU, RAM, hard drive size, and what OS is installed ? You might find it will run Diagbox ok, the biggest issue is ram - if its windows 7 you need at least 2GB ram to run acceptably, (I know this from bitter first hand experience ) with Windows XP 1GB would be plenty and it might even run on 512MB. I believe diagbox originally ran on 512MB in Windows 2000 in the actual bespoke (trolley based) hardware Citroen supplied ?

[xsaras4ever]

Hello Mandrake and thanks once again for the excellent help.

This will make you laugh :

The Laptop has a 20GB Harddrive, 256mb ram and the processor is 1.2ghz. As with anything free, its well obsolete.

We are running Windows XP.


Thanks

Xsaras4ever

[Hell Razor5543]

UPGRADE THAT MEMORY!!! 256MB in a laptop trying to run the Lexia ain't gonna cut it!!!

If you post up the make and model of laptop it may be possible to link to the makers' website and find out how much and what type of memory it can handle. Then you should be able to get some from e-bay. Try and max out the memory, as the more memory you can fit the faster the laptop can work.

[Mandrake]

Agreed, 256MB even on Windows XP is going to run Lexia dog slow or not at all. 512MB minimum, 1GB if it will take it.

1.2Ghz is fine - I run the full blown version of Diagbox on a 1.6Ghz Atom based netbook and while it takes a little while to load it runs fairly well with enough memory even on Windows 7. (32 bit)

For memory you could try these guys:

http://www.crucial.com/uk/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

They have a program you can run on the machine that will detect the exact laptop model and its ram requirements, or you can select make/model etc. I just upgraded the netbook I use for Diagbox from 1GB to 2GB of ram and it was only about £30 for 2GB ram from them. Made a HUGE difference to how well it runs. For Windows XP & Diagbox/Lexia I'd say 512MB is probably bare minimum and 1GB would be comfortable. For Windows 7 & Diagbox/Lexia 1GB is bare minimum and 2GB is comfortable.

[myglaren]

Crucial seconded, hard to do better than them.

[xsaras4ever]

Hello all.

Yep , the max it will take is 384mb, so guess its a non-runner.

We have been given a load of free ancient computer stuff which was sorta broken and have managed to get 2 desktop PCs running, one a backup for indoors and the other a backup for the garage pc. We have ordered ram from eBay for them both last week. We reformatted the Laptop and loaded Windows XP but its really old and we guess we will just use it to play with.

Thanks Again.

[Old-Guy]

Crucial seconded, hard to do better than them.

They have my vote too. For some years have turned to Crucial first for RAM upgrades. I've also found their RAM upgrade database to be far more accurate than anyone elses. For one old Dell laptop, Crucial listed the correct spec whIle Dell lumped together a selection of subtly different models! After that episode, I tend to take out the existing module(s) to see what's actually fitted!

Try Linux Mint (Xfce desktop for 384Mb RAM) - download the PDF manual first, it explains in detail how to install and use. Free, bomb-proof, backwards compatible and fast - gives old kit a new lease of life.

This old Lenovo Thinkpad boots (completely) under Mint in around 40 seconds and shuts down in under 10 seconds. Vista Pro used to take 5-7 minutes to finish booting and anything from 30 seconds to 3 minutes to shut down.

[myglaren]

Crucial seconded, hard to do better than them.

They have my vote too. For some years have turned to Crucial first for RAM upgrades. I've also found their RAM upgrade database to be far more accurate than anyone elses. For one old Dell laptop, Crucial listed the correct spec whIle Dell lumped together a selection of subtly different models! After that episode, I tend to take out the existing module(s) to see what's actually fitted!

Try Linux Mint (Xfce desktop for 384Mb RAM) - download the PDF manual first, it explains in detail how to install and use. Free, bomb-proof, backwards compatible and fast - gives old kit a new lease of life.

This old Lenovo Thinkpad boots (completely) under Mint in around 40 seconds and shuts down in under 10 seconds. Vista Pro used to take 5-7 minutes to finish booting and anything from 30 seconds to 3 minutes to shut down.

This is very true. I have Mint on one of my laptops and it is excellent. It is so easy and quick to install too.

[southern driver]

Hi guys, I am running windows 8, I wonder what would be the best for me, trying to get windows 7 32 bits, an original xp? or do I heard up here linux?

[myglaren]

Lexia won't work with Linux, only XP and Windows 7.
The Linux suggestion was to make that underpowered machine usable.