Specs for hosting aftermarket Lexia (etc) on a Laptop

addo · Unread post by **addo** » 15 Sep 2009, 21:28

I'm really thinking hard about buying a setup - word will get around and I can hire it for beer money or leave it with a trusted indie parts dealer.

What I'd like to know, is ideal specs for a standalone laptop to host the software. Then I'll be able to keep the thing as an independent package.

Does it work on Windows XP or just 2K? How much memory do I need? What type of drives? Screen size?

It would be good to see this as a recipe; those people in less Citroënised areas could then arm themselves appropriately.

Thanks, Adam.

addo · Unread post by **addo** » 17 Sep 2009, 11:39

From a thread started by "Duracell":

KariM1 wrote:
Peter_L wrote:The Lexia seems to use a fixed resolution of 1024x768.
Thanks. I bought second-hand Acer Aspire One A150, which has native resolution of 1024x600, but it can extend Windows desktop to larger resolutions such that the desktop pans/scrolls on screen when moving mouse cursor towards the edges.

I've never had a laptop - is this scrolling ability common, a nuisance, or something that's easy to adapt to?

Ross_K · Unread post by **Ross_K** » 17 Sep 2009, 15:10

You can turn the zooming/panning function off on most laptops.

Before you go running off to buy a laptop, do the cables which interface with the car need a serial connection on the PC end?

If so, most modern laptops won't be worth a curse as 99.999999999% of the time they won't have serial ports.

MikeT · Unread post by **MikeT** » 17 Sep 2009, 15:17

It's not ideal IMO but once you get used to it, I'm sure you could live with it. It might also be worth checking what USB version the Lexia requires - USB1/1.1 is slower than USB2 and might cause problems with live data logging?

In answer to your original question, the later Lexia versions run on XP and I expect Win2000 could handle it too as they're largely the same O/S. The older versions require older O/S's though.

Sl4yer · Unread post by **Sl4yer** » 17 Sep 2009, 20:18

The Ebay sellers claim it will run on Windows from 95 through to XP. As for hardware, any laptop from the last 8 years or so should be fine. I use a 4 year old Toshiba Portege M300. Lexia isn't particularly demanding on the hardware.

James

Unread post by **myglaren** » 17 Sep 2009, 21:39

Ross_K wrote: If so, most modern laptops won't be worth a curse as 99.999999999% of the time they won't have serial ports.

And here is me turning the keyboard over to see if there is a serial port .
Laptop is over the other side of the room.

addo · Unread post by **addo** » 17 Sep 2009, 22:01

That's like me standing at the zebra crossing, waiting for the "Walk" lights to go green.

And I was sober.

²

Thanks for the laptop hints - looks like local Fleabay might be the ticket.

addo · Unread post by **addo** » 19 Sep 2009, 21:43

I've been offered something that may be suitable - screen size is smaller at 12" though.

In terms of what Lexias do, will this appreciably affect usefulness?

Thanks, Adam.

Sl4yer · Unread post by **Sl4yer** » 20 Sep 2009, 10:25

That's incredibly similar in spec to the Toshiba I use. That would be fine!

Edit: Make sure the battery is decent though. Much easier to use in the car without a mains lead.

James

Ross_K · Unread post by **Ross_K** » 21 Sep 2009, 14:10

addo wrote:I've been offered something that may be suitable - screen size is smaller at 12" though.

In terms of what Lexias do, will this appreciably affect usefulness?

Thanks, Adam.

That should be fine. The base you see should have a serial port on it - might be an idea to check with the seller first though, just in case.

Sl4yer wrote:Edit: Make sure the battery is decent though. Much easier to use in the car without a mains lead.

James

The original main battery in an X40 is likely to be well shagged at this stage. Budget for a new one. Beware of the cheap Chinese knock-off batteries on ebay though. They'll work for a few months and die.

Also, the ultrabase can take a second battery in place of the CD-ROM drive you see in that last photo. Both batteries installed at the same time should give you five or six hours charge.

kaostheory · Unread post by **kaostheory** » 22 Feb 2010, 18:52

My T41 gives 13 hours with normal battery and bay drive battery installed. Thinking of using that as my lexia machine when i can find a reliable source to buy a copy from ( if there is such a thing )

TopDonkey · Unread post by **TopDonkey** » 22 Feb 2010, 19:53

Lexia needs win 2000 or XP, wont work on vista or windows 7

the actia interface is USB 1.1, it looks like a serial port on the actia, but there is a custom lead going from the 9 way socket to a usb plug, you cant plug it into a serial port at all, its not compatible

Ideal specs are at least half a gig of ram, but 1 gig is much faster, a 1.4 gig processor or faster and 1024x768 screen resolution on better, its a nightmare trying to scroll around a lower res screen just to check if there are more options off the screen, you can edit an ini file in the lexia directory to set a custom screen res, but i havent tried it myself

and as someone else said, make sure you get a laptop with a working battery, its a nightmare having to shut down and restart each time you want to move the computer or power down the invertor to turn the engine off

dont be suprised if you dont get any money scanning other peoples cars, there are lots of people already doing it for free !, and dont bank on indies borrowing or hiring it from you either, they normally have equipment as good as lexia that can do all makes, so there wont be much need for them to borrow it, having said that, if you can justify the cost, it is almost essential if you want to do any work on your own car or diagnose faults and saves me hours chasing my own tail sometimes

addo · Unread post by **addo** » 22 Feb 2010, 20:17

You're not where I am.

Number of Lexias in Sydney is approximately four. Population - five million. Besides, I'm not staking any ambitions to it - but I can assure readers that accurate diagnosis is chargeable here. Even established dealers have been caught playing the "guess and swap parts" game.

TopDonkey · Unread post by **TopDonkey** » 22 Feb 2010, 20:52

In that case you can probably bank on making decent money from it then !!, I thought you were in Wales in the UK !

make sure you get the full kit with all the leads if you plan on doing older citroens, software isnt so much of a problem as there are loads of places to download it, you just need the actia interface and leads