DON'T TRY AT HOME, attempt to use Arm64-based laptop for X5 diagnosis

[workingonit]

Six weeks after I received my Gateway 13.3" Windows 11 laptop, and started trying to install/use Android or Windows-based diagnostic programs on it, I still haven't actually plugged it in outside, in the X5 yet, but have spent a lot of time inside using my much more powerful Windows 10 desktop PC, while searching for ways to download (working!) software onto the laptop. Here's where I was three weeks ago...
from another thread:https://xoutpost.com/1226490-post3.html

Originally Posted by workingonit

I use Torque Pro and OBDLink apps for all my cars, and BimmerTool (paid version) for the X5 (works best using the K-line USB/OTC cable, with FTDI chip). I tried Deep OBD, but couldn't configure it on my tablet, but will try again on my Windows 11 laptop. There are several more Android apps specifically for BMW, like BimmerLink, but they are for 2006+ X5 models only....I've successfully installed Ediabas/Tool32 on my ARM-based laptop, but the other "BMW Standard Tools" downloads didn't take, so I don't have a PID database for my X5, yet. Searching for workarounds, I've also installed the Windows version of the OBDLink app, called OBDWiz on the laptop, but haven't tried it out. There's also a Deep OBD version for Windows, but I haven't downloaded it yet.

I'm still stymied by the fact that my laptop, using a Qualcomm Snapdrgon 850 SOC, ARM-based processor, can't get/use the Windows Subsystem for Android™️, to run Android apps, due to having only 4gb ram (requires 8gb) and can't even use ReadyBoost (a Microsoft program) to use storage space to supplement ram, since it thinks that the 128gb memory SSD, installed as boot drive, makes the laptop fast enough. It won't allow me to switch to any of my other storage options (256gb SD card, 32gb type-C flash drive, 500gb external SSD) to enable it. So, I've increased the page file size to double the suggested amount, and I'm trying to find another Android emulator that's lightweight, or an ARM to x86/64 system facilitator. It doesn't help that I'm in way above my experience level.

I may still swap laptops with the wife, as I could probably upgrade the memory in her Lenovo, and it won't be ARM-based, which seemed to me to be the coming thing, a few years ago; it still might be, but not quite yet. I couldn't resist buying this laptop, because it's small (13.3"), has type-c ports, has SD card slot, and a SIM card slot (for portable online use, away from my Wifi). And I bought it new, with warranty, for 64% off. Couldn't resist it.

Since then, after trying several times to get un-corrupted, virus-free (all I've tried were either corrupted or Trojan-laden) copies of INPA, ISTA, and Daten files (from "BMW Standard Tools" downloads), so I could try the "Ediabas/Tool32" part that will actually open on the laptop, I've decided to try going another direction, and just try the Android app "Deep OBD" again, but not on the laptop nor tablet, alone, but in conjunction with my desktop PC.

I'm currently trying to use Chrome Remote Desktop, loaded onto both PC and laptop, in order to use the laptop as a remote data input (for keyboard, mouse, and K-line data throughput from the OBD port), sent to the 16gb PC which will be the actual compute-end of the relay. I successfully connected them once, with the PC mirroring the laptop, but not so, vice-versa. If I can't get the laptop to act as the "master" doing input, and the PC acting as "slave" doing the computations, then I might as well not install the workarounds needed to run Android apps on the Windows 10 PC (requires Linux & some other crap I don't yet understand). As I stated before, I'm in over my skill level.

I should've just bought a used laptop already loaded with INPA, ISTA, +whatever from E-bay, though I've been burned by such purchases before.

Or should I just give up, and rely totally on my Foxwell NT510 scan tool? Seems safer, and less headaches & frustration involved. Oh well, life is tough, then you retire....

[c-bass]

What's your end goal here?

If it's to have a diagnostic laptop and use INPA/ISTA etc then make just your life easier and use a windows laptop. Pretty much anything from the last 20 years will work.

I like an interesting project as much as the next guy but that's once I already have a working setup.

[workingonit]

Originally Posted by c-bass

What's your end goal here?

If it's to have a diagnostic laptop and use INPA/ISTA etc then make just your life easier and use a windows laptop. Pretty much anything from the last 20 years will work.

I like an interesting project as much as the next guy but that's once I already have a working setup.

I've wanted INPA/ISTA since I first read of them, months before I traded/swapped for my X5, and even bought my Foxwell 5-6 months before the trade. I like to have tools on hand before I need them. Though the Foxwell is good, others have said that it's limited in scope, and INPA/ISTA (plus others) are the way to go, for more detailed data.

Originally, I wanted to use my broken 6gb laptop, but Geek Squad wanted $700+ to repair it, so I tried to budget a cheaper laptop to use just for the X5. Or talk my wife into upgrading, and give me her 4gb laptop.

I saw a brand-new laptop for 64% off, for Black Friday, and thought it was my best shot to get a budget laptop, considering my retired, low income status, but I encountered unexpected problems since the programs I downloaded were bad, so now, maybe, I can get the "BMW Standard Tools" suite, from a better source, as they supposedly contain these programs:

Inpa 5.0.6
EDIABAS 7.3.0
Bluetooth Activation Tool 1.0.0
BMW Coding Tool 2.5.0
FindECU 1.1
NcsDummy 0.6.10
NcsExpert (English menus & NCS Dummy) 4.0.1
Tool32 4.0.3
WinKFP 5.3.1
Integrated SP-DATEN v67.1,

according to this post on Bimmerfest
https://www.bimmerfest.com/threads/u...tools.1418253/,

and could be downloaded from here:
https://github.com/gushmazuko/bmw-advanced-tools

which I would've tried (sad refrain, here) on my wife's Windows 10 laptop, if she were to trade it for my new Windows 11 laptop; but since I got her's working again, she said no to the trade. I'm hesitant to download from this new source, having been bitten from github on my desktop, a year ago.

I've just now removed the bad, previously-downloaded "BMW Standard Tools" (from another source, either from Bimmerfest or E46 Fanatics, that contained a Trojan, and messed up some files) from my new laptop, and have since tried to stay with expanded Android apps (which I've used before) on my laptop instead of puny tablet. Problem there was the new laptop can't get the program (Windows Subsystem for Android) from Microsoft, due to having 1/2 of the required RAM needed.

So, I went off into a rabbit hole to use my desktop remotely, to get the Android apps running on it, and the laptop to be used for input and remote display. Above my head, so I'm pulling the plug on this project, and I'll wait until the wife's laptop needs me to unfreeze the keyboard (again). At that time, I'll swap laptops, and get the "BMW Standard Tools" installed on it. I may never need to use them, though, but so many seem to swear by them, I figure they work better than the Foxwell I'm using. You can never get too much data.

[nick325xit 5spd]

This is why I have a few ancient ThinkPads in my inventory. They have no purpose other than car work, so they're never getting screwed around with.

It's WAYYYYYYY better than starting from scratch every couple of years when I upgrade my main machine. (Also, my daily drivers are Macs, so even more reason to dedicate an old cheap machine.)

You can get old, adequate laptops for this purpose for like $100. Frequently less.

I spent a little extra for my most recent machine - $250 for a ThinkPad W530 with a quad core i7, SSD (they all got upgraded - this one has 3 SSDs in it), 32GB RAM, etc. And that was paying at least a hundred bucks extra because the last of the real IBM style thinkpad workstations.

I also have a T30 that runs the GT1/DIS flavor of SCO Unix.

[X5chemist]

Ouch. I think I'll buy a loaded laptop if I ever need one. Austin Craigslist is full of cheap of laptops. IT sure has changed. At my chip manufacturing plant, a new IT guy couldn't even manually configure an Outlook email account! If it was not for passwords and permissions, I could make IT easier for my own department to better use resources.

[c-bass]

Originally Posted by workingonit

I've wanted INPA/ISTA since I first read of them, months before I traded/swapped for my X5, and even bought my Foxwell 5-6 months before the trade. I like to have tools on hand before I need them. Though the Foxwell is good, others have said that it's limited in scope, and INPA/ISTA (plus others) are the way to go, for more detailed data.

Originally, I wanted to use my broken 6gb laptop, but Geek Squad wanted $700+ to repair it, so I tried to budget a cheaper laptop to use just for the X5. Or talk my wife into upgrading, and give me her 4gb laptop.

I saw a brand-new laptop for 64% off, for Black Friday, and thought it was my best shot to get a budget laptop, considering my retired, low income status, but I encountered unexpected problems since the programs I downloaded were bad, so now, maybe, I can get the "BMW Standard Tools" suite, from a better source, as they supposedly contain these programs:

Inpa 5.0.6
EDIABAS 7.3.0
Bluetooth Activation Tool 1.0.0
BMW Coding Tool 2.5.0
FindECU 1.1
NcsDummy 0.6.10
NcsExpert (English menus & NCS Dummy) 4.0.1
Tool32 4.0.3
WinKFP 5.3.1
Integrated SP-DATEN v67.1,

according to this post on Bimmerfest
https://www.bimmerfest.com/threads/u...tools.1418253/,

and could be downloaded from here:
https://github.com/gushmazuko/bmw-advanced-tools

which I would've tried (sad refrain, here) on my wife's Windows 10 laptop, if she were to trade it for my new Windows 11 laptop; but since I got her's working again, she said no to the trade. I'm hesitant to download from this new source, having been bitten from github on my desktop, a year ago.

I've just now removed the bad, previously-downloaded "BMW Standard Tools" (from another source, either from Bimmerfest or E46 Fanatics, that contained a Trojan, and messed up some files) from my new laptop, and have since tried to stay with expanded Android apps (which I've used before) on my laptop instead of puny tablet. Problem there was the new laptop can't get the program (Windows Subsystem for Android) from Microsoft, due to having 1/2 of the required RAM needed.

So, I went off into a rabbit hole to use my desktop remotely, to get the Android apps running on it, and the laptop to be used for input and remote display. Above my head, so I'm pulling the plug on this project, and I'll wait until the wife's laptop needs me to unfreeze the keyboard (again). At that time, I'll swap laptops, and get the "BMW Standard Tools" installed on it. I may never need to use them, though, but so many seem to swear by them, I figure they work better than the Foxwell I'm using. You can never get too much data.

Ahhh yes, the spiraling that happens when you try to get something "setup quickly" been there done more times than I'd care to admit.

Like nick325 I also have a few "vintage" laptops that I use for my car diagnostics.

I understand you have some budget constraints but if it makes any sense to you I'd be happy to mail you one of my extra laptops if you cover the shipping. All the software is loaded and ready to go, you would just need a USB cable which you can source from Amazon.

You can download the software from https://www.bimmergeeks.net/downloads safe and virus free and I would be more than happy to help you with any installation issues you might have but I'm confident you can get it going with minimal head scratching.

[workingonit]

Originally Posted by c-bass

...I understand you have some budget constraints but if it makes any sense to you I'd be happy to mail you one of my extra laptops if you cover the shipping. All the software is loaded and ready to go, you would just need a USB cable which you can source from Amazon.

You can download the software from https://www.bimmergeeks.net/downloads safe and virus free and I would be more than happy to help you with any installation issues you might have but I'm confident you can get it going with minimal head scratching.

Thanks for your offer, but I'll try for awhile (despite my saying I'm giving up) to get something to work on the new laptop. But, expect a PM from me after a few more disappointing tries....

Actually, I believe I did use the download link you suggested, but the only part of the "BMW Standard Tools" that actually successfully loaded was the "EDIABAS ToolSet 32", all other parts wouldn't open. And I never downloaded the SP-Datens, since I copied the link address to Virus Total, and it detected malware.


After fighting to remove previous malware from this new laptop, I'm not sure if I'd trust it.

[nick325xit 5spd]

Originally Posted by workingonit

Thanks for your offer, but I'll try for awhile (despite my saying I'm giving up) to get something to work on the new laptop. But, expect a PM from me after a few more disappointing tries....

Actually, I believe I did use the download link you suggested, but the only part of the "BMW Standard Tools" that actually successfully loaded was the "EDIABAS ToolSet 32", all other parts wouldn't open. And I never downloaded the SP-Datens, since I copied the link address to Virus Total, and it detected malware.
Attachment 82927

After fighting to remove previous malware from this new laptop, I'm not sure if I'd trust it.

mega is neither trustworthy nor untrustworthy. they'll allow people to upload anything.

[X5chemist]

Following progress.

Out of curiosity, I searched ebay. Interesting thing is now you can buy fully loaded SSD drives with software. All you do is insert them into a laptop. I may go that route instead of trying to solve driver and connection issues.

[nick325xit 5spd]

Originally Posted by X5chemist

Following progress.

Out of curiosity, I searched ebay. Interesting thing is now you can buy fully loaded SSD drives with software. All you do is insert them into a laptop. I may go that route instead of trying to solve driver and connection issues.

You will almost certainly have to chase issues no matter what.