Sounds like your browser "protected" you from the OCX files in that case - Windows Defender can do this sometimes, when it thinks the files are malicious.

The three OCX files are sitting in the Google Drive - just need to get 'em on your PC. ;)

They are on my laptop now, but even after unzipping, the problematic ""MSCOMCTL" will not install, while following the install instruction sheet
Attachment 82975

It's not actually being "installed" - only it's presence and location is being "registered" in the windows settings database (registry).

Do the other two OCX files register correctly? If not, then there is likely a path issue - it's most likely that the files are not copied to the correct directly for your windows installation (the correct location varies from version to version).

None of the .OCX files work, similar message given in advanced command prompt.

I'm reticent to delve into the registry, since I'm way in above my head here.

It's a shame I can't use my desktop PC in the X5, since everything loads onto it. I tried to do just that, using the laptop as remote input, by trying out the remote desktop app from Chrome (Microsoft wouldn't let me load their Windows version), but it got stuck in a sort of feedback loop, so I uninstalled that app.

It seems that my Windows 11 upgrade isn't downgradeable back to "Win 10 Home S" that it came with, so I'm stuck.

seems to be installed now!
 

I worked at it for a couple of hours this afternoon, and finally got the three .OCX files loaded (MSCOMCTL.OCX was the one I tried first, so it was the one I listed here). It seems that my laptop didn't realize it was a 64-bit system (ARM64-based, 64-bit OS), and kept reverting back to 32-bit, so whatever I tried installing as 64-bit wouldn't take.

A week or so ago, when I inadvertently loaded a virus/Trojan/whatever onto the laptop, it had changed my system around so that when I tried to re-install Chrome on it, it would always install the 32-bit version. Took me awhile to defeat that, and get the 64-bit version installed. Today, I finally realized that somehow SysWOW64 (needed for the .OCX files, and for .dll registration, also) had also been removed, so I put it back in. Everything followed the installation sequence after that.

So, I've now got multiple copies of desktop shortcuts, zip files in various locations (from three different base sousrces), and various other duplicate files that I'll need to carefully remove from the laptop; but it seems that all the BMW Standard Tools are now installed, only needing the X5 connected to complete installation (I'd only been able to get INPA running previously).

Thanks for links, encouragement, and other help, guys, it's really appreciated!

Your skills and knowledge are greater than mine. Can I send you a laptop for software installation? :bmw:

Nice work! Let us know when you have it connected.

if you only knew how wrong you are
 

Everything I have done is by trial and error; I'm not even sure which things actually worked or not, and I overlooked them, or if I've overlooked items I'll need once I connect the laptop to the X5 again. I couldn't repeat the process since I lost track of what I did and when (should've keep notes, like I did during the recent switch from one phone carrier to another...it took a week!).

The further I got into the process of getting INPA (the main one I wanted), and the other programs (Wink FP, Ediabas/Tool32, NCS Expert & Dummy, BMW Coding Tool) that came with the downloads I tried, the more I learned that my ARM64-based laptop wasn't capable of using those programs (according to various Microsoft "learn" sites). So, of course, I took that as a challenge.

I'm into this laptop, with peripherals (128gb SD card, 500gb external SSD, wireless mouse, padded carry pouch, insurance) for under $250 (much less than repairing my 6gb Toshiba laptop would've cost, just for the parts), so I figured what did I have to lose if I bricked it (under warranty!). So, I wasn't going to give up. But, I didn't receive my desired Bentley manual for Christmas, since I blew my holiday money on this project...maybe next year?


It's wet and cold outside, so I'll wait 'till the sandy/muddy driveway's dry tomorrow, before I go out to complete the install (what the heck is "ZCS" that the coding tool is asking for?); I have to re-check & possibly re-inflate my front right tire again anyway, since it has started going flat spontaneously again (six months or more since the last time), so I'll be out there anyway.

correction: not working now, not even INPA
 

I said I was going to carefully remove duplicate files, folders, etc from the laptop, and I did so, but obviously did something wrong in doing so. Nothing works when plugged into the X5, not even INPA, which worked previously. I should've tested on the X5 before I cleared the "junk".

Now, I guess I'm restarting from scratch...downloading the suggested files and trying again (and again, more again, and everafter again). At least I've got the sysWOW64 and .OCX files already in place (they were what was the last problem I had faced), so though I may end up with lotsa duplicate files onboard the laptop, it may just work.

Oh, the duplicate files are going onto a 128gb boot drive, or on a 256gb SD (not 128gb as I erroneously stated before), so there's plenty of space. This laptop will never have anything on it that I can't use in the BMW (games, memorabilia, non-BMW photos, non-BMW data) that fill my phone(s), tablet, and desktop PC. I don't know what I was thinking trying to clean the excess (some weren't) files from it.

OK, INPA is working again!
 

I removed every trace of BMW Standard Tools from Bimmergeeks downloads, and also the Mike's Easy BMW Tools downloads fom my laptop this morning

I also confirmed that the .OCX files remained installed (in the new sysWOW64 folder), the FTDI driver (for the cable) was still active, and the cable still operated on COM 1 port as well, before I tried the Mike's Easy BMW Tools download & install, again.

I followed Evan Goyuk's YouTube video again, installing as before, and went outside to the X5, and tried INPA again. It's now working. Then I tried the other programs and discovered that I was bypassing the NCS Expert/NCS Dummy "profile loading" steps (I couldn't manually load my VIN), so it seems there is a learning curve to go beyond basic INPA. I think I was rushing ahead of myself, earlier this week.

The BMW tools that are now on the laptop are drawing 15% less memory than before, since there were files and traces of files in various locations, leftover from five previous attempts to get INPA et al installed. Mea culpa. I'm going to stick with the learning curve required, and take my time from this point onwards, since INPA was basically all I wanted, and the other programs are bonuses.

PM'd