zeitgeist57 Posted May 16, 2020 Report Share Posted May 16, 2020 In order to fix a couple of systems on my 2005 Volvo S60, I bought a DICE cable that connects from the OBDII port to a laptop equipped with ViDA (Volvo's diagnostic/system software). However, from an Apple household, I don't have a MS Windows laptop save for my work computer. I need something that can load a CD-ROM (for VIDA) as well as internet access. If this works, I may end up getting a Hilton Stage 1 tune as well (http://www.hiltontuning.com), which would require this laptop also to download and install. If I'm going to live with a turbo AWD car that's an autotragic, I'm damn sure going to make it perform as good as the aftermarket can get it. Trying to keep it cheap, as always (not fancy). LMK what ya got! Thank you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STEVE-O Posted May 16, 2020 Report Share Posted May 16, 2020 So you can get a decent used one from MC for under $200 and use a usb cd rom or convert the cd files and toss them on a flash drive Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trouble Maker Posted May 16, 2020 Report Share Posted May 16, 2020 Refurbished (Lenovos) laptops at microcenter was where my thoughts also went too. We don't have a windows PC right now but I have some projects on the horizon I will need one for and that is my plan. I know a few others who have done the same thing for tuning PCs and been really happy with it. I don't really see what seem like any amazing deals online though. Do they have used in store that don't show up online? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gillbot Posted May 17, 2020 Report Share Posted May 17, 2020 Can’t you run a VM on your Apple machine? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeitgeist57 Posted May 17, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 17, 2020 Can someone who knows computers post a couple of good machines for cheap? Sorry, but when I go to MicroCenter’s webpage I click on “Refurbished”, “Clearance”, “Open Box” and I’m looking at $450+ laptops... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ICEMAN1647545504 Posted May 17, 2020 Report Share Posted May 17, 2020 https://www.itechdeals.com/products/asus-chromebook-c300ma-13-3-inch-intel-celeron-4gb-16gb-ssd-in-black?utm_campaign=Asus%20C300%20Chromebook%205%2F15%2F2020%20%28RrHnnT%29&utm_medium=email&utm_source=KL%20180%20Day Will this work? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gillbot Posted May 17, 2020 Report Share Posted May 17, 2020 https://www.itechdeals.com/products/asus-chromebook-c300ma-13-3-inch-intel-celeron-4gb-16gb-ssd-in-black?utm_campaign=Asus%20C300%20Chromebook%205%2F15%2F2020%20%28RrHnnT%29&utm_medium=email&utm_source=KL%20180%20Day Will this work? Not if he needs windows. “Google Chrome OS pre-installed” Edit 1) You can try this but I believe there are free alternatives. https://www.parallels.com/landingpage/pd/general-rm-dtc/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI4pb1kaa76QIVmZOzCh0_OQolEAAYASAAEgIj8_D_BwE Edit 2) https://m.dell.com/h5/m/r/outlet.us.dell.com/ARBOnlineSales/Online/SecondaryInventorySearch.aspx?c=us&cs=22&l=en&s=dfh&sign=PXhcOSHtr1T4IOw%2fPR7UdS%2fPpogM0eBcWy14qQcT1F5oEhZVeET49I2RFjSmryJY5LcvV2Wqyxi9i4jKm07E0%2fY1Y5kL9W5QQ8qU1mKHjJ4PlTTohMPHAuGH9aGXy18b%2fkzyPxNkkwneadesRsNKcrN6FoFpls56KSjdiaPnlaLkkUnuI9vhlKanUuYT1yGXLth8NdRx%2bHY%3d You could probably stop in to MicroCenter and find something similarly priced. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Cranium Posted May 17, 2020 Report Share Posted May 17, 2020 Can someone who knows computers post a couple of good machines for cheap? Sorry, but when I go to MicroCenter’s webpage I click on “Refurbished”, “Clearance”, “Open Box” and I’m looking at $450+ laptops... Wow, they must have gotten cleaned out. Normally you can find some in the $200 - $300 range. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeitgeist57 Posted May 17, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 17, 2020 Here is what's recommended for the operating laptop to use VIDA: Re: VIDA computer requirements It must be windows 7 professional (32bit) Internet Explorer 8. over 3G RAM. C:// must have 40GB space. Software must install on C:// It must be NTFS format. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gillbot Posted May 17, 2020 Report Share Posted May 17, 2020 Here is what's recommended for the operating laptop to use VIDA: Re: VIDA computer requirements It must be windows 7 professional (32bit) Internet Explorer 8. over 3G RAM. C:// must have 40GB space. Software must install on C:// It must be NTFS format. Windows 7 machines are getting harder to find, you for sure need an outlet or refurbished machine most likely. Try eBay? I’d offer up my daughters laptop but she still plays games on it because it’s win7 and her tower is 10. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Furloaf Posted May 17, 2020 Report Share Posted May 17, 2020 search for a thinkpad on ebay with win7 first result I got: https://ebay.us/id6Nux Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unfunnyryan Posted May 18, 2020 Report Share Posted May 18, 2020 how soon do you need it? I'm pretty sure theres one sitting at my parents that'll work that hasn't been touched in 3 years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeitgeist57 Posted May 18, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 18, 2020 Thanks, Ryan! Jeremy, appreciate the eBay link as well. Hilton actually says that you don't have to follow Volvo's specs perfectly for a compatible laptop, but it helps for me to be in a range on processor, RAM, etc... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIGGU Posted May 18, 2020 Report Share Posted May 18, 2020 Dual boot your Mac. Its incredibly easy to do using bootcamp. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unfunnyryan Posted May 19, 2020 Report Share Posted May 19, 2020 Dual boot your Mac. Its incredibly easy to do using bootcamp. From what I've read you really dont want to do this due to unforeseen potential driver conflicts... and you really dont want to do it in a VM. Wrong 1 or 0 could in theory brick an ECU if they aren't sideloading it with checksums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokin5s Posted June 27, 2020 Report Share Posted June 27, 2020 just run bootcamp on your mac laptop Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeitgeist57 Posted June 28, 2020 Author Report Share Posted June 28, 2020 Ryan came through a couple of weeks ago with the laptop. The VIDA/DiCE package actually arrived on Wednesday. Won’t be getting around to accessing the software and working on the Volvo for a couple weeks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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