Scanner woes

[4687ah]

Hi, I got home from work and excitedly opened a can and my new scanner before heading to the car to play. That's was pretty much as far as it got. I loaded the disc onto the laptop (windows b#####d 7 as it happens) and have not got any further.
It came from China and without any instructions I am starting to wish it had stayed there! Lol
I realise this is pushing it, but does anyone have a dummies (and I mean dummies) guide to getting it running?
I appear to be lacking drivers which it can't find on the net.
I have found them, they are on the disc, but it seems that matters not. I copied them to desktop where they seem quite happy, I however am not.
I am going for another can and a very deep breath. Please can anyone help me get it running, but please keep it simple, as it appears that when it comes to computers i am indeed just that!

[X5Sport]

There is a way of running XP inside a Windows 7 machine in Microsoft's Virtual PC Mode.  Do you know which 'flavour' of Windows7 you have? 

Have a look at this link to run XP inside Windows 7.....Step by Step guide.  Take your time and check you have everything suggested.

If your laptop can do this, then you can - or should - be able to use XP programmes with a Win7 machine.

[4687ah]

Thanks for the link, I have just had a quick go and it seems that my home premium 64bit would need to be upgraded to professional, enterprise or ultimate to run the xp inside it.
Not to worry, I should be getting an email any minute about that 148 million that's got to be coming my way!
I can then bus bill gates in himself to sort it out.

[malc1950]

i have the same scanner with the software on my net book running windows 7, i am not to good with computers to but i managed to to download the software off the net and not the disk it came with and it now works fine ,
you will find its a very useful tool and you will be able to reset and alter many settings, Good luck.

[jaynana]

Try the links here.

[4687ah]

Thanks for the links, one of them seemed pretty good so I have followed it through changing com ports and what not, but the problem is if you don't know what you are doing and it differs from the guide it's game over, i got right near the end before i get the hardware error. It still insists drivers are not there. I have tried to work around it but to no avail.
Does anybody fancy taking over my computer remotely and showing me how easy it is/doing it for me? I will fit in round them time wise and be forever in their debt.
Off to the gym now before I break something-laptop is right in my sights at the moment!

[Horizon]

This is a guide to obtaining windows 7 drivers for the scanner, hope it's of any use. I have ordered a scanner, hope to do the same install myself this week when it hopefully arrives ...


( I HAVE JUST NOTICED THAT THE SCREEN SHOTS HAVE NOT CUT AND PASTED, LOOK FOR THIS ON THE NET, TO SEE FULL INFO, DONT KNOW HOW TO PUT A LINK ON FOR YOU !!!! )


BMW Scanner 1.4.0 Advanced Setup Guide
BMW Scanner 1.4.0 (Driver Setup / Install)

Pre information.

Don't Plug in your BMW Scanner Cable until told to do so.
If you are curious about a USB to serial connection and what it is read this topic.
USB1 - What is a Serial to USB Connection? (Related Article)
BMW Scanner 1.3.6 used a 9 Pin Serial Cable.
BMW Scanner 1.4.0 is the updated product. It contains the USB to Serial Port Internally in the Device.
It also doens't label the Port COM1 or COM2 it labels the Port as a USB Device "BMW Scanner".
This means the program doesn't can easily find the device without the user having to select a COM port Number.

BMW Scanner used a USB to Serial Port made by FTDI. So to maintain the best stability make sure you install the latest FTDI Drivers.

You may download the drivers on FTDI website (Get the Setup.exe). Make sure you open or save and run this file.
FTDI Website
http://www.ftdichip.com/Drivers/D2XX.htm - Virtual Com Port and D2XX Support Page

The FTDI Driver Download Link is Below (RECOMMENDED)
http://www.ftdichip.com/Drivers/CDM/CDM20814_Setup.exe
(just run from downlaod location a black CMD / command box opens and closed automatically on sucessfull install.  Pay Close attention)
Now that the FTDI DRIVERS are up to date.

If you have a zipped package exe. Double Click on the BMWScan140.exe File and you will see the following screen.



Select Your Desktop. If that is not in the box with the "..." box and pick your desktop.

This will make a folder on your desktop called "BMWScan140".
Go open this folder and run "BMWScan140.exe" You will see the following screen.



The next think to do is to click on start. Find My Computer and hit mangage.



Now Find the device manager. Please see our computers device manager before BMW Scanner is plugged in.



Now please pay close attention.
BMW Scanner must be powered from the Vehicle.

Please Connect the USB Cable to the BMW Scanner 1.4.0 (DO NOT CONNECT TO COMPUTER)
Plug BMW Scanner 1.4.0 into the Vehicle's OBD Port (light will come on)
Plug the BMW Scanner into the computer.
If BMW Scanner was never plugged into the computer you will get this screen.



If you don't get the above screen you will see the device is not functioning in the Device manager.
You can click update Driver and the screen will come up. So look at the following picutre.



Now you will have the following screen. Select "no" just to save time as This device driver is NEVER online!!!



The next screen we will tell windows advanced as we are going to direct the installation to the file.



It is not nessisary to search the CD-ROM but we will specify a location and hit browse.



If you unzipped the BMW Scanner files to your desktop you will be able to press the plus on the BMWScan140 folder and select the drivers folder as shown. Hit OK. Then Next.



This screen will pop up so make sure you continue anyways.



Remember the latest FTDI drivers are on your computer (we just want the PID). So we will be using the newer file previously installed. Select "NO" like below.




Now in the device manage you will see the BMW Scanner is all ok. Like Below.



You can close the device manager now. On your destop you will see the BMWScan140 folder.
Run BMWScan140.exe and it you should see the following screen.



From now on all you need to do is plug you BMW scanner in the computer connect to the car and run the software.
Please wait 10 seconds for BMW scanner to detect that it is attached to the car before running the software.

[4687ah]

Thanks Horizon for the guide. I managed to find it online with the screenshots and followed it but again it comes to a stop as soon as my end differs from the guide as I cannot follow the guide anymore and as I have no idea what I am doing (just following instructions) its game over.
I have tried all sorts and have downloaded enough drivers to man all the london taxis!
Can't understand why the disc included doesn't just fire it up.
Anybody know enough to burn something onto a disc that will work and that I can buy from them?
It took me two weeks to justify spending the money on that scanner, so a tad peed off.

[4687ah]

Tried an old xp equipped laptop and thought it was a go, but sadly no, and have now borrowed my mothers note book, which is windows 7 but the 32bit version. Now this time everything looks good, even have the drivers on there ok, but just get hardware error when I try to connect. As it seems I have moved a bit closer with the third and final computer, has anyone had the hardware fault error before?
I have averaged about 3hrs a day for the last 4 days working on this and can't think what to try next.

[jaynana]

are you testing with the scanner powered up by connecting it to the car?

if not try that out.

my scanner does not get recognised as a usb device unless its connected to the car, which is what powers it up (usb does not power it up).

j

[4687ah]

Hi Jaynana, thanks for the reply, yeah I have tried it connected to car with ignition off, on and also off then being turned on. I have also tried these combinations with it connected to the car and then plugging it into the laptop. The green light on the scanner only ever lights up momentarily when you plug it into the laptop and the amber one on the scanner comes on and stays on when plugged into the obd socket down to the right of the steering wheel.
It's certainly a patience tester that's for certain.

[jaynana]

another thought - is it some kind of conflict on the ports with other stuff you have on your comp?

you could try connecting the setup the way it should, and check that the device gets installed on one of the com ports through device manager.

if the scanner 1.4.0 s/w has configurable port settings it should be also set to the same port.

usually automatic diagnosis of hw should figure this out..

i will have a look in the ev for u.. (at work now)

EDIT, just did a search. did u try [url=http://try this?

[4687ah]

Yes i did mate and it didn't work,although i cant remember exactly where this one went wrong as i have tried so things i don't know which one got to which point anymore. I haven't given in yet though, just busy working on the house, so will keep trying (my own patience!)
Thanks for your continued ideas though.

[jaynana]

failing all just communicate back with the seller saying there's a hardware failure.

ask them to send a replacement. you could try saying that its too expensive to post back (came from china right?) - that has worked for me a couple of times..

[Horizon]

I've finally done it !!!!!

After 2 hours on the sofa trying to get my scanner to work I finally managed to load the driver on to my works laptop running on XP ( The  CD that came with the scanner was blank/corrupt, so I couldnt use it. I downloaded PA SOFT BMW 1.4.0. scanner software off the net , instalation instructions came with the download, but still not easy for a computer illiterate like me )
Due to the lack of an instruction manual on how use the flaming thing when you finally get it to work.
I have activated the Aux heating, put a bleep on the alarm set disarm, set it up to auto lock when over 16 KPH, reset all errors in the log.
Unfortunatly because I couldnt get it to work on the wifes win 7 laptop, or my works laptop the other night I bought a cheap laptop off Ebay running XP, its not arrived yet, and ive sorted it on my works one !
Will install on my cheap laptop when it arrives and keep that one for the car and home stuff. Saves me forgetting my works one in the mornings again.