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Mon Oct 29, 2018 3:03 pm

While this is obviously about me being able to access VCDS for my Eurovan, it's really a computer tech question.

Backstory: I've been borrowing my friend's ancient IBM Thinkpad (XP) which is loaded with VCDS. I've had it for about a year, and it worked the previous time I needed it, but now it won't turn on. I installed a new battery a few months ago and that worked fine. Dunno what the problem is, so I'd like to move to another computer. I have a slightly newer Thinkpad (XP) that I bought a while back specifically to be my shop computer.

The Questions: How can I transfer VCDS from one Thinkpad to another? I think I can pull the hard drive and with a SATA cable connect the two, but can I run or transfer programs that way?

The Facts: I'm mostly computer illiterate, so please use small words, finger puppets or Emojis--not the poop one, 'cause it frightens me.

Mon Oct 29, 2018 3:21 pm

Zeitgeist 13 wrote: While this is obviously about me being able to access VCDS for my Eurovan, it's really a computer tech question.

The Facts: I'm mostly computer illiterate, so please use small words, finger puppets or Emojis--not the poop one, 'cause it frightens me.

Ha !!! You're computer illiterate !!!! What's a VCD ???

Mon Oct 29, 2018 3:24 pm

I honestly don't know what it stands for, but it's the diagnostic software for modern VAG vehicles.

Mon Oct 29, 2018 7:14 pm

VCDS= VagComDiagnosticSystem

beyond that, I am of little help. you may want to reach out to ross tech for assistance.

you may find that was a pirated copy....they were floating around. that said, they offer some pretty affordable solutions.

they will NOT help if it was a jacked copy though. you can try the ross tech form on vwvortex.

Mon Oct 29, 2018 7:45 pm

My buddy owned a German car repair shop, so I'm pretty sure it's legit. I don't know what version it is, but it's probably no later than a 2012 edition.

Mon Oct 29, 2018 7:52 pm

Most software integrates with the OS. So you can copy the data files, but it might not work without the registry entries and other OS integration.

Also a program that was written for XP might not run on a Win7 or Win10 machine. Also if your current OS is 64bit, it might not run.

I was able to get ETKA, written for XP, to work on a Win 7 64Bit but not on Win 10.

Wed Oct 31, 2018 4:57 pm

I just happened upon this...

If you have a genuine VCDS cable (not an ebay knockoff), the software is free and downloadable here: http://www.ross-tech.com/vcds/download/

The software looks for the chip in the cable and if it's genuine and you're good to go.

If you have an ebay cable, you can download the software with limited functionality, but will need to pay for a license to do everything.

http://www.ross-tech.com/vcds-lite/download/index.php

Just for the people who are curious, the VCDS allows you to go into much deeper error codes and diagnosis than typical ODBII (VW/Audi only) It also allows you to get in and make all sorts of adjustments and tweaks to settings in the car that are not always available to the driver. It'll do just about anything except allow you to mess up your tune. It's pretty much a must-have accessory for any modern VAG car.

Fri Nov 02, 2018 7:14 pm

Thanks for that. I downloaded the software onto my XP machine, but VCDS isn't recognizing the interface. It appears to be genuine Ross-Tech equipment (HEX + CAN RS-232). The installation included the USB drivers, but still it's not recognizing the interface plugged into one of the USB ports. Puzzling.