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I don't have a laptop.

BimmerDriver

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I know, right, how can I be an adult-type person and not have a laptop? Well, I used to have one from work, but I retired. The wife has a work laptop, but it's locked so that I can't install software. I have an Android tablet (and phone) but it seems like the forscan lite application is no longer available. Not that I'm sure that it would have let me change anything.

So, I have a desktop computer, and an old ODBII cable with a RJ45 on the other end. That's a network connector for those not familiar with I/T jargon. It seems to me that it should work, but it's going to be a major PITA to take the computer and monitor and keyboard all apart and into the garage to give it a try if the program is only designed to work with bluetooth. And no, the computer, being an old desktop, does not have BT.

Really, all I want to do is disable ESE. It's a lot of trouble for a minor thing. My other thought was to join some Ford facebook groups and see if anyone local has Forscan, knows how to use it, and will work for beer.

Suggestions?
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Junkyard Dog

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I do not have a suggestion for you, but please record a few full throttle runs in track mode before you turn it off

and

then maybe record some of the same condition afterward, with ESE off.
 

Zig

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I know, right, how can I be an adult-type person and not have a laptop? Well, I used to have one from work, but I retired. The wife has a work laptop, but it's locked so that I can't install software. I have an Android tablet (and phone) but it seems like the forscan lite application is no longer available. Not that I'm sure that it would have let me change anything.

So, I have a desktop computer, and an old ODBII cable with a RJ45 on the other end. That's a network connector for those not familiar with I/T jargon. It seems to me that it should work, but it's going to be a major PITA to take the computer and monitor and keyboard all apart and into the garage to give it a try if the program is only designed to work with bluetooth. And no, the computer, being an old desktop, does not have BT.

Really, all I want to do is disable ESE. It's a lot of trouble for a minor thing. My other thought was to join some Ford facebook groups and see if anyone local has Forscan, knows how to use it, and will work for beer.

Suggestions?
With the proper adapter your desktop is a more powerful laptop, however being as old as you seem to imply that actually may not longer be reality but and however i suspect you know what i mean.

long way to ask, is ‘a lot of trouble’ worth $200, worse case el cheapo from local shopping mall should suffice.
 

Paul's stable

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I know, right, how can I be an adult-type person and not have a laptop? Well, I used to have one from work, but I retired. The wife has a work laptop, but it's locked so that I can't install software. I have an Android tablet (and phone) but it seems like the forscan lite application is no longer available. Not that I'm sure that it would have let me change anything.

So, I have a desktop computer, and an old ODBII cable with a RJ45 on the other end. That's a network connector for those not familiar with I/T jargon. It seems to me that it should work, but it's going to be a major PITA to take the computer and monitor and keyboard all apart and into the garage to give it a try if the program is only designed to work with bluetooth. And no, the computer, being an old desktop, does not have BT.

Really, all I want to do is disable ESE. It's a lot of trouble for a minor thing. My other thought was to join some Ford facebook groups and see if anyone local has Forscan, knows how to use it, and will work for beer.

Suggestions?
Do what I did. Go to a computer shop most sell used laptops for cheap.
 


D/\rK•650

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Get a cheapo laptop computer with windows. You can get one for like 50 150 bucks. That is the best way to go, yes you can hookup your desktop computer but it wouldn't be worth the hassle IMO. If you have a few bucks to spare then just go for it buy one then download Forscan. Forscan is not to difficult to understand , and it has some redundancies that you can use. Definitely watch some instructional videos on YouTube then check it out. Cheers 🍻
 
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BimmerDriver

BimmerDriver

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This probably falls under the "I'm so old I can't remember the last time I yelled at the kids to get off of my lawn" thread, but I can't find it.

Yesterday I decided to update the desktop with Windows 11 because TurboTax requires that for the 2025 tax year. I had to first buy a license for Windows (long story) and get the thing to update all the current patches, which never did work (the update, not the license) and so I went on to update Windows, and it said that my CPU is not compatible. :shock:

Apparently I bought the thing in 2014 (I just looked it up). LOL Who woulda thought that computers can become obsolete?

$80 T460 or Dell something or another on eBay
Do what I did. Go to a computer shop most sell used laptops for cheap.
Get a cheapo laptop computer with windows. You can get one for like 50 150 bucks.
I spent a bit more, as I wanted one with Windows 11 already installed, and I'm quite fond of Thinkpad from my corporate days of using them, and found them to be quite durable.

Thanks all for the advice, even if it took me a while to follow it.

It should arrive next week and then I'll try that Forscan stuff.
 
 








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