Autosport Labs

Hello All,
I'm a new user and I have had a problem that I haven't seen addressed before. My installation seems to have gone OK, but I can't get the configuration software into my laptop.

The laptop is an IBM thinkpad i series that I have no internet connection on. It is running Windows98. I have tried burning a CD to load but the laptop doesn't recognize the disk when I try to load it. ( I get a "drive is empty please insert a disk" message.) I was going to try a flash memory, but Win98 is too old to work with one. I also tried to load it onto floppies, but there is one file that runs to 6 mb and won't load onto a disk.

Have I missed something really simple? This is the hurdle that has kept my car running on its distributor. I really want to get this up and running. I think it will turn a new page of my Spitfire's performance.

Any advice will be gratefully received. Thanks

Hi Paul,

Sorry to hear you're having problems with that win98 machine. It really sounds like you simply need to get that installation file onto your computer somehow; perhaps you can buy a new network card to get it on the 'net, or borrow a different laptop?

Iin the meantime, if you're running a MAP sensor unit, the factory default map should work well enough while you sort out your PC problems.

Keep us updated on your progress!

Regards,

Lots of possible solutions.

Compress the install files using zip, rar, 7zip or any compression program that allows splitting the archive into floppy-sized chunks. Most modern compression programs will do this these days. You can even make it self extracting, so you dont have to get the decompression software onto the laptop.. just insert flopp #1, run the self extractor and follow the prompts.

Windows 98 will handle flash memory drives if you load a device driver that is included on a floppy disc with some USB sticks.

Buy one of those little USB - Hard Drive adapters that have a laptop-sized connector, pull the thinkpads hard drive, and via this gadget, plug it into a desktop of other machine and copy the data across. Take it to your local computer build/repair shop if youre not sure how to do this. Its a 15 minute job if you have the right bits.

Get a better laptop.. A 2nd hand machine capable of running XP can be had for about $150 down here in Aus, I'm sure there will be something in the local used computer outlets. Trying to run anything modern under 98 is asking for trouble these days.

You can also buy one the early 7" eeePCs for next to nothing, since most people decided that a vertical res of 480 pixels isnt good enough, and they're not worth much 2nd hand.

Buy a beer for someone with a suitable laptop Its a better idea to have a co-passenger or driver to twiddle the numbers (or steer while you do) that trying to do it yourself anyway..

Hello again,
Good news Spockie-Tech's advice seems to have done the trick. This morning I loaded RAR files to disk and installed to my Laptop. Everything seems to be ready to go.
Unfortunately, rain will keep me away from the tuning on the car for a few days. I am anxious to get mjlj up and tuned.
Thanks again,

Great suggestion, Spockie-Tech!

However, it would still make me a bit bonkers to not have a machine on the network..

Brent,
I do have a machine on the web but not my laptop.
On a happier note, I got my megajolt installation up and running this afternoon . The only glitch was a reverse connected coil pack, well actually there was another; when I went to shut it off it kept on running! That turned out to be the relays staying in, when in series with the charge warning light. I re-wired the coil relay so that it gets power from the old ignition wire from the key. The coil draws enough current through the bulb to load the circuit below the relay's cut out voltage. I think I may have seen this problem and solution on one of the mjlj forums.
On to the fine tuning!
Thanks again for the help.