I'm trying to figure out what cable i have to get to run to my diagnostics port on my car. I have a new dell labtop with the usb port but I dont think the guy sold me the right cable to it. The datamaster program worked fine last time with my friends older dell but we didn't have to plug it into a usb port cause it connected elsewhere. Anybody have any answers?

 

The cable you have probably connects to a serial port. I think the newer computers are no longer using serial ports--but I could be wrong. Maybe someone else can shed some light.

 

I bought a pcmia card for my new dell laptop. It comes with the card and a rs232 dongle to connect to the serial cable that runs to the diagnostic port. Do a search on ebay for "pcmia rs232" and you can see what I am talking about.

 

The PCMCIA card will work, or you can just go down to your local computer store and get a USB to serial (rs232) adapter cable and use that.

Thomas.

 

Ok cause i bought this cable from radioshack. it connects a serial DB9 equipped peripheral to a USB port...whatever that means..lol. All i know is that it doesn't work. Especially since it came with an floppy disk and i dont have an A drive in the frist place. On the back of the box it shows the cable being connected to a digital camera and a pc...you guys think this is a completely wrong cable then what i'm looking for?

 

Okay, I'm confused now. Do you already have the cable that plugs into your diagnostics port on your vehicle? (Like one that can be bought at www.akmcables.com)

 

Yes I have that one that plugs into the diagnostic port...the gm one and then another one with the 9 port to hook up to the other style inlet on the old computers. So I went and bought a cable to adapt to that style and plug into my usb port. So basically I have 3 cables...lol.

 

i have the exact same problem with mine, its a brand new dell as well. i tryed one adapter and it didnt work.

i really need to get mine working. has anybody got an adapter that is tried and true going to work?

 

I have heard of alot of people having trouble with the usb to rs232 cables. That is why I opted to buy the pcmia card. Maybe you could link to a desktop with a floppy and get your drivers that way? Also I think you have to set up you port configuration a certain way to make it work.

 

whats this pcmia card? If i call dell up will they know what i need or no...i doubt it. They would be like hook what up to what to the diagnostics what..haha.

 

The pcmcia card goes into the slot on the left side of the notebook (inspiron 1100) The cables (dongles) connect to the card and give you a serial port for you to hook a cable to. Here is a ebay link to a card.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...ory=42196&rd=1

 

Yea I think thats exactly what I need. You've got that and it works perfect right? I've got the 1100 dell labtop now. Had the 5100 but ruined it (wont go into that..lol)

 

Not sure if it works or not yet . I just bought the laptop and the card so far, I haven't bought the cable yet. But technicaly it should work completely without a problem.

 

The PCMCIA to RS232 card will give you a true com port and work with everything.
Those USB doggles only make virtual ports and work with some stuff and not others.
By the way Compaq laptops still have a com port on them the last time I looked at one at Sam's Club.
That would be the way to go if one is buying a new laptop who wants a com port.

 

I use a Belkin serial-to-USB adapter from Comp USA and that works fine with my new Dell laptop and LT1 edit.

If I'm not mistaken, it did take a minute or two of fiddling to get the driver loaded....but I don't exactly remember as it was a little over a year ago.