California Looking for a Laptop PC/DOS Repair Tech Near Scott's Valley, CA

[retrotechrestoration]

I've been contacted by an exotic car repair company in Scotts Valley, CA about repairing an old Toshiba Satellite laptop that they use with what appears to just be a serial-based diagnostic tool running DOS/Win 3.1 software.

I've preliminarily told them that it would not be worth shipping the laptop all the way here to Florida if it can easily be replaced with any other laptop with a serial port, running DOS.

I'm looking for another professional repair tech near Scotts Valley who would be able to help them sort out the most efficient way to get them back up and running with a replacement laptop and their older diagnostic tool without having to ship anything here to Florida.

Send me a PM if you'd be willing to help and I'll fill you in on the details.

Thanks,
-- David Nowak
Retro Tech Restoration.com

 

[DeltaDon]

I agree that unless the software is somehow tied to the Toshiba via some S/N or BIOS function call I would think any laptop with a serial port would be an easy swap. If battery use isn't necessary then I have a stack of NOS Pentium laptops still sealed in the OEM boxes that have both a serial port plus a built-in floppy and CD-ROM drive. But unless one of the people working on replacement batteries come up with new working batteries that would limit these to using the AC adapter for use. But there's tons of Thinkpads and other laptops out there too.

 

[retrotechrestoration]

A more sustainable option might be to use a serial to USB adapter for the diagnostic interface and run the DOS software in a virtual box on a modern laptop.

That's something I might be able to set up remotely for them, but it would still be easier if there was a local tech.

 

[DeltaDon]

I saw a youtube video some time ago where an auto tech paid a lot of cash to get a Lamborghini laptop/software since the software is locked to the OEM supplied laptop. I don't know the details, but I guess if you need that programmer you need that programmer and are willing to pay.

 

[resman]

A more sustainable option might be to use a serial to USB adapter for the diagnostic interface and run the DOS software in a virtual box on a modern laptop.

That's something I might be able to set up remotely for them, but it would still be easier if there was a local tech.

This is, in fact, what I use for my ECU management software that run under DOS and Win9x. I use Windows XP under an older VMWare Fusion (Mac laptop) which still has support for DOS and older Windows apps, allowing the COM: port to be redirected to a USB serial dongle.