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Garage computer - any ideas?

Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2014 6:35 pm
by 4th Gen Doug
Soo...
I have this old computer kicking around under my desk gathering dust, and I'm trying to figure out what to do with it, when I thought about using it in the garage.. :?

So - what sort of software would be good (other than the o/s - it runs XP ATM, but it could run 7 at a push)?
I don't know what's available for the amateur mechanic, or even what's worthwile installing, so any suggestions would be welcome! The 4th Gen manual will of course go on, but I'd like it to be useful for something else than just a PDF viewer..

Also, are there any worthwhile diagnostic connections I could get to plug into the various cars we own? ('93 4th Gen, BMW E36 318ti, '54 plate Picasso)

Thanks for any advice!

Cheers
Doug

Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2014 6:49 pm
by mercutio
forget the garage get it in the car

Re: Garage computer

Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2014 6:51 pm
by 4th Gen Doug
^^ lol!

Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2014 7:10 pm
by bucks420
Im also in the process of sorting a pc out for the garage, mainly want it for tunes, the 4th gen manual and autocad for the buggy im building that 1 day might get finished. Are you planning on putting the monitor in a case or just as is on the wall? been looking for something but not really seen owt.

Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2014 8:22 pm
by 4th Gen Doug
@bucks420
I was just going to nail a monitor on the wall - I did think about some sort of fancy arm type malarky that I could move about to read the manual better, but I don't think I can be arsed with all that!

Like you, I was going to bung some tunes on it and run the 4th Gen manual from it, but I was hoping that there might be some sort of funky diagnostic software or something that would make my old PC useful again..

Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2014 8:26 pm
by Scott560
only useful for looking at settings or asking for help on forums when the car is in bits :P saves getting your pc/house dirty coming in every 5 minutes to check something... get the tunes on aswell lol

Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2014 8:33 pm
by Doggo
If it's no monster, why don't you run Linux?

Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2014 9:03 pm
by 4th Gen Doug
Hi @Doggo,
I would do, but I don't want to have to learn another o/s, I know XP very well, and I know that I won't have to hunt around for drivers for all of the obscure crap that HP have nailed on the motherboard :lol:

Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2014 9:07 pm
by Doggo
Can't knock that, Doug!

Fair enough :D

Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2014 10:25 pm
by 4th Gen Doug
How the hell does this witchcraft work?

Apparently, it only needs a connection to the battery to do a compression test..