FAQ: Tuning a 1996 Riv SC?

Did you buy a Mac or Windows system? Google is your friend, really. Google "Virtual Machine" and read the wikipedia page about it. Google "Parallels" and "Virtual Box" and read read read.

It's really simple. You get a VM host, and install a VM "guest OS". VM is more than a download. It's something you have to build, but it's really not hard to do. I highly recommend reading more about them, just for the learning, but you don't have to.

I haven't tried the walk threw video yet but i will when i get off work. i was just looking up refurbished dell laptops on ebay an they were only like 30-50 bucks, i think if i cabt figure this out imma just order one of those but i would like to use my new laptop so I'm not givin up that easy, lol and yeah i have read read and read about it I'm just a lil slow when it comes to this stuff:(

One of my friends at work has a son that works at a computer shop, I'm goin to see iff he can help/teach me how to do it. I'm usually a self learner, just dive in a figure it out my self, but computer software and setup really isn't my subject. I'm 18 an i bet my 56yr old dad knows more than i do ( no offense to you older folks, I'm doggin my self) lol

Derek, i bought a windows 8 system. sorry just now seen your question. its the acer v5 11" touch screen.

Not sure if yours does, but some versions of Windows come with VM support built in, so you might not have to buy anything, or just upgrade to a slightly newer version of Windows. If you can get an XP license, you can use VirtualBox or VMware (I think) to host your 'guest' XP.

What kind of tuner are you using? HP Tuners should work. DHP PowerTunr is what requires all the old software.

Unfortanatly i have a 96 riv so i have to use DHP. i also don't have internet at my house so my time to get the software loaded is limited. but my tuner from advanced vehicle technologys justarrived.i wish i could just hook it all up an it would just work. lol but what is AVT. talking about when they say," you want the VCP (virtual COM port) drivers for the FT245BL device that is used on the avt852 and your operating system." What is a vcp driver? The paperalso says FTDI also has a web page with installation instructions for the various operating systems. " you don't think this means... i should of ordered that too huh? Damn it...

Unfortunately i am goin to work again so i will get back on later and hopefully someone with a avt can point me in the right direction.

crstump wrote:

Unfortanatly i have a 96 riv so i have to use DHP. i also don't have internet at my house so my time to get the software loaded is limited. but my tuner from advanced vehicle technologys justarrived.i wish i could just hook it all up an it would just work. lol but what is AVT. talking about when they say," you want the VCP (virtual COM port) drivers for the FT245BL device that is used on the avt852 and your operating system." What is a vcp driver? The paperalso says FTDI also has a web page with installation instructions for the various operating systems. " you don't think this means... i should of ordered that too huh? Damn it...

I would assume AVT stands for advanced vehicle technologies? So an avt852 must be the device? I would also assume that you do want these drivers installed. The driver is what allows your PC to communicate with their hardware. Otherwise the computer won't know what you are connecting to it. A driver is just a piece of software telling the PC about a piece of hardware.

My question is - if you are using a DHP what is the AVT for?

AVT is dhp. since dhp is discontinued avt still makes they're product. u just don't have dhp support. but the avt does run off of dhp software. Well thats wat i got out of the reading anyways.

Ahh okay. That's good to know.

Do you know if they add support for more vehicles?

I think there is somebody else developing for that hardware too. Look up "Tiny Tuner".

Honestly I'm not sure. if u go back to pg 9 on this topic and read from there u will know just about everything i do. lol matt said he ordered one and i believe he is using it.

Well i have xp now but can't figure out how to download a dhp software. when i try to open and run it, it says it needs to know who tthe creator or something like that is and gives me a option to seafrch web for it or select of a list. ive tried both need help

I tried to register my car to the powertuner i chose the COM port and kinda guessed with it but only a couple of them would start to load the data from the cable. but when its almost done loading a error page pops up and says,"Unable to connect to interface!" So anyone know what to do about this one?

I bbelieve its code 68 or 69, i can't remember. unable to get system quick start. or unable to get quick start. by the way my software is DHP but says Digital horsepower on my programs.

DHP = Digital HorsePower

"Unable to connect to Interface" is either a cable problem, or a Windows problem. I could NOT for the life of me get my DHP to work with Windows XP, or XP Pro. It wasn't until I got my Windows 7 laptop that I was able to get it to work with Compatibility Mode for Windows 2000 (which is what the DHP was originally designed to run on)....which I've already stated earlier in this thread.

I'm not saying that you won't be able to get it to work, but I couldn't do it.

Any way to get windows 2000 on my windows xp?

Not a clue. I gave up on it after the 3rd try. My I.T. guy here at work suggested the Compatibility Mode thing to me. Worked on the first try.

Did you say you bought a Windows 8 machine? I'm not sure if that has the Compatibility Mode thing on it. Try right-clicking on the PowrTuner icon, go the Properties, and see if it has a Compatibility tab. If it does, see if it will let you set it to open with Windows 2000.

Also, you should be running DHP v1.2.4

I don't remember if XP can run things in compatibility mode or not. I know anything Vista and up does have it. I would personally try 7 first over 2000. Try messaging the people that sold you the tuner and see if they have drivers because it almost sounds like a driver issue.

Well i ordered it off of advanced vehicle technologys. I called them and they gave me a few tips on what to try. won't know untill later on tonight. So windows 7 will run the DHP? Will 7 or 2000 be easier to work?

And i did use the VCP driver they told me to use. butvwhen i installed the driver i didn't have to go threw all the steps that the DHP manual is showing.

crstump wrote:

Well i ordered it off of advanced vehicle technologys. I called them and they gave me a few tips on what to try. won't know untill later on tonight. So windows 7 will run the DHP? Will 7 or 2000 be easier to work?

Windows 7 works, YES. You can probably make it work from a Windows 8 machine too if you'd answer my above question....

Sorry i tried to but my phone messed up. i did have windows 8 computer but i found a used windows xp for half the price so i took to windows 8 back and got the xp. just tried runnin compatibility mode for windows 2000 abd tried to open the program but soon as the page came up a error page came up with code 66. Unable to init AC. then againn i am NOT hooked up to my car so maybe that would cause it? Or it just won't work with the compatibility.

Mine runs in XP Pro without compatibility mode. I don't have my DHP box anymore, but I still use the same XP installation (now with my HP Tuners). You do need to make sure you are using the right com port, and if you are using a serial version that your USB/serial adapter is recognized, etc. You can usually tell from Device Manager what port things should be on. The most difficult requirement was making sure that .NET 1.1 and nothing newer is installed. MS really wants you to be on a newer .NET version.

So i decided to do the download the DHP software all over again and this time with e download wizard pops up it says its installing 1.2.3F. But the program was called 1.2.4. So is that right or wrong? And how can i tell if net1.1 is the only framework my computer is runnin? Do i have to delete other programs just for that one to work? Anyone tuning 96 with the AVT 852? and is successful ?

Well i just read something somewere that the 1.2.3f is the 1.2.4. i downloaded it directly from the 60degreev6 forum. I'm goin to redue the driver to.