32 Bit Laptop Required

funkey_monkey

Looking to get an old laptop cheap which has a 32-bit OS (need it for an app which will only run on 32-bit).
Also would like a screen size around 15" and 4Gb RAM. The actual OS can be XP or 7. No preference.

Where could I get a really cheap one in decent condition? UK source preferred.

ryanch09

You can install a 32 bit OS on any 64 bit system. The only thing you'll be limited on is the RAM

theteal

ryanch09 wrote: »

You can install a 32 bit OS on any 64 bit system. The only thing you'll be limited on is the RAM

This.

There are loads of UK ebay sellers for decent cheap laptops. We've got 2 old Toshiba Porteges at home that cost maybe £100 a piece several years ago. A fresh OS build on a SSD and they're both still better than most you'll pick up in the usual shops today.

funkey_monkey

No can do, the app is a car diagnostic tool from the 90's. The sellers state it can only be installed on 32 bit machines.

theteal

funkey_monkey wrote: »

No can do, the app is a car diagnostic tool from the 90's. The sellers state it can only be installed on 32 bit machines.

What kind of port do you need for connection? RS232 or some such?

ryanch09

funkey_monkey wrote: »

No can do, the app is a car diagnostic tool from the 90's. The sellers state it can only be installed on 32 bit machines.

If you install a 32 bit OS on a 64 bit machine, for all intents and purposes, it IS a 32 bit machine, the OS would have no knowledge of what 64 bit is, it would just think it is installed on a 32 bit machine

funkey_monkey

Kit appears to contain an adapter from RS232 to USB:
https://www.easydiagnostics.co.uk/product-page/lexia-3-xs-evolution-with-diagbox-v7-83-with-led-and-full-chip-revision-c

Note, they state a 32 bit OS.

On the car forums, the site guru states (https://frenchcarforum.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=51&t=46686&start=1455):

I personally wouldn't even consider using any VMs with Lexia / Diagbox and certainly would not use a 64 bit OS - there are too many variables to troubleshoot when things go wrong. A cheap 32 bit laptop running Win 7 will do just fine. Trying to get this running on a 64 bit OS with a VM is just introducing too many variables and makes troubleshooting a much harder job.

Also for confirmation here is another seller (https://tools4car.co.uk/product/lexia3/):

Operation system

Windows XP, VISTA, 7, 8 is suggested for your operation system. (It must be 32bit Windows)

Yeah not to 64Bit OS
Install 32Bit Win7 on a 64Bit machine means it is a 32Bit Machine

the OS can not detect anything else

bennyineire

As been stated by previous post it doesn't matter if you instal the 32bit OS on a 64bit machine. It's still a 32bit.

Another option is to install virtual box on your 64bit machine and install a virtual 32bit OS. It will work the exact same for you.

There are plenty of tutorials on you tube for virtual box and it's free

GarIT

funkey_monkey wrote: »

Looking to get an old laptop cheap which has a 32-bit OS
4Gb RAM

Literally not possible. 4GB is the theoretical maximum of a 32Bit OS, some of the 32bit memory addresses has to be used for other purposes so you are capped at around 3.8GB

As you mention later that you want a non-64bit capable PC, as far as I know everything from the first dual cores were 64bit capable and PCs older than that were often limited to 1GB ram or less. Almost every PC sold after windows 7 was invented is 64bit capable, so you need to look for something that was sold with XP.

As other posters have said installing a 32bit OS on a 64bit capable PC should work fine.

funkey_monkey

Yip, I stand corrected - just require a 32 bit OS.

Alun

funkey_monkey wrote: »

Yip, I stand corrected - just require a 32 bit OS.

Would it run in a VM running a 32-bit OS? Would save you having a special machine just for one app.

funkey_monkey

Alun wrote: »

Would it run in a VM running a 32-bit OS? Would save you having a special machine just for one app.

See post 7 above. I'll ask on the forum again, but I don't think many recommend it. It is apparently a bit flaky at the best of times.

GarIT

Alun wrote: »

Would it run in a VM running a 32-bit OS? Would save you having a special machine just for one app.

If it's a driver/communication issue that requires 32bit in the first place potentially no

funkey_monkey

Would a VM be difficult to set up?

funkey_monkey

Forum admin said:

The main issue with all this is that if you need to use the Lexia or Peugeot Planet 2000-specific software (cars circa 2007 an earlier), either stand alone or from within Diagbox, then you cannot run these on a native 64 bit windows operating system. This is because they are written in 16 bit code and a native 64 bit operating system does not support 16 bit subsystems. To circumvent this on a 64 bit OS, users can create a virtual machine within the 64 bit OS. Once the VM is setup, they install a 32 bit OS and then this can run 16 bit apps via the VM.

I personally don't recommend this as I have found it can cause many problems with the hardware pass-through from the host OS to the guest OS, resulting in USB ports not working properly, which is a requirement of the VCI hardware that Lexia / Diagbox uses. In other words it can add another layer of problems if not configured corectly.

For Windows 7, only the Ultimate, Enterprise, and Professional editions (32-bit and 64-bit) support Hyper V VMs.

A 64 bit OS is not the same thing as 64 bit capable hardware. Obviously to run a 64 bit OS you need to have a 64 bit capable PC or Laptop

bennyineire

funkey_monkey wrote: »

Would a VM be difficult to set up?

Nope, first you need to install virtual box, which is free. Then you install the OS. Loads of youtube tutorials.

This one should get you started

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGUfa2HIx0E

RobTheLad

I'd buy a refurbished laptop for something like this, have used this crowd before in the past, most laptops appear to come with 64bit installed but AFAIK Windows licensing covers both 32 & 64 bit as standard, so grab a 32 bit ISO online.

https://itzoo.co.uk/