Hi Limabean! I just did the same thing a little over a year ago for my 02 V70 2.4T. Found a DiCE module on eBay for about $75, then the fun began. It helps that I work with computers for a living. Short answer to your first question is: Yes, the computer is required while you use the VIDA applicatio...

Yeah, I agree that it is all over the place, but if you go through that MVS VIDA Forum thread I posted above, it has pretty much everything you need to get VIDA going...and if you get stuck, there are plenty here who can help you.

Cheers!

Jonboy

I believe to program a remote or keys you need both VIDA DICE and a purchased subscription to access the Bolvo server to enable pins and keys. It about $1000 for three days access.

In short, keys fobs from 1999 on are dealer items

Hello group: I'm thinking of purchasing a VIDA unit with DICE software for my 2001 P2. I've found a number of Volvo units on eBay (all have 2014D software) and I'd like some opinions on the purchase. All the units I've seen require a PC loaded with Windows 7 Pro, 4GB of RAM (minimum) and up to 40GB...

VIDA Online 3 days access is $75 + taxes. Software for modules is in $35-80 range. I used it a couple of times. My "community edition" VIDA 2014D runs on a Linux laptop inside KVM virtual machine running Windows 7 Home edition. VIDA Online is a P.O.S. in terms of software quality. It brick...

I recently purchased Vida 2014d from ebay. I also purchased a dedicated laptop as my win10 didnt like it. Iam fairly happywith it accept even when hooked up to my car it gives me part options not fitted to my car. Its still possible to order wrong parts for my vehicle.

VIDA Online is a P.O.S. in terms of software quality. It bricked my wife's XC60 when it hung amidst sw update. Volvo Cars of NA walked away. have you seen this, it might explain what went wrong. https://www.volvoxc.com/0/resources/how-to/pdf/engine-controls-software-download-fault-prevention.pdf

the mail order parts houses I use know volvo very well, I've never looked up parts on vida.
It might be your copy of vida is for US vehicles.
UK has mostly diesel.

A while back I bought a dedicated touchscreen panasonic toughbook already setup with VIDA and a dice unit packaged together from a swedespeed user, he had a few options: $215 shipped for a Dell $290 shipped for a touchscreen Toughbook. $250 for a non-touchscreen Toughbook He wanted $100 for the dice...

For $100 you can get vida loaded and ready to run on SSD USB drive, run it on any computer you want . It runs win 10 but you don't need win 10 on the host computer, its all self contained on the SSD. Just change boot order in the bios to put SSD first and it will boot the SSD instead of the host mac...