My install process below does not have to go through any of the steps other posts in this vein mention uninstalling and reinstalling various .NET versions, SQL Server Express etc.
I hope this saves many future users much frustration. Thanks, Stephan
Installing VIDA 2011D on a windows 7 host. Process takes 6-8 hours end to end unless you already have Windows 7 Pro installed
in that case it takes about 3 hours end to end.
* The high level process
1) Make sure you are running windows 7 professional, ultimate or enterprise. Windows 7 premium will not do the job
If needed, acquire a license (anytime upgrades from Microsoft cost about $99 after tax) and install Windows
7 Professional
2) Download and install the Windows XP Mode and Windows Virtual PC apps from the microsoft website
3) Create a virtual machine running in XP Mode
4) Install IE8 (Internet Explorer 8 ) onto your virtual machine. The VIDA 2011D disk has the installer loaded and
that's a bit faster than downloading it from Microsoft.
4) Install the VIDA software onto the virtual machine (On a low end Dell Inspiron), this takes about 45 minutes.
5) ***IMPORTANT*** Apply the patch that comes on the CD Rom
6) Now launch the VIDA application
* Details
1) If you are upgrading to Windows 7 Professional, be ready to kill about 3 hours while the installer does its job
2) One can download the Windows XP Mode and Windows Virtual PC apps from the following link:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtua ... nload.aspx
Note: at this link you must first select Windows 7 Pro as your OS and 32bit or 64bit as your version (most
machines today are 64bit)
3) Once the apps are downloaded and installed, choose from your system
Start menu->All Programs->Windows Virtual PC->Windows XP Mode
This will start the process of building a virtual machine that runs Windows XP Pro, SP3. This takes about
45 minutes on a low-end Dell laptop
4) Windows XP Mode will start the Virtual Machine for you.
5) Now inside the Virtual machine, use the file explorer tool to open (not autorun) the 2011D CD/DVD.
6) Install IE8 onto the virtual machine by choosing the IE8 _ENU icon
7) Now allow the virtual machine to restart
8 ) Shut down the virtual machine again.
9) Highlight the virtual machine named "Windows XP Mode" in Windows Virtual PC Window
10) Choose the "Settings" menu that became available after you highlighted the virtual machine
11) On the left hand side of the window that just opened, choose the choice named "X Close")
12) On the right hand side of the popped up window, choose "Prompt for Action"
13) Start the virtual machine (Might take a few minutes on a low end laptop)
14) Close it, and when prompted, chose "Shut Down". This is important, because you won't be able
to change the virtual machine's allocated memory until it is in a shut down state.
9) From the "main" or "real" laptop's OS (Windows 7 Professional, e.g.) in the Virtual PC Window, highlight
the virtual machine named "Windows XP Mode" (or whatever you named it if you happen to have renamed it)
10) This activates a menu choice named "Settings"
11) Click on the "Settings" menu
12) This pops open a window with some choices. Select Memory from the left hand
side and then type in 1985 into the right hand side input box.
NOTE: VIDA wants it's system (Virtual or real) to have at least 2GB of RAM; also note that
your OS has to have at least 1985KB available for this virtual machine to use
13) Now start up the virtual machine.
14) Now install the VIDA software by letting the CD/DVD drive autorun (just double click on My Computer's DVD drive
from within the virtual machine)
15) This process will take about 45 minutes, make sure your PC or laptop doesn't go into sleep mode. Annoying babysiting
work but you'll be happy when the software is up and running
16) At the end of the VIDA Install, the VIDA database engine will initialize itself, this takes another few minutes
17) The VIDA software will start, but you will not be able to enter a user name. Close the IE8 browser in which the
VIDA app is running on Virtual machine
18) Use the Explorer to browse the files on the 2011D DvD. Double Click on Icon labeled PATCH. This will run, eventually
popping up a DOS Window with some seemingly random digits, don't worry about it.
19) The "PATCH" app doesn't give you much feedback as to when it is done, but after the DOS window popped open, go ahead
and close it.
20) Now click on the VIDA All-In-One Application Icon on your Virtual PC's desktop.
21) Now enter the password generated by your patch utility. For some people, this is "admin", for others it is just the
number "1" (no quote marks in either case). Ask your patch "vendor" if you are not sure.
22) VIDA will let you in.
23) VIDA will pop up window's to the live Volvo VIDA site from time to time asking for a username and password. Don't
enter anything, just use the X in the upper right to dismiss this nuisance window
24) Go ahead and connect your PC to the DICE adapter and to the vehicle
25) From the Virtual PC's window menu bar, choose the "USB" menu. Select "DICE Adapter Attach"
26) Create your vehicle profile using the DICE adapter as the communication tool choice on the VIDA main screen
This will read vehicle information. Once you have vehicle information read, you will have to annotate
things like "body type: with or without sunroof, steering side, and drive") Once the profile is complete
the "DIAGNOSTICS" Tab becomes active and you are off to the races.
27) Not all graphics from within the application will render on very current printers, I don't have a solution for that
but enough visibly prints to help show a customer what is wrong with the vehicle.