Unfortunately MSD Has Abandoned the Dashhawk - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

John VS · 07-29-2010, 06:27 PM

I decided to buy a Dashhawk so I could do some 0-60 runs for performance comparisons and also have a look at my intake air temperature.

Anyway, I bought a used on with all parts off Craigslist. Got a good deal. Plugged it into the car on the ride home and everything seemed great. Well today I went to install the software and couldn't get the drivers to work. After some Googling it turns out that the Dashhawk drivers arent 64 bit compatible.

I called the company and asked why they don't state this clearly on their website. Forget clearly. Why don't they state it at all? It's not on the front page. It's not even part of the FAQ. The answer I got was "There's no more development."

"So you're not supporting the product you're still selling on your own site?"

"There's no more development."

"I think that's pretty dishonest. How are people supposed to know it won't work with their computer if you don't tell them?"

"I'm sorry."

Yeah, I can tell.

If you have the Ultimate or Business version, you can apparently run this in XP compatibility mode, which requires lots of extra (but free) software. It's a pain but it can be made to work. Looks like I need to upgrade my entire operating system if I want to run their software.

Demon Hunter · 07-29-2010, 06:51 PM

Sounds like a bum deal. Almost all new OS's are 64-bit these days. I know all of my computers are 64-bit. That's quite disappointing.

ipimpthisc · 07-29-2010, 06:54 PM

msd sux...i never liked the products...they are prone to high failure from my experience

devildoc · 07-29-2010, 10:16 PM

Wow .... I did not know that at all. I have Vista and thought it was a 64bit.....nope 32. Sorry John! Turn around and sell to someone with 32bit system.

Rwarchol · 07-29-2010, 10:59 PM

Anyone know if this will work: http://www.sctdashscan.com/ ? It's cheaper than the Dashhawk and it also estimates hp and tq. It says it works on vehicles up to 2008 but I don't see what the difference would be.

John VS · 07-30-2010, 12:20 AM

Through trial and error I found that it works with Windows 7 Starter which is mostly found on Netbooks. Now I just need to buy a Netbook.

skuttduck · 07-30-2010, 06:18 AM

You could install VM ware, and install a virtual PC running 32bit XP, vista or 7

John VS · 07-30-2010, 01:45 PM

Quote:

You could install VM ware, and install a virtual PC running 32bit XP, vista or 7

Yeah, there are ways around it. My point is really that it's a lot of effort for anyone buying a new device to go through just to make it work. Not everyone is going to have a copy of XP laying around or know how to find the right software and set it up properly. MSD should be letting people know on the front page of their website that it is not compatible with 64 bit operating systems. I just hope that this kind of dishonesty catches up with them eventually.

MAGfuz · 07-30-2010, 01:56 PM

tagged as the wires that connect to the actual dashhawk for mine started tearing away, and there's only so many times you can re-solder something before it wont anymore. I didn't find a guy that does the cables for $40, only takes him a month to make. That may be the way to go for me, but this is great for anyone looking to do things like dashhawk, only cheaper

07-29-2010, 06:27 PM	#1
John VS Drives: 2010 Camaro 2LT CGM, IOM Int. Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Orange County, CA Posts: 380	Unfortunately MSD Has Abandoned the Dashhawk I decided to buy a Dashhawk so I could do some 0-60 runs for performance comparisons and also have a look at my intake air temperature. Anyway, I bought a used on with all parts off Craigslist. Got a good deal. Plugged it into the car on the ride home and everything seemed great. Well today I went to install the software and couldn't get the drivers to work. After some Googling it turns out that the Dashhawk drivers arent 64 bit compatible. I called the company and asked why they don't state this clearly on their website. Forget clearly. Why don't they state it at all? It's not on the front page. It's not even part of the FAQ. The answer I got was "There's no more development." "So you're not supporting the product you're still selling on your own site?" "There's no more development." "I think that's pretty dishonest. How are people supposed to know it won't work with their computer if you don't tell them?" "I'm sorry." Yeah, I can tell. If you have the Ultimate or Business version, you can apparently run this in XP compatibility mode, which requires lots of extra (but free) software. It's a pain but it can be made to work. Looks like I need to upgrade my entire operating system if I want to run their software.

07-29-2010, 06:51 PM	#2
Demon Hunter Drives: 2010 Black Camaro LT Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: So Cal Posts: 675 View My Garage	Sounds like a bum deal. Almost all new OS's are 64-bit these days. I know all of my computers are 64-bit. That's quite disappointing. __________________

07-29-2010, 10:16 PM	#4
devildoc Drives: '12 Toyota Tacoma Dbl Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Beaufort, SC Posts: 1,275 View My Garage	Wow .... I did not know that at all. I have Vista and thought it was a 64bit.....nope 32. Sorry John! Turn around and sell to someone with 32bit system. __________________ MRT V2\|Trifecta Tune\|Airaid\|ARH LTs\|Eibach Sways STANDING 1/4MI: 13.948@99.87 6600RPM HP/TQ Gains - 30.54HP/24.3TQ (NOT PEAK)

07-30-2010, 06:18 AM	#7
skuttduck Drives: 2010 RJT 2LT Camaro Join Date: May 2009 Location: East Lansing, MI Posts: 2,529	You could install VM ware, and install a virtual PC running 32bit XP, vista or 7 __________________ Check out my Camaro http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=84133

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07-29-2010, 06:54 PM	#3
ipimpthisc Banned Drives: @twinturbo, cammed, intrcooled@ Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: nyc, EAST COAST HEAVY HITTERS Posts: 739	msd sux...i never liked the products...they are prone to high failure from my experience

07-29-2010, 10:59 PM	#5
Rwarchol Drives: 2010 1LT SIM A6, 2005 GTO TR A4 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Buffalo, NY Posts: 342	Anyone know if this will work: http://www.sctdashscan.com/ ? It's cheaper than the Dashhawk and it also estimates hp and tq. It says it works on vehicles up to 2008 but I don't see what the difference would be.

07-30-2010, 12:20 AM	#6
John VS Drives: 2010 Camaro 2LT CGM, IOM Int. Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Orange County, CA Posts: 380	Through trial and error I found that it works with Windows 7 Starter which is mostly found on Netbooks. Now I just need to buy a Netbook.

07-30-2010, 01:56 PM	#9
MAGfuz Drives: VR 2SS Convertible Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Minnesota Posts: 1,157 View My Garage	tagged as the wires that connect to the actual dashhawk for mine started tearing away, and there's only so many times you can re-solder something before it wont anymore. I didn't find a guy that does the cables for $40, only takes him a month to make. That may be the way to go for me, but this is great for anyone looking to do things like dashhawk, only cheaper