Allowing 3rd party remote access to pc (not OT!)

Ret. · 2010-12-09T09:12:45+00:00

Having just bought a replacement car, and there not being a Haynes manual available for it yet, I did a bit of Googling and found that I could buy a set of genuine VW CD-based service manuals for my car off Ebay: listing stated that the manuals covered the Mk Vl Golf, but before ordering I e-mailed the seller and specifically queried whether my particular model/trim/engine package was covered by the manuals. I was assured that it was.I bought the disks and installed them on my laptop a couple of days ago. It is clearly the pukka VW service manual program. Unfortunately, after running the program, and entering my car's details (the details of my car are available in the drop-down menus within the program's opening sequence), I cannot access any information. I get windows stating that the information is 'Not available within ElsaWin', or 'information locked - start vehicle identification'. This latter procedure clearly accesses VWs databases via the internet and has been disabled (presumably because the disks are not authorised for private use by VW!).I have been in correspondence with the seller (Stella!) who tells me that she has entered my vehicle's details into the program on her pc and all the workshop and servicing procedures are there to view. She suggests that I must have made an error when installing the program or the data disks (there are a number of steps that have to be taken in sequence, and the whole loading procedure took the best part of an hour) and that is why I cannot get any further after entering my vehicle's details.She is now suggesting that I allow her to access my laptop (via so that she can set the program up for me...I have never permitted a remote 3rd party to access my laptop and my immediate reaction is *NO*. Is there anyone who doubts that that is not the correct response to this request?!I have suggested to 'Stella' that I should first attempt an uninstall/reinstall of the program to see if that works. I will have to get her approval...

Dec 09, 2010 27 Replies

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Dave Plowman (News) 15 years ago

I have mixed feelings about this. At one time most makers had workshop manuals on sale to anyone. I bought a factory manual for my SD1 from the local dealer not long after I bought the car - and it cost about 30 quid. And of course a paper manual produced in low volumes has a very high production cost. CDs cost pennies.

I enquired about buying a manual for my E39 after I bought that too - and was told there was no such thing. So when pirate copies of the TIS appeared I had no qualms about getting one.

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Fredxx 15 years ago

From a civil point of view, BMW won't be able to prove any loss.

I actually agree with you, it's just that when a sanctimonious individual is party to an illegal act, it's a bit rich for him to say all criminals shouldn't have the right to vote, and naturally others have jumped on the bandwagon.

I also have a vehicle where the only way to get an appalling manual is to download it or buy a CD of eBay. I would be happy to pay for a manual if one was available, even a Haynes one!!

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Ret. 15 years ago

I always buy a Haynes manual when I change my car - but the Mk Vl Golf only came out last year and it usually takes 2-3 years after a vehicle's launch for Haynes to produce a manual.

I have e-mailed them and they say they currently have no plans for a Mk Vl manual. It was the same when I bought my facelifted Mk 2 Rover 75 - it was over two years before I could get a Haynes manual.

A lot of people slag off Haynes - but I invariably find them much easier to follow, with much more guidance for DIYers than official service manuals.

I had no great need for the service manual disks I have just bought because my car is under warranty until March 2013, and my finance package includes two years free servicing. I just like to know as much about my cars as I can, however.

I have found the VW handbook to be the most confusing and useless handbook of any car I have ever bought. There is no listing of fuses, for example - nor even any details of replacement light bulbs.

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Chris Bartram 15 years ago

That's my point: I don't *think* it does. Not 100% though.

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Adrian 15 years ago

"Ret." gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying:

Lovely, an' all. But that still doesn't make your hooky copy of licenced software any less illegal.

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Ret. 15 years ago

Who says that it's hooky?

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Fredxx 15 years ago

Virtually everyone in the trade knows that these disks are not available to Joe Public. I'm sure you will have no trouble claiming ignorance of this.

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Ret. 15 years ago

They are being sold on Ebay - not PirateBay. So far as I can tell, this particular seller has been selling these disks for some time. I'm sure that Ebay would have shut down the seller if VW/Audi group had complained to them that the seller was trading in illegal copyrighted material. Why has that not happened?

It is obvious that most of the stuff available on PirateBay is pirated. It is not at all obvious that stuff sold on Ebay is pirated.

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