At least now with the latest VAG-COM kits, the license is in the cable - so when the laptop goes dead you can get going again quickly on another laptop. When my original laptop died I had to wait until my vendor agreed to send me a new license to unload my second download.

I would try with win xp and 409.1. If its a usb cable you will probally need to install a usb to serial converter driver.Also in device manager make sure the port is matched up to the port vag-com software is using.

Don't use the usb port setting in vag-com because if its like mine you have to make vag-com think its a serial cable.

Yep, this is good advice.

I had an old serial cable which I used for vagcom but my latest laptop now has no serial port so I had to buy a USB lead. I bought one off ebay and initially had trouble getting the laptop to recognise the cable although when using the Vagcom test functon this said words to the effect that the port was ok but that the interface was not being recognised.:(

Here's what I did to get it working with Windows XP.

1. I deleted all previous copies of Vagcom from my laptop (that bit is up to you) & then download a fresh copy of Vagcom from Ross Tech site V.409-1 in my case.

2. Download Serial to USB driver HERE.

3.Plug your Vagcom (ebay) USB lead into your laptop and install the downloaded driver when prompted.

4. Go to Windows "device manager" and look for "ports" particularly "USB Serial Port". Double click on it, select ports/advanced and set the com port to an unused port in the range from 1 - 4 & click ok.

5. Now close everything down & go to your car, connect the lead to the OBD port & switch the ignition on. Open Vagcom, click "options", set the com port to the port you selected at "4" above & click "test". If it tests out ok click "save" & you are good to go.

After much "faffing about" this finally worked for me anyway !

Edited 25 October, 200817 yr by Td-eye

As this is looking to be a good setup reference i found this guide.

The $20 eBay VAG-COM Cable Walkthrough *Revisited* - The Audizine Forums