Is there one?

It turns out this laptop I was hoping had a nine-pin (two rows of 4 & 5) port on it, but think I need some form of adaptor to connect this to the really long serial port on the back of the laptop (which I guess is the old fashioned way of connecting a printer)

is this part fairly common and cheap?

Just reread your update and think I know what you mean now. You need a 9-pin to 25-pin serial adapter Yep available from places like Maplins, IIRC.... just make sure you get the right gender!

Chris

No - It just has a small connector on it, with 4 rows of holes on top and 5 on the bottom (or vice versa) - I need to get that into a connector on the laptop - I suspect using some form of adaptor.

J, you can get a USB converter - plug your serrial cable in to it, it then plugs in to a USB port on your PC

If you have a 25pin DIN on the back of the laptop that's more likely to be a parallel printer port - this won't work with VAGCOM AFAIK.

Can you tell us what model of laptop it is, or supply a pic of the ports on the back? Typically they have little logos next to them to describe their function - the printer one is like two rectangles normally:

 [ ]
[___]

No - It just has a small connector on it, with 4 rows of holes on top and 5 on the bottom (or vice versa) - I need to get that into a connector on the laptop - I suspect using some form of adaptor.

One of these: http://www.maplin.co.uk/module.aspx?ModuleNo=10947&doy=22m7&QV=Y

?

Chris

You would need a 'Gender Changer' DB9 to DB25 BUT one is serial and one is parallell and I'm not sure if parallell will run VAG com.

I have got a USB to serial but I've not tested it yet - I'll post it to ya if you want to borrow it.

Many people have had problems trying to run serial cables via converters from USB ports - just a heads-up

Yeah I've heard that Nick. From what I can gather it may be down to cheap convertors. I must get round to testing mine, but I have an old Dell that has a serial port and I'm keeping that for now.

Jason, if you get stuck, I'll lend you a laptop with VAG COM on it, with correct connectors

I'm off into Exeter armed with the cable to see if I can find the right adaptor. PC World gets my first visit.

Jason PLEASE LOOK AT THE LAPTOP FIRST - it won't be any good getting an adapter and trying to plug a serial cable into a parallel port! :eek:

Jason, you have my mobile no, if you want a loan of a laptop, gimme a bell, it'll only take an hour to exeter for me.

I'm away for the weekend but am happy to pop down this arbo

PC World in Exeter have the adaptor; I've bought one there before. Take you bits along to make sure you get the right one.

I bought the cheapest USB to serial adaptor I could find on ebay - works perfectly. Just pot luck though I guess.