Miltope MSD V2

[123mack]

Any one know of a substitute or replacement hard drive for the MSD V2 diagnostic computer? I have one that's good just a fried hard drive.

 

[Wire Fox]

Any one know of a substitute or replacement hard drive for the MSD V2 diagnostic computer? I have one that's good just a fried hard drive.

It's going to be a standard laptop hard drive that's in a specialized tray... Either IDE or SATA. Take a picture of the connectors on the drive and the label on the drive and I can give you an immediate answer!

 

[papakb]

They're just small IDE drives in the ones that I have. Do yourself a favor and instead of buying another HDD buy a solid state replacement that will hold up better to rough handling. You can get solid state replacements already configured for IDE applications that will plug right in.

 

[Wire Fox]

They're just small IDE drives in the ones that I have. Do yourself a favor and instead of buying another HDD buy a solid state replacement that will hold up better to rough handling. You can get solid state replacements already configured for IDE applications that will plug right in.

Hey, since you have one...how hard is it to setup a bracket to space the hard drive correctly into that bay? My worry with buying one of these old laptops is getting the hard drive set in just the right position. My next concern is spare batteries...any chance you know of a commercial equivalent battery?

 

[123mack]

I tried what this guy did, a thumb drive with puppy linux. www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFtd71cH8No Works so far.

 

[Suprman]

You need the original caddy and Miltope wont help you. What are you trying to use the laptop for?

 

[Wire Fox]

You need the original caddy and Miltope wont help you. What are you trying to use the laptop for?

Intended purpose. Diagnostics. My Dell that I keep bumming off a friend works just fine to do the job, but it'd be real nice to be able to power the laptop off of the vehicle through the MSD-ICE serial cable assembly. Plus, it'd be kinda cool to see how the auto-installer actually runs for the software.

I'll also push the laptop into a bit of double-duty, acting as a field-based amateur radio controller and reference guide. It will pretty much live between my "garage" and my HMMWV.

 

[Wire Fox]

I tried what this guy did, a thumb drive with puppy linux. www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFtd71cH8No Works so far.

I unfortunately would need the Windows environment up and running. I'm trying to use mine for diagnostics using the Miltope suite of software. I know there's Windows 2 Go for Windows 8 - Windows 10, but I'm not sure how nicely that would play with this. Would also inevitably be egregiously slow.

 

[Suprman]

Made to work in xp. You really need the interactive manual to run the flow chart diagnosing specific diagnostic tests. The miltope discs that come with the msd are only operating system and diagnostic interaction software. The big round ice diag port dosnt support much. If you have a standard diag port like A1 Lmtv then you can use a civilian code reader it's a lot faster and easier.

 

[Wire Fox]

Made to work in xp. You really need the interactive manual to run the flow chart diagnosing specific diagnostic tests. The miltope discs that come with the msd are only operating system and diagnostic interaction software. The big round ice diag port dosnt support much. If you have a standard diag port like A1 Lmtv then you can use a civilian code reader it's a lot faster and easier.

Already ahead of you. Disc 2 does have very basic tests on it that you can run on your own if you want raw data. I have the HMMWV IETM and I know a few others are out there. The HMMWV IETM seems to automatically capture values as you go through troubleshooting and will build up a collection of what has failed/passed during the testing you've done to give you a list of possible errors in its fault wizard. As well, I have a 4L80E TCM on board, so that means the GM UART connector with the DPA will yield actual data and the new S3 also has a diagnostic port that can function with the DPA. Plus in my real-world use, I've seen that it runs fine on Windows 7. I haven't tested every single program on the disc, but the core ICE drivers and utilities all seem to run A-OK on Windows 7 32-bit. There was a lot of protest when I attempted to install on a Windows 10 64-bit machine, but mostly it was kick-back because of the 64-bit aspect.

 

[Suprman]

My biggest problem is the ietms won't load in win7 for me. I have the older reader program. There is a newer version ems ng reader but I have not been able to get my hands on it.

 

[Wire Fox]

My biggest problem is the ietms won't load in win7 for me. I have the older reader program. There is a newer version ems ng reader but I have not been able to get my hands on it.

Really? I've been using EMS2 and it works A-OK on Windows 7 Pro 32-bit AND Windows 10 Anniversary Edition 64-bit for me. I can "do everything" on the 7 32-bit config as that's my test rig. I can open the program and go through the flow charts and such on Windows 10 64-bit, but I haven't even attempted to try using the ICE kit with it due to all of the error flags I was given while trying to install some of the ancillary programs. I can shoot you a copy of my install files so you can see if maybe you have a bum copy. I can't remember where I sourced these from...might have been LOGSA or another .mil site with public distribution.

 

[Suprman]

I can load the manuals. The ems software gives me an unsupported operating system error in anything after xp. Maybe you have a newer version. When I did first load my system I put the first miltope disc in and it was all automated. Asked for the second disc when the first one done. I haven't had time to try and run diagnostics on my Lmtv. I have the serial interface and a newer USB one.

 

[Wire Fox]

I can load the manuals. The ems software gives me an unsupported operating system error in anything after xp. Maybe you have a newer version. When I did first load my system I put the first miltope disc in and it was all automated. Asked for the second disc when the first one done. I haven't had time to try and run diagnostics on my Lmtv. I have the serial interface and a newer USB one.

PM me if you decide you need a copy of it. It's version 2.8.1.4.

As well, I have a couple of pieces of information that are useful to anyone installing after XP. Microsoft dropped integrated support for the .hlp help format starting with Vista. Up to 8.1, they offered a patch file (available here, choose the operating system you use and run it after you download: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us...dows-based-programs-feature-not-included-or-h) If you use Windows 10, I've got you covered where Microsoft decided to be a blue falcon. Download and extract the .zip file I've linked below, then run the install.cmd file AS AN ADMINISTRATOR (right-click, select "Run as Administrator). Doing either of these will install the WinHlp utility so that the Indexes and help files will work in EMS2 or any other legacy program that relies on these.

https://1drv.ms/u/s!AkVRiOjPCsSyla1fCQL8ncJutQ6fRw

 

[papakb]

I've been trying to get one of these going for some time now without much luck. I've tried loading an OS onto the HDD and then installing in in the computer, NG. I've tried using the internal CD to load an OS and it seems to load fine but then doesn't see the pointer after the system boots up so I think it must be a driver issue. Would it be possible to get a copy of the software from someone?

I've posted a picture of my HDD solution using a drive carrier tray made from a piece of aluminum and a cable I found on Ebay. This solution solved that problem but I think I still need the original Miltope drivers.

Thanks in advance for your help,

Kurt

 

[Wire Fox]

I've been trying to get one of these going for some time now without much luck. I've tried loading an OS onto the HDD and then installing in in the computer, NG. I've tried using the internal CD to load an OS and it seems to load fine but then doesn't see the pointer after the system boots up so I think it must be a driver issue. Would it be possible to get a copy of the software from someone?

I've posted a picture of my HDD solution using a drive carrier tray made from a piece of aluminum and a cable I found on Ebay. This solution solved that problem but I think I still need the original Miltope drivers.

Thanks in advance for your help,

KurtView attachment 688607

Thank you for sharing the rig you have for that drive. Pretty clever to use to the cable so that you don't have to have the alignment perfect. I've got you covered for the recovery discs. Once I get home, I'll figure out file sizes of the discs so that we get the ideal transport medium setup for you.

 

[CUCV_ut]

I've been playing with these Miltope laptops for a couple years now. If you carefully open the hard drive canister it just uses a 2.5" ATA ide hard drive. Those are the older ones, not the SATA. I had an old maxtor 150 GB external USB drive kicking around and found it actually had a standard 2.5" IDE drive inside it. Before that, I just used a 100GB drive from any old laptop I had around. I either used Acronis or Ghost bootable CD to clone it from the original drive (installed in the canister) to the new one which was connected to the Miltope with a USB to IDE adapter. Once it was cloned, I put the new drive in the canister and it booted up just fine. I've never found a source for replacement hard drive canisters for these either.

The battery is a much easier matter. They are just a standard ME202 or DR202 11.1 volt battery. I'd go with the many new manufacture batteries listed on that auction site or go use your prime and get free shipping. The one that came with my Miltope says it is a 6600 mAh capacity, you can get much better ones that are 7800 mAh or more now. Just be careful because there are some batteries that look the same but are 10.8 volts instead of 11.1 volts. Those might never show as fully charged to the laptop, it might even try and over charge it. Before I noticed the difference I had used one of the 10.8 volt ones in the miltope and it didn't seem to hurt it. It might not even make a difference. I believe the old Miltope SPORT tablet used the 10.8 volt batteries.

I have had the Miltope running windows XP and 7. I think the only restore disc I have is for windows 2000. I'd like to find the official restore disc for windows XP so I have all the software to try the ICE interface set. I've had the test set for a few years now but only recently bought a HMMWV that is new enough to be able try using it on. Initially, I used the Miltope for programming two way radios and ham radio software etc.

I've always wondered if the military ever had a vehicle mounting tray or kit for these. Has anyone ever seen one? I think it'd be fun to install one in the HMMWV. I'm glad to see others are starting to use these more, hopefully more information will be shared on them.

 

[Johno176]

Papakb, I have a MSD v2 that I'm trying to get up and running. I picked up a SSHD in pata/ide but am having trouble with finding a cable to interface with the inside of the HD bay.
was wondering if you had a picture of both ends of the cable you used. Been searching ebay but no luck. Thanks, John

 

[Trailfinder]

Already ahead of you. Disc 2 does have very basic tests on it that you can run on your own if you want raw data. I have the HMMWV IETM and I know a few others are out there. The HMMWV IETM seems to automatically capture values as you go through troubleshooting and will build up a collection of what has failed/passed during the testing you've done to give you a list of possible errors in its fault wizard. As well, I have a 4L80E TCM on board, so that means the GM UART connector with the DPA will yield actual data and the new S3 also has a diagnostic port that can function with the DPA. Plus in my real-world use, I've seen that it runs fine on Windows 7. I haven't tested every single program on the disc, but the core ICE drivers and utilities all seem to run A-OK on Windows 7 32-bit. There was a lot of protest when I attempted to install on a Windows 10 64-bit machine, but mostly it was kick-back because of the 64-bit aspect.

My Miltpe V2 Hard drive just went south. Does anyone have a copy of the CDs needed to reload the Dignostic software for the MSD? I can reformat the drive, just need the software and IETMs for HMMWV and M35A3.

Thanks.

 

[fuzzytoaster]

Does anyone have a P/N for a HDD caddy and cable? It would be awesome to put a SATA SSD in this unit to bring it into the late 2000's lol.

My Miltpe V2 Hard drive just went south. Does anyone have a copy of the CDs needed to reload the Dignostic software for the MSD? I can reformat the drive, just need the software and IETMs for HMMWV and M35A3.

Thanks.

Are you still needing assistance with the MSD diagnostic software?