Lightning Software Updates using FDRS

[Mike G]

Thanks for this info.

I assume others do this as well but sharing my approach: on the older laptop I use for FDRS/FORScan, I create a second partitiion of the hard drive and dual boot into the desired image (main being a normal image OS and the second being a dedicated "vehicle programming" OS).

The main OS has more normal software and access for day-to-day functions and the programming one is totally bare-bones...for things not to intefere with FDRS/FORScan communication.

Of course, some may just use a clean install/bare-bones dedicated machine with similar access/ease of use.

The hardware requirements are getting bumped up for laptops starting around the beginning of the year...must have 16GB. I don't know if this will be 'enforced' by the program refusing to run or not...that's unclear right now.

Not a problem for me as I started with 32GB years ago...but I can tell you that my dealership has had to go out and buy new laptops recently....just so you know if you are using an older lappy.

Sponsored

 

[digitaldad]

The hardware requirements are getting bumped up for laptops starting around the beginning of the year...must have 16GB. I don't know if this will be 'enforced' by the program refusing to run or now...that's unclear right now.

Not a problem for me as I started with 32GB years ago...but I can tell you that my dealership has had to go out and buy new laptops recently....just so you know if you are using an older lappy.

Thanks brother...and, yikes! I'm using an older Surface with only 8GB RAM.

 

[rugedraw]

Of course, some may just use a clean install/bare-bones dedicated machine with similar access/ease of use.

That's what I did. I have an older cheap Acer laptop with an i3 processor. It came with a 256gb hard drive and 4gb of RAM. I bought 16gb of RAM for $30 to make it a total of 20, and put a seperate 2 TB SSD which I use to store pics and videos. All I have on the native 256gb drive is FDRS, FORScan and the MyCalibrator app from Livernois for my tune.

 

[sstevetx]

I used to run FDRS on a dedicated laptop with a 4th gen i7 and 16GB RAM, but it was barely hanging on. I’ve since upgraded to a Dell with an 8th gen i7, 16GB RAM, and a 512GB SSD running Windows 10 Pro—used exclusively for FDRS. Found it on eBay about a year ago for $130. Best part? It came preloaded with a bonus virus at no extra charge . I wiped it clean, did a fresh Win10 install, and flashed the BIOS just to be safe. Still a solid deal for the hardware and the Win10 Pro license.
I only run a local user account in Windows and don't log into my Microsoft or Google online accounts.

 

[Mike G]

I used to run FDRS on a dedicated laptop with a 4th gen i7 and 16GB RAM, but it was barely hanging on. I’ve since upgraded to a Dell with an 8th gen i7, 16GB RAM, and a 512GB SSD running Windows 10 Pro—used exclusively for FDRS. Found it on eBay about a year ago for $130. Best part? It came preloaded with a bonus virus at no extra charge . I wiped it clean, did a fresh Win10 install, and flashed the BIOS just to be safe. Still a solid deal for the hardware and the Win10 Pro license.
I only run a local user account in Windows and don't log into my Microsoft or Google online accounts.

The "Local User Account" thing is becoming a lost art....since they really, really, really want you to login with some account they can tie to your profile to track you. It's still doable of course....used to be a way to completely evade logging in during the setup on Windows 10, but I gave up trying to get around it on Win 11, and instead I did give them a throwaway email address and then went back in and "logged out" of that to go back to just using a local account. I also have all the privacy stuff locked down, no location, mic, camera, none of that is enabled. No social media. I don't use this laptop for anything but IDS/FDRS really, so what's the point of 'sharing' what I'm doing with MS or Google right?

 

[Mike G]

Oh and if you do buy a used Dell that originally came with Win10...you don't need to buy Windows for it to reinstall....just download it from Dell on a thumb drive and reinstall...then you can just automagically update it to Win 11 for free.

I know that FDRS said it wanted Win 10 Pro...but that ship has officially sailed now...I'm on Win 11 Pro now and FDRS works just fine (assuming my account hasn't been blocked for some egregious infraction like looking up a list of updates for somebody).

 

[RickLightning]

The issue here is social media. It is not people tweaking vehicles. It is people tweaking vehicles and then bragging about it on social media. When Ford execs learned of a Russian hacker writing software to turn on features that people didn't pay for, they weren't happy. Then people started bragging about using FDRS to do things. I am just glad I didn't buy the power supply or adapter yet...

Sucks, but not surprising.

 

[rugedraw]

(assuming my account hasn't been blocked for some egregious infraction like looking up a list of updates for somebody).

Ford's cybersecurity team.

 

[ytwytw]

got my refund for my broken FDRS today after 10 days finally
pts has really really long backlog of tickets
bad news is they didnt fix my ford account, still in a broken state

so my fordpass is still broken, need to. call the regular support to get it fixed

 

[PJnc284]

@Mike G anything interesting showing for you in FDRS? Per Jesse, there's quite a few updates for the 24's including an apim update to enable tesla superchargers in nav and potentially a working enhanced charging screen?

 

[rugedraw]

@Mike G anything interesting showing for you in FDRS? Per Jesse, there's quite a few updates for the 24's including an apim update to enable tesla superchargers in nav and potentially a working enhanced charging screen?

Those are not released for 21-23 trucks (yet). A new Sync OTA is being reported by ICE F150 owners that brings Sync up to 25211. The OTA is called Sync 25-25.2.4.9 and the GWM one is ECG2-25.2.8.5. GWM will come first followed by the APIM. One guy in the F150 facebook group also reported a TCU OTA coming in after these two.

 

[Mike G]

Those are not released for 21-23 trucks (yet). A new Sync OTA is being reported by ICE F150 owners that brings Sync up to 25211. The OTA is called Sync 25-25.2.4.9 and the GWM one is ECG2-25.2.8.5. GWM will come first followed by the APIM. One guy in the F150 facebook group also reported a TCU OTA coming in after these two.

That's great to hear that something is on the way for the 'big three'. It's been a while since anything came down for the GWM/APIM/TCU amigos.

 

[Jesse-Infotainment]

Im fairly sure the 22-23 will see these updates. Ford has always staggered the release. They would send the updates out for 22 and not 21.. To only in a couple weeks to release it for those.

The Mach E hasnt seen these yet either. I have a 24 Mach E and they arent showing for it yet.

So I am sure it will start rolling out across the board soon.

I got the Gateway OTA this morning

 

[Mike G]

I think it all depends on when each MY gets the update certified for release (testing certification).

 

[majorgearhead]

Perhaps this is part of the big update some dealer techs have been told about, that brings parity software-wise to their fleet.

While I certainly hope Ford doesn’t discontinue this awesome truck, if they do, at least we will have most of the latest functionality. All things that make the experience with it better.

Sponsored