VAS5054A Windows 10 Setup
VAS5054A Windows 10 Setup
Posted inCardiagtech

Setting Up Xentry PassThru on Windows 10 x64 with VAS5054A for Newer Mercedes-Benz Models

No Comments

For automotive professionals working with modern Mercedes-Benz vehicles, having the right diagnostic tools is crucial. Xentry PassThru software is essential for accessing and diagnosing newer models, including Euro 5/6, W205, W213, and W222. While Xentry PassThru is designed to function on Windows x64 systems to support these vehicles, users have encountered challenges when attempting to use the VAS5054A diagnostic interface in PassThru mode on 64-bit environments. This guide provides a detailed, step-by-step walkthrough to successfully configure Xentry PassThru on Windows 10 x64, enabling seamless communication with your Mercedes-Benz vehicles using the VAS 5054A.

Initially, the VAS5054A was not designed for 64-bit PassThru operation. Although a 64-bit device driver exists for the VAS 5054A, a compatible PassThru driver for 64-bit systems was lacking. A workaround involves utilizing a modified Actia driver, which essentially patches 32-bit PassThru API files to function with 64-bit device drivers on Windows 10 x64. This solution allows Xentry to recognize the VAS5054A and establish communication with vehicles like the W205 and other compatible models.

Please be aware that this procedure involves using unofficial drivers and is intended for testing and advanced users. Proceed at your own risk.

What You Will Need

To begin the setup process, ensure you have the following components:

  1. VAS5054A Bluetooth Hardware: Both genuine and high-quality clone versions of VAS5054A hardware are reported to be compatible.
  2. (Optional) VAS5054A EDIC_PDU_API Driver Installation File (Version 1.20.4x): This driver package can be helpful for installing necessary .NET Framework and VC++ redistributable components.
  3. (Optional) Updated Firmware: Firmware version 1.20.41 is recommended for enhanced compatibility, as opposed to version 1.20.42. This firmware is often included with driver packages or can be found in online automotive diagnostic communities.
  4. Softing_VAS5054A_PassThru_Driver_x64_v3.zip: This crucial driver package contains the necessary files to enable PassThru functionality for VAS5054A on 64-bit Windows.
  5. 64-bit Windows 10 Operating System: The installation is specifically designed for Windows 10 x64.
  6. (Optional) External 12V DC Power Adapter and Jumper Wires: These are needed for temporarily powering the VAS5054A during the setup and testing phases if you prefer not to connect directly to a vehicle’s OBD-II port.

Pre-Installation Steps

Before proceeding with the driver installation, complete these preliminary steps:

  1. Install Xentry PassThru and Apply Patches: Ensure you have successfully installed Xentry PassThru software on your Windows 10 x64 system and applied any necessary updates or patches as per your software provider’s instructions.

  2. (Optional) Install EDIC_PDU_API 1_20_42 (or 1_20_41) Driver: If you are performing a clean installation on a fresh Windows 10 system, installing the EDIC_PDU_API driver beforehand can streamline the process. This step ensures that essential prerequisites like the .NET Framework and VC++ redistributables are installed.

    Note: If you are performing a clean install, installing the EDIC_PDU driver first is advisable as it pre-installs .NET framework, VC++ files, and some EDIC DLLs into the /Windows/System32 or SysWow64 directories. These files might be overwritten by the manual installation steps that follow.

Installation Guide

Follow these steps meticulously to install the VAS5054A PassThru driver:

  1. Copy Softing Files: Copy the entire contents of the “Program Files (x86)Softing*” folder from the downloaded driver package to your local hard drive, specifically to “C:Program Files (x86)Softing*”.
  2. Copy D-PDU API Data: Similarly, copy the “Program DataD-PDU API” folder from the driver package to “C:Program DataD-PDU API” on your system.
  3. Import Registry Settings: Locate and double-click the “Softing_VAS5054A_PassThru_1_20_042.reg” file within the driver package. Allow the registry entries to be imported into your Windows Registry. This step configures the system to recognize the VAS5054A PassThru driver.
  4. Create SftngCM.exe Shortcut: Create a shortcut to the “SftngCM.exe” file, found in “C:Program Files (x86)SoftingEdicDriver”, and place this shortcut on your Desktop for easy access. This utility is used for testing the VAS5054A connection.
  5. Install Softing Device Driver: Navigate to “C:Program Files (x86)SoftingEdicDriverwin7” and right-click on the “softingedic7_ntamd64.inf” file. Select “Install” from the context menu to install the VAS5054A device driver. This driver enables Windows to communicate with the VAS5054A hardware.
  6. Connect VAS5054A Hardware: Connect your VAS5054A interface to your computer using a USB cable. Provide power to the VAS5054A either by connecting it to a temporary 12V DC power adapter or by plugging it into the OBD-II port of a vehicle.
  7. Verify Driver Installation in Device Manager: Open “Device Manager” (search for it in the Windows search bar). Look for “Softing…” under “Network adapters” or “Other devices”. If the driver is not installed correctly (indicated by a warning icon), manually update the driver by right-clicking on the device and selecting “Update driver,” then browse to the “C:Program Files (x86)SoftingEdicDriverwin7” folder.
  8. Create EDICConfig.exe Shortcut: Create a shortcut to the “EDICConfig.exe” file, located in “C:Program Files (x86)SoftingEdicDriver”, and place it on your Desktop. This tool allows you to configure EDIC driver settings if needed.
  9. (Optional) Install Newer API Driver (for Genuine VAS5054A and Newer API Versions): If you possess a genuine VAS5054A interface and have a newer version of the EDIC_PDU_API driver than 1.20.42, you can install the newer API driver at this stage for potentially improved performance or features.

VAS5054A Windows 10 SetupVAS5054A Windows 10 Setup

Image alt text: VAS5054A device driver successfully installed in Windows 10 Device Manager, showing Softing device recognized under Network Adapters.

Post-Installation Verification

After completing the installation steps, verify the setup as follows:

  1. Power Up VAS5054A: Ensure the VAS5054A is powered, either via an external 12V DC adapter or connected to a vehicle’s OBD-II port.
  2. Run SftngCM.exe as Administrator: Locate the “SftngCM.exe” shortcut on your desktop and run it as administrator (right-click and select “Run as administrator”). If a “C:Temp” directory does not exist, create it manually. This directory is used for log files, and its absence can cause errors in SftngCM.exe.
  3. Select VAS5054A and Enter Serial Number: In the SftngCM utility, choose “VAS5054A” from the device selection dropdown menu. Enter the serial number of your VAS5054A interface (typically starting with 0821xxxxx).
  4. Start Connection Test: Click on the “Test” tab and then click the “Start Test” button. Observe the colored dot indicators:
    • RED dot: Indicates that the PC and VAS5054A are not communicating. This usually points to a driver issue. Recheck the driver installation steps.
    • YELLOW dot: Signifies that the PC and VAS5054A are communicating successfully. The driver setup is correct.
    • GREEN dot: Confirms that the PC, VAS5054A, and Vehicle are communicating. This indicates a successful PassThru setup, ready for use with Xentry.

Helpful Tips

  • .NET Framework 2.0/3.0/3.5 Installation: If you encounter errors related to missing DLL files (e.g., MSVCR100.dll, mfc100.dll), ensure that “.NET Framework 3.5 (includes .NET 2.0 and 3.0)” is enabled in Windows Features. Go to “Control Panel” -> “Programs and Features” -> “Turn Windows features on or off” and check the box next to “.NET Framework 3.5 (includes .NET 2.0 and 3.0)”. You may also need to manually install Visual C++ (VC++) redistributable packages if prompted by error messages.
  • Temporary Power for VAS5054A Testing: For bench testing, you can temporarily power the VAS5054A by connecting Ground to either pin 4 or 5 and 12V DC to pin 16 on the OBD-II connector of the VAS5054A interface.
  • Updating EDICDriver: If you have a newer version of the EDICDriver, you can update it by replacing the files in “Program Files (x86)SoftingEDICDriver” and then manually updating the device driver in Device Manager to point to the updated driver files.
  • Registry Modification for Newer API Versions: If you install an EDIC_PDU_API driver version newer than 1.20.42, you need to edit the “*.reg” file. Open the “Softing_VAS5054A_PassThru_1_20_042.reg” file with a text editor and change all instances of “1_20_042” to match your installed API version (e.g., “1_20_0XX”). Save the modified file and double-click it to re-import the registry settings.
  • Serial Number Change via Registry: If SftngCM.exe does not allow you to change the serial number and your device has a different serial, edit the “*.reg” file with a text editor. Locate the serial number entry, modify it to the correct serial, save the file, and double-click it to apply the changes to the registry.

Download:

Softing_VAS5054A_PassThru_Driver_x64_v3.zip

https://mega.nz/#!kfYHwahA!xws-PzV8xZaPhwgZ1bwOxr4vLpMVBIvr4SceQGclvgw

Comments

No comments yet. Why don’t you start the discussion?

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *