Windows 8 and the Unichip

Use the same instructions for Windows 7. The messages and windows might be slightly
different but the basic steps will be the same.

To install and run the Unichip program with Windows 8 download the setupuniQ.exe
program from the Dastek website. It must be made in 2014 or newer. Save it on your
desktop for easy access.

ENSURE YOUR WINDOWS USER ACCOUNT HAS ADMINISTRATOR RIGHTS!

For the program to run properly you will need a communications port. If you are using
Windows 8 you probably do not have a normal serial (RS232) COMM port on your
laptop and you will have to use a USB to serial converter cable.

If you have the Dastek USB cable or an FTDI USB to serial converter you should
download and install the driver from this link:

www.dastek.co.za/private/dealer/download/DastekUSB_Setup.exe

Once you have installed the driver plug in the USB cable. It will be automatically
installed.

If you have a prolific USB to serial converter you can download the driver from here:

www.dastek.co.za/private/dealer/download/PL2303_Prolific_DriverInstaller_v1.9.0.exe

Some of the older prolific USB to serial converters might not work on Windows 8. If you
Google you might find some tricks to work around it. The easiest is just to use the Dastek
USB cable or a newer version of Prolific.

For other brands you will have to get the drivers from the suppliers. Some USB to serial
converters are not reliable and we will recommend you use the genuine Dastek version
(based on an FTDI product), an FTDI converter or a Prolific device.

After you installed the drivers simply insert the cable into the laptop. It will be
automatically set up.

Once the com port is installed double click on the SetupuniQ.exe program. Do NOT run
the setup program or Unichip program as administrator. The new setup and Unichip
program will automatically run as administrator.

The following warning will pop up.

Click on “Yes”

Follow the installer’s prompts.

Type in a real user name when prompted.

On Windows 8 the first time the Unichip program is installed the progress bars stands at
zero for a long time. We assume it is some Windows security check. Just be patient. The
next time you install an update it will be fast.

When finished installing double click on the UniQ icon to start the program.

If you do not have administrator rights or you do not have a com port installed the
Unichip program will warn you when you try to open it.

Improving the USB to serial port speed.

This setting is not available on a Prolific or other USB to serial converters. Only do it if
you have the Dastek USB cable or an FTDI USB to serial converter cable.

Go to “device manager” on your laptop.

In Windows 8 move your cursor to the bottom left corner of the desktop or start screen
and right click in this corner. From there you will be able to choose “device manager”
(Or you can use the system search function and search for device manager.)
In device manager open the “ports (COM & LPT)” dropdown list.

Double click on your com port. (In our example it is COM3 but it might be another
number on your laptop)
Open the “Port Settings” tab.
Click on “Advanced”
Change the “Latency Timer” value from 16 to 1.
If you want to run the old DOS version of the Unichip program you should also set your
com port number to a number from 1 to 4. If possible set it to com1.

Running the old Unichip program in Windows XP or newer

If you want to tune the old version A, B C, D etc Unichips on a laptop with Windows 8
here is how to do it:

First see if you have a 32 bit or 64 bit Windows. If you do not get this right the program
will NOT WORK correctly.

You normally find this out by right clicking on “my computer” and then properties. The
system type will be either 32 bit or 64 bit. Exactly how and where you find it will depend
on your exact version of Windows.
If you have a 32 bit system download from the program from this link:
www.dastek.co.za/private/dealer/download/SetupOldUni32.exe

If you have a 64 bit system download the program from this link:
www.dastek.co.za/private/dealer/download/SetupOldUni64.exe

Once downloaded run the program.

The following messages might differ slightly depending on the version of Windows you
are using but the basic steps will be the same:

A warning message might come up asking if you want to allow the program to make
changes to the computer. Select yes. If no warning message came up skip to the next step

Follow the install prompts. Accept the license etc.

On windows 7 and 8 the installer might take some time before it starts. This is normal.

The Dosbox installer will open.

Click on “next”

And also click “next” on the following window.

When asked where you want to install DOSBox do NOT change the path. Accept the
suggested path and click on install.

When it is finished click on “close”

Look at the next window that is open. I should say 1 file copied and have no errors.

Press any key on your keyboard to close this window.

Press the finish button

You should have a serial port installed already as per the instructions above. If you don’t
have a serial port configured the program will not work!

Once installed you have to make sure you always use the SAME USB port for the
converter!

Go to the Windows Control Panel. Select “Hardware and Sound” Click on Device
manager.

If you have not done so already go the port settings in device manager as described in the
Windows8 section above and ensure your com port number is set to a number from 1 to
4. If possible set it to be Com1

Make a note of this number

If you set up your port as COM1 in the previous step then simply go to C:\tuni and
double-click on UNI.BAT. The old program will open up and should work as normal.
The old program does not work with a mouse!! You have to use the arrow keys to move
between menu items.

If you are not using a normal serial COM port and you could not set it up to be COM1
then go to C:\tuniXP.
You will see various BAT (batch) files. If your COM port is say COM2 then you have to
double click on tunicom2.bat. If it is COM3 then double click tunicom3.bat etc.

This will set the old program to use the COM port you have.

After setting it for the right COM port go to double click on the “TuniOld” icon on your
desktop. The old program will open up and should work as normal. The old program does
not work with a mouse!! You have to use the arrow keys to move between menu items.