[HankReardon]

Tinkerman-

Interesting point about the benefits of using VM!  Had not thought of the protection features VM offers.

I'm 63, and as a career professional in investment management, I spent the majority of every day in front of a computer. Nonetheless, I could never get past the initial hump in compiter language and coding.

Fixing things, especially cars has always been my passion. But I'm far better at the wrenching end of fixing than the software end.  I guess it just boils down to aptitude because I'm spent countless hours (100's and 100's of hours) setting up, configuring, making interfaces connect let alone diagnosing and trying to figure out all the error codes (both software and vehicle).  I can change N62 valve seals faster than I can figure out the locations all the files- Daten, Data, SGDATEN, CFGDAT, *.prg, *.ipo, *.0da and *.0pa let alone what they do!

In fact just last night my wife mentioned a warning light came on on her summer car, a 1997 328i Convertible with less than 100k miles.  Had to get out the oldest of my three ThinkPads that has working copies Carsoft and PA Soft (so much quicker than DIS/GT-1).

In any case Tinkerman, seems you are quite comfortable with the diagnostic software end.....you must be an engineer, chemist, doctor or lawyer!

Sorry to ramble.....

In Summary-
1) I find your posts both interesting and helpful.  Especially your detail that "correct" *.ipo files may have to be manually adjusted.
2) Regarding Dr. Gini, other than my gauge issue I also wondered if I was also having config issues with functions under the PROGRAM tab.  The ZUSB function works great!  I think the ZUSB feature it is better and faster than any single BMW Standard Tool.  But on all of my Gini installations the three other PROGRAM tab functions- Comfort, Expert and Code are all greyed out.  I gather the lack of functionality of these WinKFP features is not my configuration but rather the unfinished nature of Gini which impacts everyone.

Too bad, it seems Gini's efforts fell only inches short of completing a fantastic tool.