Laptop instead of class mate - Driver Account?

[mbone206]

We are going to use a Lap top instead of class mate, since it is legal and we have problems with class mate. I read some threads that indicated a driver account needs to be on lap top... instructions would be posted hoe to do this.

Can someone confirm if Driver Account needed and how we would do this? Would instructions be for different Windows operating systems? If it is required, do you know why and is that all that is needed.

Thank you for your support
Mark

[Joe Ross]

At a minimum, you should review "Installing the 2011 Driver Station on a Non-Classmate PC" from the kit of parts (http://usfirst.org/frc/kitofparts) website.

[cgmv123]

Just create an account named "Driver" on the laptop and install the driver station software. The FMS looks for an account named "Driver". I'm not sure why. It should just work like that. The driver station software messes with your IP settings, so that computer will not connect to the internet easily.

[Clayton Yocom]

...Would instructions be for different Windows operating systems? If it is required, do you know why and is that all that is needed...

Its required because your supposed to not be running *very* much else while driving, for safety, so the laptop doesn't lag behind and start giving the robot weird directions (I've seen this happen, running into yourself with a lunacy robot isn't fun.).

As to the first question, I believe Windows XP and 7 are supported, we've ran it on Vista, but we're had some communication problems at times and I'm not sure it'd be your best bet support-wise.