Author: AJ

ISTA/P Installation Unknown Error

TLDR: I received an “Unknown Error” shortly after kicking off an ISTA/P installation. Ended up finding the install log file and discovered that the Visual C++ Redistributable package didn’t install correctly. Uncovered the download address from the same log file, installed it manually, and the world was right. 

I must have spent at least a few days trying to getting ISTA/P to install! ISTA worked like a charm, but ISTA/P kept generating “unknown errors” (shortly after installation started). I tried everything! Disabling firewalls and UAC, uninstalling other programs, trying with elevated privileges, running the install from the command line… you name it I tried it.

After a couple of evenings I gave up trying things and decided to go hunting for the log files (they must exist right?). Eventually I tracked them down to C:\ProgramData\BMW\ISPI\logs\TRIC\BDR\ISTA-P. Inside I found all of my miserable failed attempts (there were 72!). From that point it was a case of going through all 2658 lines of the log to try and work out what had happened.

Saving you some of the boring details I worked out that the vc_redist.x86.exe was failing with an error code of -2147023728 (Status code in the log files). Now the hunt was on, where was it getting this from? Going back to the top and working my way down I eventually found (199 lines in) that the installer was downloading it from Microsoft:

  • https://aka.ms/vs/17/release/vc_redist.x86.exe

This will be subject to change with each version so always best to check your log file. I downloaded the file, uninstalled other versions of the package, and ran the installer with elevated privileges… and “voila”. Bob’s your uncle and fanny is your aunt – it installed. After that, the following installation attempt of ISTA/P went through like a charm!

“Never give up”

 

BMW E60 M5 V10: The Real Costs of Ownership

Time for the latest installment of the M5 saga. You’ve seen the PPI and now to start telling the real story of owning one of these legends! 

This video covers the first 3 months of ownership and some of the fun along the way. Learnt some interesting lessons including that it is possible to get a title printed the same day, even if you aren’t the owner!

Here’s the direct link.

 

“A blockquote highlights important information, which may or may not be an actual quote. It uses distinct styling to set it apart from other content on the page.”

 

LS Swap RX-8: Dyno Results

So if you have been following along you would have seen the last video that was of the 335xi on the dyno. More power than I expected and more than stock. Not bad for a 15 year old BMW! 

This video goes through the same but with the LS Swapped RX-8. If you’ve been following the channel for a while you will know that this has a 6.2L V8. It’s a fresh rebuild but the engine has been through a lot. 

Here’s the direct link.

 

“A blockquote highlights important information, which may or may not be an actual quote. It uses distinct styling to set it apart from other content on the page.”