Guide to Using Your OBD2 VCI for Techstream on Windows 64-bit

Are you struggling to get your Toyota Techstream software running with your MINI-VCI cable on a 64-bit Windows system? Many enthusiasts and DIY mechanics face this hurdle when trying to access dealer-level diagnostic capabilities for their Toyota or Subaru vehicles. While online forums are filled with download links and discussions, concrete guides for successful activation are often lacking.

If you’ve spent hours searching and wondering if it’s possible to bypass the need for dual-booting or virtual machines with older operating systems like Windows XP, you’re in the right place. Despite common misconceptions, it is absolutely possible to use Techstream with your Obd2 Vci cable on modern 64-bit Windows operating systems.

This guide will walk you through the process step-by-step, ensuring compatibility with WINDOWS XP / 7 / 8 / 10 / 11, on 64-bit systems. The core software is OS-agnostic, but driver compatibility is the key challenge. We’ll address this by manually installing the necessary drivers. This tutorial is designed to save you frustration and get you connected to your vehicle’s diagnostics quickly and efficiently using your OBD2 VCI.

To begin, download all the essential files from this Google Drive link: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1R9QPJoamgii2p4pgJFsltwgYC9ZUhpd7?usp=sharing. Even if you have a driver CD included with your OBD2 VCI purchase and have attempted installations before, downloading the “mvci-x64.reg” and “Techstream_Update_V8.10.021.exe” files from this link is crucial. Ensure your CD (if you have one) includes Techstream version 8.00.034, as referenced in this guide. It’s also recommended to completely uninstall any previous, unsuccessful installations before proceeding.

Essential Equipment:

1. MINI VCI OBD2 Cable for TOYOTA TIS Techstream: These cables are readily available online. A popular source is Amazon, where you can find them for around $25. Look for a cable approximately 4 feet long with a translucent casing and a sticker indicating “MINI-VCI J2534 Standard OBDII Communication Interface.” These cables typically come with a mini-CD containing drivers and Toyota Techstream software. They are often advertised as “Newest V8.00.034 MINI VCI for TOYOTA TIS Techstream Diagnostic Cable & Software.” It’s important to note that “newest” usually refers to the bundled Techstream software version, not the cable firmware. The cable firmware often identifies as version 1.4.1 with serial number “MVCI006000001,” which is commonly recognized as a clone of the original XHorse MVCI cable.

2. Laptop Running 64-bit Windows: This guide is specifically written for 64-bit versions of Windows 7, 8, 10, or 11. While Windows 7 x64 was used to create this guide, the installation process should be virtually identical for Windows 8, 10, and 11.

Contents of the Bundled Mini-CD (Example):

The Techstream software, MVCI drivers, and TIS Key are generally found on the mini-disc. However, for convenience and to ensure you have the correct supplementary files, downloading from the provided Google Drive link is recommended.

Installation Steps:

1. Install WinRAR (Trial Version): If you don’t already have file extraction software, download and install a trial version of WinRAR from http://www.rarlab.com/download.htm. This will be needed to unpack some of the downloaded files.

2. Extract Files to a Temporary Folder: Using WinRAR, extract the following files from either your mini-CD or the downloaded files to a temporary folder on your hard drive. A convenient location is c:temp.

   • Toyota Techstream 8.00.034
   • Techstream_Update_V8.10.021
   • MVCI Driver for TOYOTA
   • TIS KEY

3. Extract TIS Key: Open WinRAR again and navigate to your temporary folder (c:temp). Double-click the TISKey.exe file within WinRAR.

TISKey.exe is a self-extracting RAR archive. Executing it will unpack and copy the IT3System.ini file. Extract this IT3System.ini file to your desktop for easy access later.

Manual Installation of MVCI Driver for TOYOTA:

This is where many users encounter problems, as the standard “MVCI Driver for TOYOTA.msi” installer is incompatible with 64-bit Windows. The solution is to manually extract and install the driver components.

1. Extract MSI Content via Command Prompt: Open Command Prompt as an Administrator. To do this, search for “cmd” in the Windows search bar, right-click on “Command Prompt,” and select “Run as administrator.” In the Command Prompt window, execute the following command:

   msiexec /a "C:tempMVCI Driver for TOYOTA.msi" /qb TARGETDIR=c:tempmvci

   This command extracts the contents of the MSI installer file to the c:tempmvci folder. Once completed, close the Command Prompt window and open the c:tempmvci folder.

2. Move Driver Files to Program Files (x86): Delete the “MVCI Driver for TOYOTA.msi” file from the c:tempmvci folder. Navigate to C:Program Files (x86) and create a new folder named “XHorse Electronics.” Inside “XHorse Electronics,” create another folder named “MVCI Driver for TOYOTA TIS.” Copy the entire contents of c:tempmvci into the newly created folder: C:Program Files (x86)XHorse ElectronicsMVCI Driver for TOYOTA TIS.

3. Plug in OBD2 VCI Cable: Connect your MINI VCI OBD2 cable to a USB port on your laptop.

4. Install Drivers via Device Manager: Open Device Manager. You can find this by right-clicking on the Windows Start button and selecting “Device Manager.” Look for two devices listed with yellow warning icons, usually under “Other devices.” These are the devices for which Windows couldn’t automatically install drivers.

   For each of these failing devices, right-click and select “Update driver.” Choose “Browse my computer for drivers.” In the browse window, navigate to C:Program Files (x86)XHorse ElectronicsMVCI Driver for TOYOTA TIS and ensure the “Include subfolders” checkbox is checked. Click “Next” and allow Windows to install the drivers. After successful installation, you should see two new entries in Device Manager: “Universal Serial Bus controllersUSB Serial Converter” and “Ports (COM & LPT)USB Serial Port (COM5)” (the COM port number might vary).

5. Verify Connection with Firmware Update Tool: Run FirmwareUpdateTool.exe located in C:Program Files (x86)XHorse ElectronicsMVCI Driver for TOYOTA TIS. Click “Device Info.” If your OBD2 VCI cable is correctly installed and functioning, you should see a “device connected” screen similar to the image below.

   Important Note: While the Firmware Update Tool offers a “Firmware Update” option, it is strongly advised NOT to use this feature on clone OBD2 VCI cables. Attempting to update the firmware can potentially brick the device, rendering it unusable. The tool should only be used to verify device connectivity.

6. Install and Activate Techstream Software: Install the Techstream software using Techstream 8.00.034.exe. After installation, run Techstream_Update_V8.10.021.exe to update the software. Do not launch Techstream yet. To activate the software, drag the IT3System.ini file you extracted to your desktop earlier into the folder C:Program Files (x86)Toyota DiagnosticsTechstreamEnv. When prompted, choose to overwrite the existing file with the new one.

   • Note for Windows 10/11 Users: In some cases on newer Windows versions, the IT3System.ini file might not be found on the desktop after extraction. If this happens, check C:Program Files (x86)XHorse ElectronicsMVCI Driver for TOYOTA TISTechstreamEnv. If you find it there, copy the two files within that folder and paste them into C:Program Files (x86)Toyota DiagnosticsTechstreamEnv, overwriting the existing files.

7. Registry Modification: For Techstream to recognize your OBD2 VCI interface on a 64-bit Windows system, you need to modify the Windows Registry. The easiest way is to use the provided “mvci-x64.reg” file. Extract this file from the downloaded archive to your desktop. Right-click on “mvci-x64.reg” and select “Merge.” Confirm the merge operation when prompted by Windows.

   For advanced users who prefer manual modification, the registry entries are as follows:

   Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
   
   [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREWow6432NodePassThruSupport.04.04]
   
   [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREWow6432NodePassThruSupport.04.04XHorse - MVCI]
   "Name"="XHorse - MVCI"
   "Vendor"="XHorse ELECTRONICS Co.,Ltd."
   "ConfigApplication"="C:\\Program Files (x86)\\XHorse Electronics\\MVCI Driver for TOYOTA TIS\\FirmwareUpdateTool.exe"
   "FunctionLibrary"="C:\\Program Files (x86)\\XHorse Electronics\\MVCI Driver for TOYOTA TIS\\MVCI32.dll"
   "APIVersion"="04.04"
   "ProductVersion"="1.1.0"
   "ProtocolsSupported"="J1850VPW:1, J1850PWM:1, CAN:1, ISO9141:1, ISO14230:1, ISO15765:1"
   "J1850VPW"=dword:00000001
   "J1850PWM"=dword:00000001
   "ISO9141"=dword:00000001
   "ISO14230"=dword:00000001
   "CAN"=dword:00000001
   "ISO15765"=dword:00000001
   "SCI_A_ENGINE"=dword:00000000
   "SCI_A_TRANS"=dword:00000000
   "SCI_B_ENGINE"=dword:00000000
   "SCI_B_TRANS"=dword:00000000

   The key element here is “Wow6432Node,” which is where 32-bit applications (like Techstream) are redirected to in the 64-bit Windows Registry. Techstream looks in “PassThruSupport.04.04” for available Vehicle Interface Modules (VIMs), and the sub-keys under it appear in the “VIM Select” menu within Techstream.

8. Select VIM in Techstream and Connect: Run Techstream. Go to Setup | VIM Select menu and choose “XHorse – MVCI.”

9. Connect to Vehicle: Connect your OBD2 VCI cable to your car’s OBDII port. Turn the vehicle ignition to the “ON” position (engine not started). In Techstream, click “Connect to Vehicle.” Be patient, as connection times with these cables can vary. If everything is set up correctly, Techstream will prompt you to confirm your vehicle year and model, and then you will be taken to the main diagnostic interface.

   You might be prompted to install Java Script if you are using a newer version of Windows. If so, follow the prompts to install it (it is freely available online).

Enjoy Your Activated Techstream!

This installation method provides you with full access to Techstream’s features without requiring registration or time-limited licenses. You should now be able to access a wide range of customizable options and diagnostic capabilities for your Toyota or Subaru using your OBD2 VCI cable and Techstream on your 64-bit Windows system.

If you encounter any issues during the installation process or have questions, please leave a comment below. We hope this guide has been helpful in unlocking the power of your OBD2 VCI and Techstream software!