ASTON MARTIN DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM (AMDS) 2.0
FIRST START-UP INSTRUCTIONS
Issue 6

August 2019

AMDS 2.0 FIRST START-UP INSTRUCTIONS
AMDS Setup Guide ...................................................................................................................................... 2
First Power-Up ............................................................................................................................................. 3
Install the AMDS 2.0 software from a pre-installed installer program.............................................................. 4
Delete temporary AMLWorkshop user account ............................................................................................. 6
AMDS Recovery ........................................................................................................................................... 7
Integration between AMDS2 and SpotLight .................................................................................................. 9

AMDS Setup Guide
This guide will help the Technician through the setup procedure to start operation of the AMDS 2.0 laptop and to
install the AMDS 2.0 software.
Note:

1.

The AMDS 2.0 equipment is applicable to all vehicles. For vehicles other than DB11, you must use
the AMDS software given on the laptop. For DB11 vehicles, you must use the AMDS 2.0 software
that is also on the laptop.

To work on vehicles other than DB11, you must
use the AMDS software, which is found inside the
Desktop folder marked “AMDS” (refer to
Figure 1).

Figure 1

2.

To work on DB11 vehicles, you must use the
AMDS 2.0 software which is started by doubleclicking on the Desktop icon called “AMDS II”
(refer to Figure 2).

Figure 2

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AMDS 2.0 FIRST START-UP INSTRUCTIONS
First Power-Up
3.

When you first boot up the laptop, you will see
the Windows 10 initial setup screen (refer to
Figure 3).

Figure 3

4.

Here you can select the Home country/region, the preferred language, and the preferred keyboard layout.
When the selection has been made, click “Next”.

5.

The next screen will have the Microsoft Software
License Terms (EULA) (refer to Figure 4).

Figure 4

6.

Read thoroughly, then click “Accept”.

7.

The next screen will be to set up Wi-Fi or 4G
Cellular (refer to Figure 5).

Figure 5

8.

Configure the Wi-Fi and click “Next”.

Note:

To complete installation of the software, you must be connected to the Internet from this point
on. AMDS 2.0 software needs good Internet access to make sure it can operate correctly – the
minimum broadband speed necessary is 2 Mbps.

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AMDS 2.0 FIRST START-UP INSTRUCTIONS

9.

The next screen is to set up the basic configuration
settings (refer to Figure 6).

Figure 6

10. Either “Customize settings” (bottom left) or click “Use Express Settings” (Recommended).

Install the AMDS 2.0 software from a pre-installed installer program
11. After the Windows setup has been completed the laptop will run a final configuration. Next, the Windows
Logon will show and ask the User to change the Password.
Note:

Before you do this step, agree a password with your colleagues – or other personnel who might
need access to this laptop. We suggest VANQUISH because it is familiar to AMDS users.

12. Enter the password into the middle field (1)
(refer to Figure 7).
Note: You do not need to enter any data in the
upper box.
Enter the password again into the lower box
(2).
Click on the arrow on the right side of the
lower box (3).

Figure 7

13. When the password has been successfully
changed, the user is greeted with the screen
that follows (refer to Figure 8).
Click “OK” to go to the Desktop.

Figure 8

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14. When you get to the Desktop, you will see an
icon on the Desktop marked “AMDS II” (refer
to Figure 2).
Click on the “AMDS II” icon. You will see an
installation request for the AMDS 2.0 software.
Click on the “Install” button – in this case,
ignore the Windows 10 default “Don’t Install”
button (refer to Figure 9).
Note: To complete installation of the software,
you must have connected the laptop to the
Internet and you must have good Internet
access – the minimum broadband speed
necessary is 2 Mbps.

Figure 9

15. If you get a message during the Install asking
you if you want to install this software, click on
the “Install” button – again, ignore the
Windows 10 default “Don’t Install” button
(refer to Figure 10).

Figure 10

16. Once the AMDS 2.0 software is installed and
running the application updater will run if
updated software is available. Click on “OK” to
install the updated software (refer to Figure 11).

Figure 11

17. Click on the Desktop icon marked “AMDS 2.0”
to launch the AMDS 2.0 software (refer to
Figure 12).

Figure 12

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AMDS 2.0 FIRST START-UP INSTRUCTIONS
Delete temporary AMLWorkshop user account
Note:

You must be signed in as an Administrator to delete a user account. The “AMDS” user account has
Administrator privileges.

18. Open the “Settings” app, and click on the “Accounts” option.
19. From the options on the left side, click on
“Family & other users” (refer to Figure 13).
On the right side panel, click on the Account
name which you want to delete – in this
example: “AMLWorkshop”.
Click on the “Remove” button underneath the
Account name.

Figure 13

20. Click “Yes” if prompted by Windows 10’s User Account Control.
21. Click on the “Delete account and data” button
to confirm (refer to Figure 14).

Figure 14

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AMDS Recovery
22. In the event of a catastrophic software failure, the AMDS 2.0 laptop has a Recovery Partition to reset the
device to Delivery Specification. Do the steps that follow to complete the Recovery procedure.
23. Make sure the power supply of the laptop is connected. Power up the laptop. When the laptop is
booting up, press “F2” to enter the BIOS mode.
Note:

You may find that it is difficult to enter the BIOS mode. You can press and hold “F2” during the
laptop boot up, or you can press “F2” again and again while the laptop boots up, until it enters
the BIOS mode. The Windows 10 "Fast Startup" feature especially can make it difficult to find the
exact moment to press the “F2” key: You must wait until the display becomes backlit, but you
must then press the “F2” key quickly to enter the BIOS mode.

24. An alternative procedure is to wait for the
laptop to boot. You must then select “Restart”
from the “Power” icon (refer to Figure 15).
You must press “F2” again and again while
the laptop boots up, until it enters the BIOS
mode.

Figure 15

25. Use the arrow keys on the keyboard to
navigate. Go to the “Exit” tab then select
“Recovery Partition” (refer to Figure 16).

Figure 16

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26. Select “Shutdown” from the next screen (refer
to Figure 17).

Figure 17

27. Power up the laptop again. When the laptop boots, again press “F2” to enter the BIOS mode.
28. Again, go to the “Exit” tab, then select
“Recovery Partition” (refer to Figure 18).

Figure 18

29. Select “Recovery” from the next screen (refer
to Figure 19).

Figure 19

30. Select “Disk 0” (refer to Figure 20).

Figure 20

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31. Select “Recovery ALL Partitions” (refer to
Figure 21).

Figure 21

32. The laptop will then recover the data. This can take 15-30 minutes.
33. When the Recovery is completed, do the procedure from step 3 onwards (refer to “First Power-Up”) to
set up the AMDS 2.0 software again.

Integration between AMDS2 and SpotLight
SpotLight is the new revolutionary solution to global vehicle diagnostics. It is designed to work with AMDS2
to create a comprehensive global network of information and diagnostic solutions. Refer to the "Integration
between AMDS2 and SpotLight" tab in the link below. Please follow the instructions to connect an AM
platform vehicle to the AMDS2 system and discover how to transfer that information into a SpotLight
session.
• SpotLight User Guide (English)

Issued by Aston Martin Technical Publications, Banbury Road, Gaydon, Warwickshire, England, CV35 0DB
Copyright ©2019 Aston Martin Lagonda Ltd.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted
in any form, electronic, mechanical, recording or other means without written prior permission from
Aston Martin Lagonda Ltd.

August 2019

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