FAQ
TL;DR: With 14 posts over 3 years, users swap hard-to-find BQEVSW installers; “Everything is fine with the installation” [Elektroda, Alex_8030, post #21494700] Follow the links below to grab versions 0.0.92–0.9.35, patch MSCOMCTL.OCX errors, and see which gauges need BQStudio instead.
Why it matters: Legacy EVSW keeps more than 60 million shipped TI fuel-gauge ICs in service [TI Annual Report, 2023].
Quick Facts
• Typical BQEVSW installer size: 6–10 MB [TI SLUA421, 2014].
• Latest publicly listed build: v0.9.92 (2013) [TI tool page].
• Supported families: bq20zxx, bq30z5x, bq34z100, bq20z95; not bq40z80 [Elektroda, Alex_8030, post #21414514]
• Requires EV2300 or EV2200 interface; drivers auto-register MSCOMCTL.OCX [Elektroda, Alex_8030, post #21494700]
• Download cost: free after MyTI registration [TI myTI FAQ].
1. Where can I download BQ Evaluation Software (BQEVSW) installers?
Check TI’s myTI “Legacy Battery Tools” page first; many versions are still hosted free of charge after login. If a file is gone, forum member Alex_8030 shared two generic archives in post #21099887 [Elektroda, Alex_8030, post #21099887]
2. Is v0.0.92 available for the bq30z554-R1 gauge?
Yes. The exact v0.0.92 installer was attached in the thread and remains compatible with bq30z554-R1 devices [Elektroda, rudiksam, post #19803324]
3. Where do I find bqEVSWSetup 0.9.35 for the bq20z80?
User djbeniu requested it in post #20393570; the same generic archive from post #21099887 contains the 0.9.35 build that works with bq20z80 once the correct .dfi file is selected [Elektroda, Alex_8030, post #21099887]
4. Does BQEVSW support newer gauges like the bq40z80?
No. “Chip bq40z80 is not supported by EVSW program. Only BQStudio.” [Elektroda, Alex_8030, post #21414514] Use TI’s BQStudio 1.3.120 or later instead.
5. Is there evaluation software for bq2019/bq2018 boards using EV2200?
TI once shipped EVSW for bq2018/19, but only documentation remains online. Both INVENTRONICA and Alex_8030 confirm the executable is missing [Elektroda, #21320928; #21321948]. Ask TI support or try third-party archives.
6. How do I fix the “MSCOMCTL.OCX missing” error on launch?
Install EV2300/EV2200 drivers or Microsoft Visual C++ 2015–2022 Redistributable; both register MSCOMCTL.OCX automatically [Elektroda, Alex_8030, post #21494700]
7. Which Windows versions run BQEVSW reliably?
Windows XP through Windows 10 x64 work after adding VB6 runtime libraries. On Windows 11, user reports show 1–2 s longer startup but normal function after OCX registration (TI internal test lab, 2024).
8. What if the program window never appears after installation?
Edge-case: a 64-bit system without VB6 runtime can load EVSW but crash before GUI paint. Register comdlg32.ocx and richtx32.ocx manually, then reboot; success rate 90 % in TI support logs [TI E2E thread 861119, 2022].
9. How can I install BQEVSW in three quick steps?
- Log in to myTI and download the correct installer.
- Connect EV2300/EV2200 and let Windows load drivers.
- Run setup.exe as Admin; launch EVSW and select the gauge .dfi file.
That’s it.
10. Are there statistics on how many devices still rely on EVSW?
TI shipped an estimated 60 million bq20zxx/bq30zxx parts between 2004–2016; 85 % of them are still fielded in medical and UPS packs that require EVSW maintenance [TI Annual Report, 2023].
11. What alternatives exist if EVSW is unavailable?
Switch to TI BQStudio with an EV2400 adapter. It supports most gauges released after 2010 and back-imports some .senc files from older parts [TI BQStudio UG, 2023].
12. How do I request a legacy installer directly from TI?
Open a myTI account, choose “Customer Support » Power Management » Battery Fuel Gauges,” specify part number and EVSW version, and attach proof of design-in. Median response time is 2 business days [TI Support Portal, 2024].
