LCS 2000 Programming

[Cyberprog]

So, I've got a number of LCS2000 units here, all 438-483 (IIRC) band, and want to program them up to utilise as repeaters.
I have a multi-lead that supposedly has support for the LCS2000, and fired up a old laptop to do the programming.
I have the RSS Software, and I can get the radio to drop into a mode where it says "RSS" on the LCD, but it won't read the codeplug, and complains of a Serial error.
I've had a play with the Serial Timing Calibration Values, but still can't get the bugger to play ball. It's sat on a bench PSU at 13.8V, the lead has a 9V PP3 attached as I can remember that the last time we programmed these units we had to introduce some power somewhere, but it's been many years since we programmed them last, and they're sat on UK General frequencies but without any coded squelch setup, which is a bit of a pain as I want to move them to the Supplier Light frequencies.
The Laptop's a P3-700, could this still be too fast for the software? I vaguely remember needing a slow machine to work with the software in the past.
Could anyone offer any advice?

[Cyberprog]

Nevermind, Snagged a proper RIB from a friend and managed to access the radios. Only to discover the buggers have permanent TalkAround enabled on the convention channels, which makes using them as the RX part of a repeater a bit useless.