Hardware Companion to the Bootable ISO

PC Checker
Dongle

Plug. Scan. Know.

An ESP32-S3 USB dongle that runs hardware diagnostics without rebooting. Plug it in, connect your phone, and get instant results.

Get the FirmwareSee How It Works
$15
Hardware Cost
0
Reboots Needed
60s
Full Scan
3
OS Supported
The Concept

What Is It?

ESP32-S3 USB DONGLE

WiFi AP + HID Keyboard
in a USB stick.

The PC Checker Dongle is a tiny USB device based on the LILYGO T-Dongle-S3. Plug it into any PC and it creates its own WiFi network. Connect your phone, select a test profile, and the dongle types diagnostic commands directly into the PC via USB HID — like an automated keyboard. No drivers. No installation. No reboot. Works alongside the running OS.

Acts as USB HID keyboard — types commands automatically
Creates "NixoSoft-Check" WiFi access point (no password)
Built-in 0.96" LCD shows QR code for phone connection
Serves mobile dashboard at 192.168.4.1
Windows, Linux, and macOS support
Export PDF diagnostic reports from your phone
QR CODE
LILYGO
T-Dongle-S3
ESP32-S3
~$15
Simple Process

How It Works

Six steps. No drivers. No installation. No reboot.

01

Plug Into USB

Insert the dongle into any available USB-A port on the target PC. It powers on instantly.

02

Connect to WiFi

On your phone, connect to the "NixoSoft-Check" WiFi network. Open, no password required.

03

Scan QR Code

The dongle's tiny LCD displays a QR code. Scan it to open the mobile dashboard at 192.168.4.1.

04

Select OS & Profile

Choose the target OS (Windows, Linux, or Mac) and pick from 8 specialized test profiles.

05

Run the Scan

Tap "Run Scan" — the dongle types diagnostic commands into the PC via USB HID, like an automated keyboard.

06

View & Export

Results appear on your phone in real-time. Review scores, grades, and export a professional PDF report.

Hardware

Specs & Components

Board
LILYGO T-Dongle-S3
Processor
ESP32-S3 Dual-Core 240MHz
Display
0.96" ST7735 TFT LCD (80×160)
Flash
16MB
USB
Native USB OTG (HID + CDC)
WiFi
802.11 b/g/n Access Point
Form Factor
USB-A Dongle
Power
USB Bus Powered (no battery)

Where to Buy

Search for "LILYGO T-Dongle-S3" on any of these platforms. Typically $12–20 USD.

AliExpressAmazonLILYGO Official
Setup Guide

Firmware Installation

Flash the firmware once, then use the dongle on any PC.

⚡

Prerequisites

  • ›Install PlatformIO — either as a VS Code extension (recommended) or the standalone CLI.
  • ›You'll need a USB-C cable for the initial firmware flash (the dongle has USB-C for programming, USB-A for operation).
  • ›Install Git if you don't have it already.
1

Clone the Repository

  • ›Clone the project repository from GitHub:
git clone https://github.com/Nixosoft/pc-checker-dongle.git
cd pc-checker-dongle/firmware
2

Open in VS Code

  • ›Open the pc-checker-dongle/firmware folder in VS Code with PlatformIO installed.
  • ›PlatformIO will automatically detect platformio.ini and set up the build environment.
  • ›Wait for PlatformIO to finish downloading the ESP32-S3 toolchain (first time only).
3

Connect via USB-C

  • ›Connect the dongle to your computer using a USB-C data cable.
  • ›The dongle should appear as a serial device (COM port on Windows, /dev/ttyACM* on Linux).
  • ›If not detected: hold the BOOT button while plugging in, then release.
4

Flash the Firmware

  • ›Build and upload the firmware to the dongle:
cd firmware
pio run --target upload
5

Upload Dashboard to SPIFFS

  • ›Upload the web dashboard and diagnostic scripts to the dongle's flash filesystem:
pio run --target uploadfs
6

Done!

  • ›Disconnect the USB-C cable. The dongle is now ready to use.
  • ›Plug it into any target PC's USB-A port and the "NixoSoft-Check" WiFi network will appear.
  • ›The LCD screen will display a QR code pointing to the dashboard.

Troubleshooting

Dongle not detected
Hold the BOOT button on the dongle while plugging in the USB-C cable. Release after connecting. This puts it in download mode.
Permission denied on Linux
Add your user to the dialout group: sudo usermod -a -G dialout $USER — then log out and back in.
Upload fails with timeout
Try a different USB-C cable — some are charge-only without data lines. Use a shorter cable if possible.
SPIFFS upload fails
Make sure the firmware is uploaded first (step 4), then upload the filesystem (step 5). The partition table must be flashed before SPIFFS.
For Developers

API Endpoints

All endpoints are served by the dongle at http://192.168.4.1

EndpointMethodDescription
/GETMobile dashboard HTML
/scan.ps1GETWindows diagnostic script (PowerShell)
/scan.shGETLinux/Mac diagnostic script (Bash)
/api/statusGETDongle state and connection info
/api/scanPOSTTrigger HID keyboard typing on target PC
/api/resultsPOSTReceive diagnostic data from the PC
/api/resultsGETFetch results (phone polls this endpoint)
/api/resetPOSTReset dongle state for a new scan
/api/infoGETFirmware version and ESP32-S3 chip info
Specialized Testing

8 Test Profiles

Select from your phone. Each profile weights components differently via the dongle's scoring engine.

AI / ML

GPU VRAM, CPU threads, large RAM for model training

CPU 20% · GPU 40% · RAM 25% · Storage 10% · Thermal 5%

Gaming

GPU power, refresh rates, fast storage, thermals

CPU 25% · GPU 35% · RAM 15% · Storage 15% · Thermal 10%

Video / 3D

Multi-core CPU, GPU render, high-speed storage

CPU 30% · GPU 30% · RAM 15% · Storage 20% · Thermal 5%

Developer

Multi-core, RAM, fast SSD, multiple displays

CPU 30% · GPU 10% · RAM 25% · Storage 25% · Thermal 10%

Music Production

Audio interface, low-latency, CPU single-thread

CPU 35% · GPU 5% · RAM 25% · Storage 25% · Thermal 10%

Server

Reliability, ECC RAM, network, uptime thermals

CPU 25% · GPU 5% · RAM 25% · Storage 20% · Thermal 25%

Office

Balanced performance, storage, display quality

CPU 25% · GPU 15% · RAM 25% · Storage 25% · Thermal 10%

Mining

GPU compute, power efficiency, thermal endurance

CPU 10% · GPU 45% · RAM 10% · Storage 5% · Thermal 30%

Choose Your Tool

ISO vs Dongle

Two tools, one goal. Pick the right one for the job — or use both.

Bootable ISO
Free download
Dongle
~$15–20
Cost
Free
~$15–20 hardware
Requires Reboot
Yes
No
Works with Running OS
No (boots its own Linux)
Yes (Windows, Linux, Mac)
Hardware Access Depth
Deep (bare metal)
OS-level (via scripts)
Runs From
RAM (USB boot)
ESP32-S3 flash
Setup Time
Flash USB + reboot
Plug in, instant
Portability
USB drive
Tiny USB dongle
Phone Dashboard
Yes (via WiFi)
Yes (via dongle WiFi AP)
PDF Reports
Yes
Yes
Best For
Thorough diagnostics, dead PCs
Quick checks, running systems
Common Questions

FAQ

Completely safe. The dongle only types read-only diagnostic commands — the same ones you'd type manually. It reads system information but never modifies, installs, or writes anything to the target PC.
No. The diagnostic scripts only read hardware information. No files are created, no settings are changed, no software is installed. It's read-only.
Any PC with a USB-A port running Windows (10/11), Linux (any modern distro), or macOS. Desktop or laptop. The PC must be booted and at a terminal/command prompt for the HID commands to execute.
No. The dongle creates its own WiFi network. Your phone connects directly to the dongle. No internet required for the scan — only for optional firmware updates.
The ISO reboots the PC into its own Linux environment for deeper bare-metal diagnostics. The dongle works alongside the running OS — no reboot needed. The ISO is more thorough; the dongle is more convenient. Use both for maximum coverage.
The WiFi AP is open but short-range (a few meters). The dongle only executes scans when triggered from the dashboard. You can see exactly what commands are being typed. Reset the dongle at any time to stop.
Search for "LILYGO T-Dongle-S3" on AliExpress, Amazon, or the LILYGO official store. It typically costs $12–20 USD. You'll flash our firmware onto it.
No. Flash once, use forever. The firmware and dashboard persist on the dongle's 16MB flash. Just plug it into any PC's USB port and it's ready.