On topic.
I'm not a pro mechanic,though I've been working on stuff for 40 odd years,but I'm convinced these devices do nothing but save you resetting the clock and entering the radio code.On my 2004 Octavia the radio code is an option I've switched off with a laptop.If someone nicked the stereo,they could get the code off ebay for £5.The radio code is stored in the ECU,hence they call these things ECU code savers,and if you run a repair business,worth having as the customer never knows their code.If you've got Vagcom for Vag cars or Testbook for Rovers,you can ask the ECU what the code is,it's still in there.
If you have an ECU repaired by BBA,it doesn't come back with a battery atached,but doesn't lose it's memory in the post.
The only quirks with Astra's I'm aware of is you have to slacken the battery lead,turn the ignition on and off,then whip the lead off in 20 seconds,to prevent the alarm going off.When you reconnect the battery,the windows can get confused.Press down and when it gets to the bottom,hold the switch down for 3 seconds,then press up and do the same.The windows are then in sync.
Off track
Side valves have tappets,OHV's have cam followers.
Wrong OHC have cam follows OHV have Tappets
Well as to the code savers,I can't see those plug in jobs doing anything other than powering the radio and clock.
To save the actual run settings,I'd think you'd be looking at a min spend of £250,for software to use on a laptop.You will in effect be storing live data.
I would have thought if anything was available,it would have been on here.
With VagCom you can read live data,so would asume you could store it.
I can't see similar software for Vaux cars.
http://www.gendan.co.uk/category_130.html
Perhaps I'll leave it connected up after all, (although it goes against the grain) and just get the blanket out and make a tool tray