Tacx Fortius/iMagic software

[Miexed]

Hey everyone,

 

I have some questions in regards to the Tacx Fortius/iMagic and it's respective software- the TTS software.

 

Anyways, long story probably not shorter (and messy. Sorry about that): 

 

Context:

 

A friend of mine gave me her Tacx Flow trainer to use for a while since she's not training at the moment and I've yet to get my hands on a trainer. The setup is asfollows: It's a Tacx Flow trainer with the steerer and Fortius upgrade (head unit and so on).

 

Tacx also did that great thing where they discontinued and completely locked the TTS software as of the start of the month. So there's no way to activate the VR software on a new PC. We also do not have access to the old laptop.

 

The steerer was an awesome concept (I know there's a wireless one out now), but if I understand correctly, then that whole Fortius setup needs the TTS software to work and can't just connect to the new Tacx since it's only bluetooth and ANT+ compatible and the Fortius setup is connected via USB cable.

 

 

The question:

 

Is there some way that someone can maybe help me get a working copy of the TTS3/TTS4 software so that I can maybe get the whole setup up and running again?

 

The TTS4 software can still be downloaded from the Tacx website, but upon installation, it asks for an activation code. And since the software is locked- no codes work anymore. 

 

I've emailed support to ask if there is a workaround for existing users, but their reply was just that the software is locked completely so they can't access it/send new codes or anything of the sort. The moment your PC breaks or something like that, then no more software.

 

I think that was a really idiotic move for Tacx. Not everyone with old gear can afford the new fun stuff. The least they could have done is keep the software unlocked for existing users, even if laptops are switched.

 

My theory is that maybe if I can get my hands on a copy that is still "activated" and maybe get it booted on an old laptop without having to install it from scratch, that I might be able to 'bypass' the lock and actually use the trainer with steerer it was intended.

 

 

So, any chance that someone has any ideas? And old lappy with the software already loaded that they're not using anymore? Or am I wasting my time?

Edited January 18, 2020 by Miex13

[SCD]

Hi, I know it has been a while but did you come right?

I am in a similar situation.

Garmin/Tacx offered me that I can ship the trainer to them, they would assess it and then give me a quote for a rebate on a new trainer. Unfortunately they refuse to give an indication on the magnitude of the rebate so I am not convinced if I can afford their offer, and then I will just sit on the expense of the shipping cost. A bit of a pity ... with a preliminary quote they would make the decision so much easier. I cannot understand why they behave so customer un-friendly in this current terrible market.

[Thomo]

Have you tried the guys at Coolheat.?

While no longer the distributor, they would have dealt with many of this model of trainer and may just be able/prepared to assist/advise particularly with regards software (OP).

As for rebate scenario, I guess unfortunately at the mercy of Garmin.

While the offers are generally acceptable on older Garmin units, I'm not too convinced it will be the same with Tacx.

Edited June 3, 2020 by Thomo

[DieselnDust]

Hi, I know it has been a while but did you come right?

I am in a similar situation.

Garmin/Tacx offered me that I can ship the trainer to them, they would assess it and then give me a quote for a rebate on a new trainer. Unfortunately they refuse to give an indication on the magnitude of the rebate so I am not convinced if I can afford their offer, and then I will just sit on the expense of the shipping cost. A bit of a pity ... with a preliminary quote they would make the decision so much easier. I cannot understand why they behave so customer un-friendly in this current terrible market.

 

 

 

 

 

ask them if they will accept a visual assessment if you send them photographs. Shipping an i-Magic up and down is going to cost you easily R4-5K which is halfway to a decent trainer.

[SCD]

ask them if they will accept a visual assessment if you send them photographs. Shipping an i-Magic up and down is going to cost you easily R4-5K which is halfway to a decent trainer.

 

Hi, I did this already. Detailed photos, even with the serial numbers. They were not interested. 

I made peace with it. They don't want to help me make a decision whether I want to spend my money with them so I will just carry on like I am now. Quarq powermeter on a dead trainer does an ok job at the end... In 3 months time the 2nd hand trainers will be cheap and plenty

[SCD]

Have you tried the guys at Coolheat.?

While no longer the distributor, they would have dealt with many of this model of trainer and may just be able/prepared to assist/advise particularly with regards software (OP).

As for rebate scenario, I guess unfortunately at the mercy of Garmin.

While the offers are generally acceptable on older Garmin units, I'm not too convinced it will be the same with Tacx.

Tacx shut down the servers needed to activate the software. There is nothing a distributor will be able to do about it... unfortunately.

[Miexed]

Hey everyone,

 

I actually haven't come right at all. And I don't think we ever will, to be honest.

 

I emailed Garmin, Tacx and quite a few other companies claiming to still sell the old parts and so on.
 

The problem is that no one can help, because Tacx literally locked up the software. No one, including current/original licence holders will ever be able to access the software should they get locked out ever again.

 

Tacx support told me they'd love to help, but Tacx locked the software on their side as well. No one can ever use it again since it's "old" and "discontinued" and they have new stuff out. 

 

And after more probing and asking how they thought it was okay to lock software that people paid for, they just stopped repying.

 

So no hope for us peeps with old trainers. You now have a basic trainer and am better off just buying a new one if you want to use it with software.

 

The only other option that I can think of is that someone that still has a working copy of the software (with no internet connection) and that are willing to take the risk and try to do an exact clone of the full HDD that we can maybe just install into an old laptop with no internet so that it can't actually realize that the software is locked.

 

I think that a cloned HDD with the software already installed and signed in will be our only hope apart from getting new trainers.

[Zatopek]

Tacx shut down the servers needed to activate the software. There is nothing a distributor will be able to do about it... unfortunately.

 

Hey everyone,

 

I actually haven't come right at all. And I don't think we ever will, to be honest.

 

I emailed Garmin, Tacx and quite a few other companies claiming to still sell the old parts and so on.

 

The problem is that no one can help, because Tacx literally locked up the software. No one, including current/original licence holders will ever be able to access the software should they get locked out ever again.

 

Tacx support told me they'd love to help, but Tacx locked the software on their side as well. No one can ever use it again since it's "old" and "discontinued" and they have new stuff out. 

 

And after more probing and asking how they thought it was okay to lock software that people paid for, they just stopped repying.

 

So no hope for us peeps with old trainers. You now have a basic trainer and am better off just buying a new one if you want to use it with software.

 

The only other option that I can think of is that someone that still has a working copy of the software (with no internet connection) and that are willing to take the risk and try to do an exact clone of the full HDD that we can maybe just install into an old laptop with no internet so that it can't actually realize that the software is locked.

 

I think that a cloned HDD with the software already installed and signed in will be our only hope apart from getting new trainers.

 

Damn, only see this now.  

 

I have a Fortius in KL, so not impressed with this. It is still working perfectly after all these years and I luckily reinstalled it to a new PC in November (without knowing what was coming), so should be able to go with it for while.

 

At least release a version that don't need the authentication before shutting it down. ffs      Brands need to be careful, this taste bitter and I have a memory like an elephant 

Edited June 3, 2020 by Zatopek

[Zatopek]

Hey everyone,

 

I actually haven't come right at all. And I don't think we ever will, to be honest.

 

I emailed Garmin, Tacx and quite a few other companies claiming to still sell the old parts and so on.

 

The problem is that no one can help, because Tacx literally locked up the software. No one, including current/original licence holders will ever be able to access the software should they get locked out ever again.

 

Tacx support told me they'd love to help, but Tacx locked the software on their side as well. No one can ever use it again since it's "old" and "discontinued" and they have new stuff out. 

 

And after more probing and asking how they thought it was okay to lock software that people paid for, they just stopped repying.

 

So no hope for us peeps with old trainers. You now have a basic trainer and am better off just buying a new one if you want to use it with software.

 

The only other option that I can think of is that someone that still has a working copy of the software (with no internet connection) and that are willing to take the risk and try to do an exact clone of the full HDD that we can maybe just install into an old laptop with no internet so that it can't actually realize that the software is locked.

 

I think that a cloned HDD with the software already installed and signed in will be our only hope apart from getting new trainers.

 

I'm willing to test things when back in KL - that might take a while.

 

I would not be able to send you a full disk clone - there are work stuff on it.

 

Maybe we can play with things like this: (I can give you PC name / licence codes etc - i assume all rules fall away now...)

https://www.lunicus.org/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=337

 

Poke if I forget about it. I dont see us in KL within the next month...

[DieselnDust]

Have you tried running the i-magic through Golden Cheetah?

[Miexed]

Have you tried running the i-magic through Golden Cheetah?

Hi, yes I have.

 

I've tried to connect it on so many times and different ways on there. I stumbled upon a thread where the creators of GC were writing code to help integrate the Fortius and iMagic, but they just stopped. The guy sold his Fortuis and stopped working on that code altogether.

 

So the website says it's compatible, but it's not actually anymore.

Edited June 3, 2020 by Miex13

[Joe Low]

I had comms with Tacx over this just before lockdown when i wanted to get my I-Magic going again.

 

Basically, you can't - it's not supported, the only way is if it's already running and you keep it going on the same computer.  I have codes etc but they told me i can't transfer them to a new machine.  It's fair enough I guess, the technology is well outdated now.

 

They thought I was in Europe and offered a 20% discount on the new equivalent.

 

When they worked out i was in SA, the deal was to take the old unit to Cycle Lab who would send it to them and they would determine a discount on a new unit. I have yet to try this as pre-lockdown the price was R5,500 but the Rand fell quite a bit so I dont know if i want a new one now esp with lockdown eased. Also there is no stock in the country in or even a prospective date of arrival.

 

I saw Tacx are taken over by Garmin & the customer service was MUCH better with Tacx - they were overly helpful and fun, Garmin are pretty sucky, slow and officious by comparison.

[Miexed]

I'm willing to test things when back in KL - that might take a while.

 

I would not be able to send you a full disk clone - there are work stuff on it.

 

Maybe we can play with things like this: (I can give you PC name / licence codes etc - i assume all rules fall away now...)

https://www.lunicus.org/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=337

 

Poke if I forget about it. I dont see us in KL within the next month...

Thank you, I'd appreciate that.

 

Unfortunately I'm not sure whether anything short of a full clone will work;

 

I was already able to get my hands on the software - one from the guy who I got the trainer from. Unforunately he was logged out of his software, and couldn't get back in, but he gave me access to his laptop to copy the program to see if I can make it work. No luck. And I was also able to source the software online and download it. Problem is that the moment it runs, you get asked to log in and activate the software, which is impossible.

 

So I suspect that without a 'full clone' with OS and all to a new hdd to trick the software in thinking it never moved at all, that we won't be able to get it to work.

 

I'm willing to still try and test it though. Maybe I missed something. Can always learn a thing or two still.

 

Maybe we can find a way to do a full clone and then before sending me the hdd, then the work stuff can just be deleted? [emoji848]

 

But either way, thank you and I appreciate it. I'l definitely pop you a message in about a month's time. It would be amazing if this could be sorted out.

 

Thanks!

Edited June 3, 2020 by Miex13

[DieselnDust]

Hi, yes I have.

 

I've tried to connect it on so many times and different ways on there. I stumbled upon a thread wjere the creators of GC were writing code to help integrate the Fortius and iMagic, but they just stopped. Giy sold his Fortuis and stopped working on that code.

 

So the website says it's compatible, but it's not actually anymore.

 

 

 

Ah thats a real pity.

[Zatopek]

Thank you, I'd appreciate that.

 

Unfortunately I'm not sure whether anything short of a full clone will work;

 

I was already able to get my hands on the software - one from the guy who I got the trainer from. Unforunately he was logged out of his software, and couldn't get back in, but he gave me access to his laptop to copy the program to see if I can make it work. No luck. And I was also able to source the software online and download it. Problem is that the moment it runs, you get asked to log in and activate the software, which is impossible.

 

So I suspect that without a 'full clone' with OS and all to a new hdd to trick the software in thinking it never moved at all, that we won't be able to get it to work.

 

I'm willing to still try and test it though. Maybe I missed something. Can always learn a thing or two still.

 

Maybe we can find a way to do a full clone and then before sending me the hdd, then the work stuff can just be deleted? [emoji848]

 

But either way, thank you and I appreciate it. I'l definitely pop you a message in about a month's time. It would be amazing if this could be sorted out.

 

Thanks!

 

This should be possible with my computer name, my licences files etc. Also described here:

http://w47.narod.ru/tts4.html#02

 

No guarantees, but I'm willing to help/test when possible.

 

If only the lockdown gave me access to my PC 

 

EDIT: It should be possible - the backup of the license files + Computer name are highlighted here as well. https://lunicus.org/tacx-trainers/tacx-trainer-software-4/

Edited June 3, 2020 by Zatopek

[Miexed]

This should be possible with my computer name, my licences files etc. Also described here:

http://w47.narod.ru/tts4.html#02

 

No guarantees, but I'm willing to help/test when possible.

 

If only the lockdown gave me access to my PC

This is so interesting! I appreciate it, thank you so much!

Edited June 3, 2020 by Miex13