So ETKA 7.0 stopped working. Any other solution??

[BASARAB]

Etka 7.0 will no longer be able to decode Vin's. Does anybody have a solution for 7.1 or 7.2 version?

[BASARAB]

No more Etka users?

[Matt@EuropaParts]

It's the same across the board for everyone. I've been using Partlink24.com...that still seems to work.

[BASARAB]

Yeah, but its $40 per month, I dont use it that much to justify that price. There is an Ebay seller who claims that his Etka decodes Vin's, I wonder if thats true. He wants just $25 for it

[Matt@EuropaParts]

Doubtful. Without going into too much detail, every version of ETKA that isn't a dealer version doesn't decode VIN's anymore. It's a pain...that's a very useful feature.

[MoRbiD]

Word is that VW isn't supporting version 7.0 anymore and to use the VIN decode function w/version 7.2 you need to have a valid account. That said it's possible to still use the Vin decode if you have a certain file in your /FGST folder. It's created when ETKA does the VIN lookup. The file name is VIN.txt where VIN=the vin number you want to look up.

If you don't have it anymore and/or can't restore it from a backup it's possible to create one but the file has to be in a certain format for ETKA to use it. The issue has been discussed a lot in other places and maybe another permanent work around may be found.

I got mine working again using those means so I'm happy.

[BASARAB]

Can u post a link where is discussed, so I can understand what is really going on with VIN.txt?

[MoRbiD]

When ETKA does a online lookup of a VIN Number via the FI it stores it in this location. C:\ETKA\Userinfor\FGST . Remember the Vin part - some Vin number.
So if your VIN number was WAUZZZ4B24N011780 then the file would be WAUZZZ4B24N011780.txt

In in is one line with the following information, each separated by a semi-colon and no spaces

1 - VIN #.
2 - model code
3 - Color code (needs to be converted from what's on the sticker use ETKA)
4 - Engine Code
5 - Engine Number
6 - Transmission Code
7 - Do not know what, but you can make 000
8 - Date of manufacture
9 - Country code
10 -Production Year
11 - Now we all PR codes on the label of the trunk is no space between them.

Audi VIN File

Having said all this there is a good chance ETKA will not take the file and throw a error saying "Chassis Unkown" or some thing to do with Sales type.

What has been found out is that ETKA doesn't filter the PR codes correctly. For instance the PR codes it put in my VIN.TXT file aren't exactly the same one's listed on my Stickers.

[BASARAB]

Thanks a lot for explanation, unfortunately my C:\Tecar Forum\ETKA\Userinfor\FGST is empty...

[MoRbiD]

Sorry to hear that but it's a common problem. As I understand it, if the file date is past 10 days ETKA will delete it and replace it with a newer one. The fact that it can't get a newer one only comes in after. The created VIN.TXT leaves a lot to be desired. There is a difference from the way it filters the PR codes than the way they are listed on the Sticker on the Car. I made a file using the directions and while ETKA took it things weren't filtered like before.

You don't have a backup of your hard drive ever? Doesn't matter how old. You can restore the file to a different place and I can tell you how to put it back both so it works and won't be deleted.

When ETKA deletes the file it doesn't go to the "recycle bin" so you would need some type of file recovery software like "Ontrack" to see if you could find it.

Lot's of folks worldwide got caught w/their pants down on this and efforts are being taken to resolve the issue. I'll post up when I have something more concrete.

[diagnosticator]

An alternative to ETKA is at www.vagcat.com. It's free, but may not be up to date.