I hate TomTom!

[Mai72]

Unit: TomTom XL S IQ Routes Edition (2 years old)

I took my friend's TomTom and told her that I would update the unit. I don't have a TomTom and I thought it would be fairly easy to update the maps on this thing. Was I wrong! I have been trying to update this thing all day. It will not allow me to up date it. It keeps giving me error messages.

I will go through the steps:

1. I downloaded TomTom Home on my computer.
2. I connected the TomTom to my computer.
3. Turned the TomTom on, and it recognized that I needed to update the unit.
4. It made a backup copy on my laptop.
5. Downloaded new voices, GPS, etc... All of these updates went fine.
6. Downloaded the new map of USA, Canada, and parts of Mexico on my computer. Went fine.
7. Tried to transfer the new map to the unit. Every time it stalls out after a few hours. It gets near the end and I keep getting these error messages.
**Here is one message: Error writing file: E:USA_Canada_and_Mexico_P\tables.dat
8.Tried updating again, and I try to re-install new maps.
9. Frustration sets in.
10. Tried formatting the TomTom. Wiped the unit clean and still nothing.

I know you have to pay for new maps. They give you a free updated version and this is what I was attempting to put on the TomTom.

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[JEDIYoda]

One of the problems could be that you need your friends usewr name and password in order to update the maps!

I have a Tom Tom with the largest screen they have and I had no trouble updating the maps!

 

[notposting]

Are the new maps too big?

Had to buy a micro-SD card for our Garmin, has lifetime map updates, came with US & Canada. BUT the new updates are too big to fit (2GB onboard storage). Had to choose a smaller region. (Ended up getting an 8GB card to have full US & Canada maps).

 

[Mai72]

One of the problems could be that you need your friends usewr name and password in order to update the maps!

I have a Tom Tom with the largest screen they have and I had no trouble updating the maps!

I am logged in with her username and password. That is not a problem.

 

[Mai72]

Are the new maps too big?

Had to buy a micro-SD card for our Garmin, has lifetime map updates, came with US & Canada. BUT the new updates are too big to fit (2GB onboard storage). Had to choose a smaller region. (Ended up getting an 8GB card to have full US & Canada maps).

The new maps sit at a little over 1700 mb. After all the little updates she has over 1900 mb on her storage.

I know that there are a lot if different types of TomToms out there. Her unit doesn't have the sd card slot.

When I am hooked up to TomTom home wouldn't it look for software that is going to be compatible and fit my machine? That the update it locates for me is going to be different than the update it has for you.

 

[Insomniator]

Just tell her to use her phone for nav like a normal person.

 

[notposting]

The new maps sit at a little over 1700 mb. After all the little updates she has over 1900 mb on her storage.

I know that there are a lot if different types of TomToms out there. Her unit doesn't have the sd card slot.

When I am hooked up to TomTom home wouldn't it look for software that is going to be compatible and fit my machine? That the update it locates for me is going to be different than the update it has for you.

Well, ours was a Garmin, so yeah.

But it would studiously download and try to jam the too large file on...couple hours later, error out and tell me to pick something else (without actually telling me what was going on).

So that's why I wouldn't assume the updater knows what the heck it's doing

 

[Mai72]

Just tell her to use her phone for nav like a normal person.

She has one of those old flip phones from the early 2000's. You can barely see the screen let alone get GPS.

 

[boomerang]

We hardly use ours of late but I recall having those problems. Often, it's a problem on TomToms end. The fact that the install did not work is transmitted to them. It usually worked when trying it the next day. I know that's no help, but that is my experience.

Have you removed everything that is not needed? If I recall, there is an option to do so. Voices, maps of Mexico, Canada, etc. I always got the feeling that storage space was at a premium and that contributed to the problem.

On another note, I did an update once and the battery life just plummeted. I thought it was due to little use and the age of the device. Months later I did another update and the battery life was restored. Bad install or bad update? Don't know but it was fixed.

Pretty sure we have the exact same model. Too lazy to go out to the car to check though...