TomTom 6.01 install kills my SatNav

20:56.42 - Wednesday 28th February 2007   (Link to This Entry)

OK, now I'm getting seriously annoyed. For quite a while I was happily using TomTom Navigator 5.21 on my Axim x30, and recently I found an option to check for updates which told me a free upgrade to version 6.01 was available - great! I then spent hours mooching around the abomination that is the TomTom website looking for this mythical download, only to give up (I needed to sleep) and email support for it. "We'll get back to you in 24 hours" they said.

Two days later (...) I received a message back with version 6.01 attached. Only it wasn't because you have to go through their terrible support thing, but I found the file easilt enough. Opening up the Zip I'm greeted with nothing remotely resembling an instruction document. Nor an installer for that matter - the executables are there but are for Pocket-PC only. Er.. great.

I copy the files onto my 512MB SD card and run one of the programs, only to be told I'm out of space on a card that's only half full despite holding a full install of the software. Wait... what? I copy the whole card's contents to a 2GB card I nicked from the Wii downstairs and we at least get past the 'Out of space' message.

But the problem now is that TomTom Navigator starts and quits again. By pure accident I click on one of the Cab files (there are two) and.. something happens. OK it fails because it's the wrong version but at least I know you can install Cab files. I didn't know this because under Windows they just open as an Archive. I click on the other one and... TomTom installs! Huzzah!

Only now when I try to run the Navigator app, it shows me a warning about not using it while driving and then complains that it can't find any maps. "No Maps Found" says he. From a bit of reading I've done it looks like I need - wait for it - version 6 maps! And from the look of it, I don't get them for free, I have to pay for them.

I am not a happy bunny.

So I've sent another message off to TomTom HQ asking them what the hell is going on, and what do I need to do now to get my SatNav working again? I've no doubt I'll need to wait another two days before I get an answer, which will be something along the lines of "Pay £60 for new maps, LOL", to which I will blow my top and fire off an angry rant, then - most likely - remove all traces of TomTom from my Pocket PC and start again.

Stand by for updates... Zzzzz....