TUTORIAL: Clean Install - How to install the latest map and navcore from scratch!

[lemonfish]

This tutorial is for TomTom standalone devices only - not WinCE or PDA devices. In addition, if your device was made anytime from September 2010 onwards, (for eg. the GO 1000 series, GO LIVE 800 series, Start 20 series and all VIA models) it cannot be updated this way, as mentioned here:

Why all the new "invisible" TomToms using navcore v10/v11/v12 cannot be cracked

Before proceeding with this tutorial, if your device has a card slot and you normally use the card, insert it now. As long as the card is inserted, it won't affect the internal memory (if your device has internal memory).


Follow these steps precisely and you will have updated software, as good as new!


1) VERY IMPORTANT: Connect your device to your computer via USB. Using Windows Explorer, open your TomTom drive and backup the complete contents of your TomTom.

2) Open your TomTom drive and delete the contents.

3) Install the latest version of TomTom Home from the TomTom website.

4) Run TomTom Home. Depending on your model, if Home asks you whether to use internal memory or the card, select the card.

5) Go to updates and download the latest navcore. Restart TomTom Home and run updates several times until no more updates are available.

6) Unplug your TomTom device. Start your TomTom on its own. This will create a new ttgo.bif file which will be needed for patching later.
Alternatively you can copy across your ttgo.bif file from your backup.

7) Reconnect your TomTom to your computer.

8) Check your navcore version. You can do this either in TomTom Home or by opening the ttgo.bif file with notepad.

9) Run TomTom Home on your computer and go to the "Operate" function. This may be called "Operate My TomTom" or "Operate My Go" or similar, depending on your model. Download a file if asked. You may get an error message after doing so, just ignore it. The purpose of running the Operate function in Home at this stage is to create the dll profile needed for patching later.

10) Shut down TomTom Home.

11) Check which map is compatible with your navcore using the latest compatibility chart here for the v905 maps:

Compatible Chart v905 Maps by ingazu

or for the previous v900 maps use this chart:

Compatible Chart 900 Maps by ingazu

12) Download the compatible map using the Map Thread Finder, but first make sure the meta is available!
If you see the words "no meta yet" next to the map thread link, look for another map which has the meta code listed there:

Map Thread Finder - Tomtom v905 Maps

or for the previous v900 maps look here:

Map Thread Finder - Tomtom v900 Maps

13) Extract the map, and copy across the new map folder into the root of the device. Make sure when you open the map folder it only contains the map files, not another folder within a folder.

14) Copy across the Voices folder from your backup into the root of the device. Or you can download free voices from TomTom Home.

15) Download the latest version of FastActivate:

FastActivate

16) Extract the file and copy across FastActivate.exe to the TomTom drive (the root of the device).

17) Run FastActivate.exe from the TomTom drive, clicking on the first 4 options in order, waiting for each to complete: update meta, patch maps/cams, patch navcore & Home.

18) Disconnect your TomTom from the computer and power it on.