Questions regarding map upgrades

[dalegrief]

Can someone answer a few questions I have regarding upgrading the map on my 720

I have recently purchase the 720. I am pleased with the purchase but a little disappointed that a few road changes made a couple of years ago are not show on the 715 map version. I see that there is a new map version out now. How often does Tomtom release new maps?

Seeing that I am not likely to need the full European map I am thinking of only purchasing the Great Britain map. The memory on the 720 is nearly full, how do I go about adding the updated GB map? I don't want to loose the European map, just in case I do get to need it, so I will also need to know how to ensure the relevant files are backed up.

[DennisN]

In my experience, TomTom have normally released new maps two or three times a year. During the last 6-8 months, they have released more than that - some releases may have been bug fixes (although not free). Two years is not "recent" where these maps are concerned - it can easily be that long and more before a new road gets into a map. It's quite a long time line from survey to map and that's AFTER a new road has been "discovered" by the map company.

Backup is an important, no a VITAL matter - you should be doing it regardless of the state of your device. Do one now by using Windows Explorer - simply copy everything from your 720 to your computer. I have a directory (or folder) called Device Backups, with directories (folders) within it called 2008-01-16, 2008-01-31, 2008-02-12, 2008-02-20 and so on, loads of backups taken regularly, you get the picture? Regular backups are the secret of confidence, do them often, and ALWAYS before you do anything to change your device. The TomTom Home backup procedure has been known to fail, so many of us don't trust it for backups.

To cope with a new, different map, if it won't fit alongside the existing map, you'd be able to delete the existing map off your device and still have it available on your PC backup for future re-loading back again. Another method would be to get an SD card (4GB would be quite big enough), and install the new map onto that.

Try a read of our TomTom FAQs, HERE
_________________
Dennis

If it tastes good - it's fattening.

Two of them are obesiting!!

[dalegrief]

Thank you for the info. With map updates being offered so often I think that I will wait a while before spending more money.

From what I can understand from reading this and Tomtom's site, maps are first downloaded onto the PC and not onto the device. Maps can then be transferred to and from the device as necessary. Is this correct?

Does this mean that not only do I have to ensure the device is backed up but also the TomTom folder on my PC?

If I have a large enough memory card fitted can I have both European and Great Britain maps installed on it with an option to switch between them or will I have to remove one before installing the other?

[mikealder]

You should have a full back up on the PC and then copy your back up to a DVD just incase the PC's hard drive fails, or some low life stole the computer.

With the x20 and x30 devices you can add an SD card and use that in addition to the inbuilt memory, I have an 8GB card in mine which I only use for music and pictures I keep the maps stored on the device.

If you keep at 4GB or smaller for the memory card then you can store maps on the memory card. The x20 and x30 devices can also use the SDHC style cards - Mike

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