TomTom 720 doesn't work without SD card

[leedame]

I'm having trouble with my TT 720. It won't work without that SD card in it. If I try to start it without the SD card it just has a flashing red X in the screen. Can't be good. It won't link to HOME without the card either.

If the SD card is installed it will link to HOME fine BUT it doesn't have the option of switching devices on HOME. It is as if the hard drive doesn't exist. When I use 'My Computer' to view the device (with the SD card installed) I can find a G drive (it says TomTom but doesn't have the red hands logo) and an H drive. I can explore the G drive and it seems to have the maps, etc. installed. If I try to explore (or open) the H drive I get an error asking me to insert a disk into drive H:.

Not sure what to do at this point. It is looking like I may need to send it in for a non-warranty repair.

Any help or advise would be greatly appreciated.

 

[dhn]

Can you put the sd card in the unit and then use Explorer to see the contents of the card and of the internal storage of the unit?

If so, try copying all the loose files on the sd card to the root of the unit. (make sure hidden folders/files are showing).

Now, remove the card, reboot the unit. Does that help? (You may need a pin reset.

 

[leedame]

Can you put the sd card in the unit and then use Explorer to see the contents of the card and of the internal storage of the unit?

If so, try copying all the loose files on the sd card to the root of the unit. (make sure hidden folders/files are showing).

Now, remove the card, reboot the unit. Does that help? (You may need a pin reset.

I can see the contents of the card but not of the internal storage of the unit. When I try to view the internal storage it tells me to insert a disk into drive H:.

 

[Pedro2NR]

insert both, connect it to your computer and see what your internal memory contains

 

[leedame]

I can't see what is on the internal memory. While I can see the drive designation (drive H: ), when I try to open it or explore it I get an error message to 'Insert disk into drive H:'.

 

[Bama Rambler]

Did you try a "pin" reset?

Sounds like you have an error on the internal drive. A format might work but ask one of the guru's here (dhn, Pedro, etc) before you do that.

 

[leedame]

I have tried a pin reset but that didn't help either. I'm guessing that you are right about some sort of error on the hard drive (corrupt, bad hardware, etc.). I have tried to format the drive but I get the same error message. I'm pretty bummed at this point.

Given that I'm out of the warranty timeframe does anyone know of repair facilities for TT Go devices? I've read in the forums that TT doesn't have a list of recommended suppliers for repairs so I haven't begun to pursue a path with them.

I have to say that even though I love the device I've had mediocre response from customer service when I've tried to contact them in the past. Would certainly appreciate any advice in this regard.

 

[dhn]

Found on the web, a gps repair site here.

Have no idea how good or bad they are. Give them a call.

 

[leedame]

Thanks for all the help. I'll give them a call tomorrow.

 

[sirko]

Hi, m8 I got the same problem with my Go720, just like your it wont boot up without SD in it. The internal memory seems to be corupt. I called TT support and they reply with:

On your device you may have a corrupt file that is causing the issues that you are experiencing. The solution to this is to completely remove the software from your device and reinstall it again as described in the steps below. Please ensure that you have the latest TomTom Home software installed on your computer:-

You can download and install the latest version of TomTom HOME from the following link:
http://www.tomtom.com/home

Once you have the latest version of TomTom Home installed, please follow these steps:-

STEP 1. Creating a Manual backup of your TomTom

? Charge your unit for at least two hours (preferably via the home charger)
? Perform a reset on your device (see: http://www.tomtom.com/6965 )

If you have not made a backup yet you can do so by making a manual backup of your TomTom. To do this, please look at the following web page:-

http://www.tomtom.com/3171#backup

? Connect your TomTom to the computer
? Open My Computer, you should see the TomTom as a removable drive, double click into it. (on a mac you will see the TomTom as a disk drive on your desktop)
? You will see a list of files and folders.
? Copy all of the folders on the TomTom, one by one to the backup folder.
? This can take up to 1 hour to complete depending on the device.
? If you get any error messages while copying, move on to the next folder and copy that to the backup folder.
? If possible, please make a note of any error message that occur while copying the folders, and make a note of which folder causes the error message.

IMPORTANT: We advise you to follow the next steps ONLY if you have made a successful backup of your device as described in step 1. If you are unable to complete step 1, please reply back with a list of yellow folders that you have managed to successfully copy to your PC and also reply back with any error messages that you receive at this point.

STEP 2. Format the hard-disk,

? Open 'My Computer'
? Right click on the TomTom icon (the device should be seen in drive E,F,G,H,I etc) and select 'Format'.
? Do a full format by selecting FAT 32 and click on Start, do not select 'quick format'. The TomTom is now formatted.
? Disconnect the TomTom from the computer and switch it on. It will load up with a red cross on the screen.
? Reset the TomTom with a paperclip in the reset hole for 30 seconds, see http://www.tomtom.com/6965 in how to do this.
? Once Reset, switch the TomTom off, disconnect it from the computer and then switch it back on again, it will still show a red cross on the screen.

STEP 3. Restore the Folders to the TomTom

? Connect your TomTom back to the computer and make sure it is switched on
? Go to your backup folder on your desktop, double left click into it. You will see all of your backup folders.
? Copy the folders one by one to the TomTom by right clicking on the folder, select copy then open My Computer, double left click onto the TomTom drive and choose paste.
? Turn the device off (with the on/off switch) and disconnect it from the computer.
? Switch the TomTom back on.

STEP 4. Update your device

? Open TomTom Home
? Connect your device to the PC
? A list of updates should appear, if not, click on Update my Go
? Select only the program application update.
? Click on Update and Install.
? Once Installed, open TomTom Home
? Click on 'Device -> Disconnect Device'.
? Turn the device off (with the on/off switch) and disconnect it from the computer.
? Switch your TomTom On to complete the installation.

The Application is now installed, and your TomTom should now be working.

STEP 5. Run the Clear Flash Tool

? Connect your TomTom to the computer
? Close TomTom Home. (on a PC, make sure you close TomTom Home from the system tray in the bottom right hand corner of your screen by the computer clock)
? Download and run the clear flash tool from : http://www.tomtom.com/updates/clear_flash/clear_flash.exe Make sure your TomTom is connected to the computer and switched on when you do this.

? Once Installed, open TomTom Home
? Click on 'Device -> Disconnect Device'.
? Turn the device off (with the on/off switch) and disconnect it from the computer.
? Switch your TomTom On to complete the installation.

The Application is now installed, and your TomTom should now be working.

Today I sent the device to them for repair it would take up to 20 working days to fix it and send it back to me.

 

[thylocene]

Exactly the same issue

I am another with exactly the same problem, except that this is my second time around! i.e. I followed all the instructions of things to try. Ended up sending the unit to TomTom (20 days to repair the unit) only to have TomTom lose it internally! I rang them every day, sometimes twice a day to try to track down where the unit had gone to.

They kept insisting that they had not received it and all but called me a liar. It eventually turned up on someones desk and then got fixed about a week later (no apologies or explanations).


Now it has developed the same problem yet again!!!!!! I am ready to hurl it out of a window.

 

[jorx2002]

It seems to be a common problem...

In my case though I can't even see the the drive unit on the mac which would correspond to the internal memory.

Isn't there be another way to access the internal flash memory, other than through TT-home?

My warranty expires in 2 weeks...