Renault Carminat - possible corrupt SD Card

[johnboy69]

Hi everyone,

I’m new to this forum so hope I can get some help for you all.

I have a Renault Laguna Coupe, 2010.

About a year ago the Carminat Sat Nav kept rebooting, without thinking I removed the SD card without safely ejecting it and since then I’ve never been able to get it working again. This is my current situation

1. When I put the original SD card into TOM TOM Home 2 it gives an error message saying

I have tried doing what it suggests but it makes no difference. I assume the card is corrupted and therefore the Tom Tom will not load / pick the card up for me to do anything with it. Is that because the Tom Tom files are corrupted or maybe the operating / windows element of the SD Card ?

2. I had backed this card up previously on Tom Tom Home

3. However my laptop does recognise this card. Would it be worth deleting all the files from it and then copying the files from the back-up onto the card via Windows as Tom Tom Home wont load it.

4. I have got a 16gb SD card which Tom Tom does pick up and I have restored the back up on it, however when I put that card into the Sat Nav it says I “cant use the maps on this device”
I have a number of questions:

1. I understand that the sat nav may only be able to handle a card of 8gb. I’m trying to source one but am I likely to get a similar message about the maps not being useable on that card because its not the original
2. Has anyone ever been successful with a brand new non-Renault card in recreating a working SD card.
3. Should I reformat the original Renault SD card and start again, or could this wipe something off that links the card to the car sat nav and / or result in me having to pay for maps again.

Hoping I can get some help as I really do want to get this working again.

Many thanks


John

 

[Willy875]

Some 16GB SD cards work, others don't.

If your 16GB SD card isn't recognized by TomTom Home:

1/ Format the 16GB SD card to FAT32 if it's not new.

2/ Insert it into the GPS.

3/ Turn on the Carminat; two files needed for recognition will be copied.

4/ Eject the card using the designated button and remove it.

5/ On your computer, insert the card and launch TomTom Home.

6/ Log in to your TomTom Home account (email address and password) and link it to this card.

Install the TomTom Home backup.

***************

You can also make a copy of your original SD card on your computer.

You format it.

Locate the GPS backup file on your computer. Select the "internal memory" tab, then copy and paste it onto the new SD card.

 

[johnboy69]

Morning Willy,

Thanks for your guidance. So I have followed steps 1- 6 above using the new 16gb SDHC card. After formatting it I popped it into the car GPS and it came up with the message that it was ready for Tom Tom Home.

I don't have any of the Sat Nav software showing on the screen so couldn't use the eject button. So I switched the unit / ignition off and removed the card.

I put the card back into my laptop and noted the files that were showing in the Loopdir folder were ext3_fix and ext3_loopback. First one dated 2016 and the second one dated 2019.

I logged into Tom Tom home and started the restore process, the back up its using is from 2019. There is a newer one from 2025 however the software didn't give me an option to chose which one I wanted.

The "green" restore bar is now full, however its been going for nearly 3 hours and still isn't showing "done" - that doesn't seem right. Any advice ?


In your reply above, I'm not clear as to the points you've made under the row of ******
Is that in relation to the original card, are you saying I can reformat it and then copy the files that are in the Internal memory folder back onto the original card ?

Many thanks, your help is really appreciated.

 

[Willy875]

Yes, it's strange that the restore point hasn't been downloaded to the SD card after 3 hours.

Yes, it's the original card that you can format. Make a backup in a folder on your computer first to at least save any remaining files.

If you have regularly backed up your data, you should be able to easily restore your SD card.

Copy the contents of the folder named "InternalMemory" to the blank SD card using "copy and paste".

To find the location of this folder:

- Open TTHome
- Click on Tools -> Home Preferences -> Folders
The "InternalMemory" folder is located at the address indicated on the line: "Backup".


Have you checked your computer to see if you have a backup file of your Carminat?

 

[johnboy69]

Thanks Willy, I'm going to try the restore on the 16gb card on another laptop to see if that makes a different.

If that doesnt work then I will turn to the original SD card.

I'm not sure what you mean by the back up file of the Carminat.

When I go into the Tom Tom Home the folder structure is

Tom Tom > HOME > Backup > Carminat Tom Tom > Backup01> Internal Memory

Is that what you mean ?

 

[Willy875]

The translation will likely change some words.

As a last resort, you could buy a new SD card.

Carminat TomTom Live

Drive in 48 European countries.

www.tomtom.com

 

[johnboy69]

I’ve tried to reformat my original card tonight and even that isn’t going well. I will try again tomorrow.

Perhaps it’s time to buy a new card. Would I simply put it into the GPS and just turn it on or do I need to link it to my Tom Tom account first ?