UPDATING XXL550TM

[ATLAS1]

I need to update an old XXL550TM to NAVCORE 9.541 and a U.S. zone map. Is there anything I need to know? Are U.S. zone maps still available? Thx.

 

[Willy875]

Only Tomtom Home can tell you which map is available for your GPS.

 

[ATLAS1]

Tomtom home v.2.23 tells me there isn't enough room to update to navcore 9.541 on a working XXL550TM I have and advises me to move the map and voices to the harddrive. tomtom home v.2.23 created a folder in mydocuments called tomtomupgrade when it was installed. I already made a backup of the working gps to tomtom home v.2.23 to restore the from and copied all the files on the gps to a single folder on a thumbdrive.

I also have all the files from an older XXL550TM that no longer works backed up to a folder on my harddrive in mydocuments named tomtom. tomtom home version 2.11 created the tomtom folder when I first installed it years ago and backed up that gps. The folder containing the older files is 10.5GB. Since those files are associated with the older gps that no longer works it's just wasting space on my harddrive.

I can archive those files to a folder on a thumbdrive and name it brokenxxl550tm just to save some space on the h, Mexico map that's on the gps now isarddrive. From what I've been advised here the files are keyed to a gps by it's serial number. It's pointless to keep files from a gps that no longer works on the harddrive if they're keyed to a single gps and cannot be used on another gps even if the're the same model.

This is what's on the XXL550TM now. Navcore 9.510 is 13.2MB. The USA, Mexico, Canada map v.940.5997 is 1842MB

The new navcore 9.541 is 32.5MB. The USA, Mexico, Canada map v.940.5997 will not fit.

I don't know if their's going to be enough memory available on the gps to contain navcore 9.541 and a new u.s. zone map (v.1125) or if a u.s zone map is available that will even fit with the old navcore 9.510 it's 13.2MB. If there isn't enough memory I'll want to restore the gps to the navcore and map that's on it now.

The XXL550TM memory is 2GB.

Is it possible to reinstall a previous navcore version? Thx.

 

[Willy875]

If you don't have enough space on your GPS.

You do not have to have the 3 maps of the United States, Mexico and Canada installed on your GPS.
You do not keep the map of the United States on your GPS and you delete the map of Mexico and Canada.
if you go to Mexico you delete United States to install the map of Mexico.


If you install an old Navcore, the map 11.25 risks no longer working?

 

[ATLAS1]

If you don't have enough space on your GPS.

You do not have to have the 3 maps of the United States, Mexico and Canada installed on your GPS.
You do not keep the map of the United States on your GPS and you delete the map of Mexico and Canada.
if you go to Mexico you delete United States to install the map of Mexico.


If you install an old Navcore, the map 11.25 risks no longer working

I already made a backup to restore the gps to it's present state. What I'm asking is if I'll be able to restore the gps using the backup if I update the gps from navcore v9.510 to navcore v.9.541. In other words does the backup also restore the gps to it's previous navcore version?

 

[Willy875]

Why do you want to reinstall the old navcore if Tomtom creates an update it is to improve the system.

To answer your question yes if the old navcore is in your backup however not sure that a new map will work.

 

[ATLAS1]

The XXL550TM only has 2GB of memory with 64MB ram. Navcore v.9.541 takes up 32.5MB. Maps have grown so large that even a zone map v.1125 may not fit. If I'm not able to restore the gps including the original navcore v.9.510 from the backup the gps would be completely useless.

Right now there's 19.1MB of ram available. I had another XXL550TM. It had navcore v.9.541 and an old U.S. zone map v.1065.10731. The gps had 15.3MB of ram available. I think the most recent U.S. zone map v.1125 is 1.9GB. If it doesn't fit with navcore v.9.541. I'll have to restore the gps from a backup.

I just checked the backup folder in my documents. I did not see a program folder. If navcore v.9.510 is there do you know what the name of the file is? If navcore 9.510 isn't included in the backup for me to restore from using tomtom home I'll try to back it up from the gps seperately to tomtom home if I can before I attempt to install navcore v.9.541.

I just checked the backup files from the old / damaged XXL550TM gps that no longer works. I have backups of navcore 9.465, navcore 9.510 and navcore 9.541 they're .cab files in a folder associated with an older version of tomtom home v. 2.11. Are navcore files also keyed to the gps serial #?

 

[canderson]

I already made a backup to restore the gps to it's present state. What I'm asking is if I'll be able to restore the gps using the backup if I update the gps from navcore v9.510 to navcore v.9.541. In other words does the backup also restore the gps to it's previous navcore version?

No, the firmware isn't keyed to the serial number of the device. As long as the firmware was built for the exact same model of device, it can be installed.

As to reversing things, however... my, you do bring up old memories from the Nav2 days in your attempts to resurrect this thing.

To know with any certainty, it would be necessary to download the new firmware package to your computer and avoid installation - something that Home doesn't normally allow.

If the new package contains both a 'system' and 'ttsystem' file, there may be issues trying to reverse the update process.

If the new package contains a 'system' file, that's bootloader code, and it may not be compatible with the older 'ttsystem' (what you see as the 'software' from your side of the screen) that's already on your device. It's important to understand that the bootloader can't be 'backed up' to a previous version by a user. Presented with a 'system' file older than the one that is currently installed, an older 'system' file will NOT be installed.

So it's often but not always possible to reverse a firmware update.

 

[ATLAS1]

Backing up the application navcore v.9.510 and the USA_Canada_and_Mexico map v940.5997 to tomtom home v.2.23 now.

The tomtom home dashboard gives me the option to copy items from the gps to my computer. The tab in the tomtom home dashboard where the navcore and map are now listed only give me the option to remove the items from my computer and not add them back to the gps.

When I select to update the navcore to v.9.541 it says there isn't enough room and recommends I move items, map and voices, to my computer. When i select to move the map I'm given a warning saying you need an application, map and voice for the gps to work. I'm not sure if after I move the items and install navcore v9.541 that there will be enough room on the gps for even a U.S. zone map.

If there isn't enough room to update the device with navcorev9.541 and a U.S. zone map Is there a way to reinstall the original navcore v. 9.510, map and voice?

 

[canderson]

Just remember that Home overwrites a previous backup, which is why we prefer to do it manually using the operating system's copy function with hidden files visible.

 

[ATLAS1]

Just remember that Home overwrites a previous backup, which is why we prefer to do it manually using the operating system's copy function with hidden files visible.

i did a copy and paste of all the files and folders of the gps and put them into a folder on a thumbdrive. I also did a backup using tomtom home and copied the application, map and voices using tomtom home to my hard drive. the application, map and voices are in zip files along with toc files in folder tomtom home preferences>Copy to computer>
C:\Users\ABC\Documents\TomTomUpgrade\Home\FromDevice

I do not see anywhere where I can reinstall the application, map or voices using tomtom home. The tab in the tomtom home dashboard where the FromDevice folder is only gives me the option to remove the application, map and voice items from my computer and no option to reinstall the items back to the gps. The backup can be used to restore the gps using tomtom home but I'm not sure if the backup also includes the application/navcore/firmware/flash.

If I install a new (larger) navcore 9.541 and it turns out that even a U.S. zone map is too big will i be able to restore the gps back to it's original navcore 9.510, map and voice? (The 3 things needed for the gps to work.)

 

[canderson]

From any downloaded or 'moved from device' item, you can selectively restore items using Home.
If you use Backup from Home, you restore the whole kit and kaboodle or none.

That said, you can go to the 'backup' folder that Home creates and pick and choose any items you want to manually copy back to the device.

As for reversion to the old build, I've already noted that I can't predict this. Only someone who still has access to the 9.541 update package (*.cab file) for your model can inspect it to see if it contains a new 'system' file that might make trying to reload the 9.510 'ttsystem' code an impossibility due to compatibility issues. Read post #8 carefully. It may be possible to back up, or not. I no longer have access to the full package files, and the old 'format' for direct download doesn't seem to work with 9.541.

Good grief - the thing is years old. Try it and see how it works out!

 

[Arno]

@canderson
I have the 42MB 9.541.1-2042-CAB-navcore-GO.cab in my930 folder.
I could not find a sys file in there and have no cloud based service to eMail the 42 MB to you.

 

[canderson]

@canderson
I have the 42MB 9.541.1-2042-CAB-navcore-GO.cab in my930 folder.
I could not find a sys file in there and have no cloud based service to eMail the 42 MB to you.

That's for your 930, though. Can't be 100% positive the XXL build will look like yours -- though that is a good sign.
If you can see a ttsystem and no system file, that would be good.

 

[ATLAS1]

Can I use the the backup from one XXL550TM and install it into another?

 

[canderson]

Can I use the the backup from one XXL550TM and install it into another?

Unless both devices were running the same level firmware as delivered by TomTom (and hence, the same bootloader), there's always the chance of the same problem I've already described, and I don't have enough context from your question to answer it.

I'll just make up some numbers for three hypothetical 'releases' from TomTom:

Device A = system version 20, ttsystem (firmware) version 400.
Device A = no new system code, ttsystem (firmware) version 405.
Device C = system version 21, ttsystem (firmware) version 410.

Note that not EVERY new firmware release came with new bootloader code (ala the second line, above).

Loading 410 firmware backed up from Device C onto device A or B may create issues.
Loading 400 firmware backed up from Device A or B onto device C may create issues.

It would be safe to copy the 405 firmware to Device A, and safe to copy the 400 firmware to Device B. Same underlying system / bootloader code.

It's not at all uncommon for it to be necessary to match the system / bootloader code to firmware. And the bootloader code can't be copied back and forth, upgraded or downgraded manually, etc. Once it's on the device, it's in an area of memory you cannot see or touch. Any firmware loaded after that either better work with the existing installed bootloader or some with new, matching bootloader code!

 

[ATLAS1]

From any downloaded or 'moved from device' item, you can selectively restore items using Home.
If you use Backup from Home, you restore the whole kit and kaboodle or none.

That said, you can go to the 'backup' folder that Home creates and pick and choose any items you want to manually copy back to the device.

As for reversion to the old build, I've already noted that I can't predict this. Only someone who still has access to the 9.541 update package (*.cab file) for your model can inspect it to see if it contains a new 'system' file that might make trying to reload the 9.510 'ttsystem' code an impossibility due to compatibility issues. Read post #8 carefully. It may be possible to back up, or not. I no longer have access to the full package files, and the old 'format' for direct download doesn't seem to work with 9.541.

Good grief - the thing is years old. Try it and see how it works out!

I'm experimenting with this thing but don't want to turn it into brick. It's obsolete. Sort of like a slide rule. I haven't used in years.

I have a backup of navcore 9.465, navcore 9.510 and navcore 9.541, a variety of maps, voices, three sets of free safety camera folders that were backed up, etc. from a different XXL550TM. I also have a copy of all the files from that XXL550TM from when it was brand new. And two complete backups one from 2014 and another that was made in 2017. The gps fell off a table, hit a tile floor and no longer works. The device turns on, but the screen doesn't work and it can't connect to my computer.

I have another XXL550TM that works. It's got navcore 9.510 and an old U.S. canada, mexico map. And of course you can't set the clock. For some reason the safety camera feature stopped working on it recently. I was told here that the feature is no longer offered for the device as it's no longer supported. No one anywhere explained how the feature was turned off. Normally I would think it would just continue to operate like a map and become less accurate with time. The safety camera feature worked on the other XXL550TM until the gps was damaged and the device stopped working altogether.

Anyway, I was thinking of trying to update it. I was told that the v.1125 U.S. zone map is about 1.8GB. And as I understand it there's another way to get the safety camera feature to work as a poi alert but I'm not sure how to get that to work.

 

[ATLAS1]

Unless both devices were running the same level firmware as delivered by TomTom (and hence, the same bootloader), there's always the chance of the same problem I've already described, and I don't have enough context from your question to answer it.

I'll just make up some numbers for three hypothetical 'releases' from TomTom:

Device A = system version 20, ttsystem (firmware) version 400.
Device A = no new system code, ttsystem (firmware) version 405.
Device C = system version 21, ttsystem (firmware) version 410.

Note that not EVERY new firmware release came with new bootloader code (ala the second line, above).

Loading 410 firmware backed up from Device C onto device A or B may create issues.
Loading 400 firmware backed up from Device A or B onto device C may create issues.

It would be safe to copy the 405 firmware to Device A, and safe to copy the 400 firmware to Device B. Same underlying system / bootloader code.

It's not at all uncommon for it to be necessary to match the system / bootloader code to firmware. And the bootloader code can't be copied back and forth, upgraded or downgraded manually, etc. Once it's on the device, it's in an area of memory you cannot see or touch. Any firmware loaded after that either better work with the existing installed bootloader or some with new, matching bootloader code!

So if the firmware is delivered by tomtom and installed using tomtom home the new firmware for the device will work because the bootloader code will match. And if you try to install firmware that was provided by tomtom for the same model but a different device it may or may not work as the bootloader code may be different.

If you have a backup of the firmware that was on your device and you try to reinstall it after a firmware update provided by tomtom wouldn't the bootloader code be the same?

I took a picture of the bios from both XXL550TM devices.
Bootloader version: S5.5274 clist#540743 RVCT (Damaged gps)
Bootloader version: S5.5279 clist#575098 RVCT (Working gps)

Is this what your referring to? If it is the versions don't match.

 

[canderson]

Yes, that's what I'm talking about, though it appears it may have worked in your favor. You can safely install the newer bootloader/firmware package that you received for your 'Working' XXL550 onto your 'Damaged' XXL550, since the bootloader will be upgraded concurrent with the device firmware.

 

[ATLAS1]

Yes, that's what I'm talking about, though it appears it may have worked in your favor. You can safely install the newer bootloader/firmware package that you received for your 'Working' XXL550 onto your 'Damaged' XXL550, since the bootloader will be upgraded concurrent with the device firmware.

The damaged one is DAMXAGED as in not working and has an earlier bootloader. From what your saying non of the firmware versions I have backed up from the damaged gps will work on the working gps. From what I learned here non of the maps backed up from the damaged gps will work either because they're keyed against the serial #.

If it turns out that navcore v.9.541 and the U.S. zone map v.1125 is greater than 2GB would I be able to restore the gps to navcore v.9.510 and the original map? (all backed up from the working gps and restored to the working gps) If I'm not able to restore the gps back to navcore v9.510 after the update and a U.S. map is too big I'll end up with a brick ie. an XXL550TM with navcore v.9.541 and a map that won't fit and no way to go back. (It will be "THE GPS TO NOWHERE".)