Lately the similar request in updating various Tomtom models have reached a point that made me think....
So if you found this tutorial or we directed you here, you might want to have a look at these other tutorials:
How to make a proper backup
A freshly installed map is not working
Important info for TT models produced after 2009, like Via, Start60, GO1xxx
Definitions for dummies check that if you are knew so you ...

Hi.

If the solution that do not smell of burning electronics at 99% only need to connector correctly (not GND connect)
80% of tomtom's, which to us are getting damaged when the car is started. TomTom's are very sensitive. I say to each customer at the time the car is started tomtom was disconnected from the charger.

LB2B5WHvfAo]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LB2B5WHvfAo

You might want to know what TT model you have in case you found it on Ebay.
You might also want to know what the correct bootloader for your TT might be...
You might even want to know more....

If so than you noticed it is very hard to find something that has all the info you seek.
There are reviews of some models, the info's on TT's homepage and of course there is WIKI ...

There are always the same new postings and threads when new maps come out,
I assume some of you know what I mean...
You have a question like:
I can't use the new map...
I get an error with the new map...
I can't select the new map...
Or simply: Not working...

In another attempt to reduce those useless postings, I will provide a set of info that will make life easier for you and ...

Definitions for Dummies

application....................commonly refered to as navcore or App or OS
ALG............................Advanced Lane Guidance, pictorial representation of major junctions
ASR.............................Address Speech Recognition ( aka voice input navigation )
blowfish code................this is the alpha numeric code that forms the meta text
BT..............................bluetooth, data transfer technology linking multiple devices for info sharing
CAB.............................file downloaded from TomTom containing all basic system file for specific devices
cracking.......................process by which, maps can be used with 'patched' navcore
cspeech.......................files used ...

Even though we provide the tutorials and map charts it seems to be hard for noobs to determine what to choose.
I will now try to explain the right way:

1. The best Navcore is always what Home offers as latest official update!
All other Navcores can work but there are no guarantees!
2. We always provide the latest maps in our red stickies, so instead of asking simply check the dates of the postings ...

Although TT claims this feature is only available for the new models and the X40 series I noticed that you can change the Home icon for basically any V9 Navcore.
Here is the how to:
Create a BMP file of 32x32 pixels with a red background (the red will be transparent in the map view) and 24bit color depth.
Save the file as "althome.bmp" in the folder "skins" - if the folder does not exist ...

We all found postings like:
"I'm a delivery guy and need to find the best route on my TT or Garmin"


At least for the high end models Garmin offers such features now but for us, the poor normal guys it is hard to impossible.
For a while I experimented with spread sheets and Google maps to get the optimisation over the coordinates, but as you guess the crow does not fly like you drive ...

Lately there are more and more postings with a question about the same problem...
The new 9.4xx Navcore (and some older V9 as well) will cause many XL models to go silent when computer voices are used,
a few won't even play recoreded voices anymore.
There is a very simply check that you should perform if you think you are affected:
Make a full backup using the Windows Explorer (safety first! ...

So, your TT does no longer give you an "a" when you enter an address or you have to press on weird spots in the menu to select something?
It usually means your digitser for the screen is partially faulty but you might be able to "fix" it without buying a new one.
All current Navcore can use a texfile "cal.txt", located in the root of the device to override the default calibration of the ...