Try a fresh copy.

Download FastActivate 01.03.2011 {1.8.6.5}

1. Plug your tomtom device with the USB to your PC or card reader

2. Copy "FastActivate.exe" to your TomTom device root directory for all product activation

3. Run "FastActivate.exe"

4. Done...

just tried lite - blinking cursor then closes....

coldyson wrote:That's what I did.. But fastactivate just opened and closed. I was left with Europe_West_865_3246 folder on the tt in that folder was fastatcivae and the help file, also there was another folder called Europe_West_865_3246.... I moved fastactive to the root and tried it again, but it just opens and closes really fast or says patching navcore and a blinking cursor. I do not have an sd card as it's the black small tt one iq with only internal mem.. Thanks again for your help.

The map folder must not be in another folder. It must be in the root of your unit or on a card.

that was an earlier install, this one is straight on the tomtom. no subfolders for map and fastactivate is on the root.

can i manually create the meta?

coldyson wrote:can i manually create the meta?

Look in the map folder for a .meta file & a .meta.dct file. If no meta.dct, then the map is not patched.

No it's not there...

I've looked in my old original one and it's not got one either..

coldyson wrote:I've looked in my old original one and it's not got one either..

Complete file names are: Europe_West-298.meta & Europe_West-298.meta.dct.

I am going to try it all on another pc later.. Is there definitely no extra steps other than this install if it's the first time you have ever done anything to the tom-tom?

I am a newb to this but I have been patching chipping and downloading for years. This seems so simple yet has been so difficult... Are there no other instances of fastactive just loading to a black flashing cursor on a White background?

I tested the installer both on my TT and on a SD plus a USB stick and had no problems at all.
The only thing I can think of is that a firewall/virusscanner or missing user rights are blocking you somehow.
Don't think it a problem with the activator either.
If your system is up to date it should work fine.
Maybe it is worth trying a different tool.
Please report back if it worked on a different PC.

No luck... I took the tomtom to my friends I downloaded the latest fastactivate 1.8 premium copied and replaced it over the original (showing on G: root - map folder Europe_West_865_3246 also on root.. does show a Europe_West_865_3246.meta but none with .dct I can see). Temporarily disabled his avg. Right clicked fastacctivate on G: run as administrator. opens white background with header of fastactivate premium 1.8.. says patching navcore.... then... flashing cursor....

What could I try instead?

You could try Albert's Easy Activator for example.
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Ok I ran Alberts 6 - it has workede for the patch but when I click activate maps I get this error -

There is no such key ('Europe_West-298.meta') in keyfile 'Meta.txt'
'Europe_West-298.meta' - Error'

This appears to be the old map... Your new map is entitled "Europe_West_865_3246"....

Do you know where I may now be going wrong?

I just manually updated the meta ran the activator and it said ok. I have fired up the tom tom and a map is showing!!!!!!!! Seems to not know where home is anymore though.. and some optiones are greyed out? (i'm just going outside to get a gps signal to see what happens.... thanks again all....