Old TOPO! New Computer

“I'm having a problem installing some of my TOPO! Refional CD's... I'm getting an error window telling me "Uninstaller Setup failed to initialize. You may not be able to uninstall this program"

Then, the "install" moves to the next screen, shortly after which a Windows error window pops up, informing me it's closing the program...

I have two other TOPO CD's giving me the same message...

Three other regional CD's are already installed.

A few weeks ago, I attempted to move all the maps on the CD to the hard drive... could I have inadvertently deleted something I shouldn't have? Any clues as to how I can install, or would sending them back to NG be an option?

ARRRRRGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!”

“Are there any updates/ patches from the software maker available? That might help.”

“I've been to NG website, and downloaded most recent update, but hte problem stems from the CD's I'm using to install the "region" to begin with...”

“If there is an installation option in the master program I would suggest using that option to install the regional disks. You may have to uninstall the master program and install everything at once, or perhaps there is an option in the main program for adding one region at a time.

Another thing to try would be to copy the whole cd contents onto the hard drive and then try to install from the hard drive copy. Sometimes, if a CD is dirty or marred the installer can have trouble reading it. Where as if you copy onto the hard drive the installer has no problem.

If there is no install option in the main program, try using (assuming windows here) the Control panel utility for installing programs.”

“Seems like the regional CD's would just be data and would not require installation.”

““Seems like the regional CD's would just be data and would not require installation.”
bacpac
9:39:15 PM
9/05/07

if the data is archived into a proprietary format, installation could be required to unlock and de-compress the data. That would presumably be a function of the main program.”

“OK... I have them all installed...

Next task: copy all the topo's on the CD to the hard drive... actually, I thought I'd accomplished this... copied the xxx_data file from the CD to the tpo_data file on the hard drive, but I have nothing but a bunch of empty files. Or file folders, I should say...

Easier, of course, to have the maps on the drive, but I'm not succeeding...

Any offers?”

“OK, I've figured it out... solved the dilemna... for the regional TOPO! series CD's I have, all the maps are now on my hard drive...

Now... my next query is this:

Is TOPO! the standard against which others are measured? What about Delorme? Are there others?

I've seem some terrain-based software out there which gives more of a 3-D look, but have no other info... I also have a Garmin 12CX I bought in, I think, 2000, but know there are newer models weighing nearly half the 9 oz. mine comes in at... and the CX offers a color screen, which isn't necessarily an advantage.

In fact, the color aspect is a big draw on battery power, but I've not much experience with it, and as a result, suspect, perhaps, that a simple B&W screen on a smaller unit with just a good features, etc. would likely be a smarter buy.

Having checked some older GPS threads, it appears to have been a while since anyone posted anything of current experience... As I'm gering up for plans for next summer, I'm trying to get a jump on the research end, and would appreciate your thoughts on the subject.

Thanks!

Obiwan”

“I trust the accuracy of TOPO! over Delorme, at least for my area. I know of a few places marked on the Delorme maps that are off by as much as 3 miles.”

“Obi, I've been a TOPO! user for a long time, and I love it. But I have heard others speak well of some of the other programs. The most current TOPO! does have the 3D capability and can do fly thrus, etc., although not for a really big area (it just goes into space after a few miles). To get the latest version of the program, I think you have to fork over 90 bucks for a state series set of CDs. IMHO, the best feature of the most current version is the ability to download updated USGS maps - they do add newly digitized ones all the time.”

“Obi (HI Obi!)... A trip to REI in the Twin Cities mid-August revealed that Magellan had worked out an agreement with NG Topo so the maps could actually be installed on the GPSes. The GPS sales guy, who seemed very knowledgeable, said that work along those lines was transpiring with Garmin > LET IT HAPPEN ALREADY!!!

Can't wait for that day!! That maps could then be put on the Garmin GPS. Course, I s'pose it would require a NEW Garmin GPS... LOL!”