Running POI Loader in Silent Mode

To get a command line window within Windows, go to Programs/Accessories/Command Window and you will be running in DOS within that window. If you don't know how to navigate in DOS, you probably shouldn't even be there.

Before 14 people suggest just going into DOS mode on startup, you can do that as well by hitting F8 (or is it F6) during the boot process to bring up an options window. Again, the fact that you are asking the question probably means you shouldn't be doing it.

It's F8.

However, the / -s command is used to deploy programs and updates in the background of multiple PC's as to not interrupt the operations of any users. A POI loader needs to be executed, not installed.

Click the shortcut, don't mess in DOS...

PS - If you install any prog silently, how do you know exactly WHAT you're installing? Spyware, malware, toolbars or just the main .exe? Food for thought.

Thanks bentbiker and CGY Guy, you're right I'm technically challenged. I will re-think this to see if I still would want to attempt this procedure.

What is it exactly that you are trying to achieve via this methodology? It appears to function identically to a normal Windows loading.

bentbiker, I went into the help section for PoiLoader and spotted that You can run POI Loader in Silent mode, which means POI Loader runs using the same settings from the last time it was used. I read this as meaning that if I ran PoiLoader in silent mode, to load present and new POIs, that I wouldn't have to select manual input and go through the time-consuming process of checking and entering distance( or speed )values for each of the POI categories that I want alerts for everytime I upload new POIs. It should preserve all of my previous alert selections for all of my POIs. Am I out in left field with this interpretation? Am I misinterpreting what "settings" is referring to?

Peter, thank you! This feature is way cool!! One click, and all my POIs get auto-magically loaded to my nuvi. I'm going to use it for all my future POI Loader runs.

Here's how to set up the DOS shortcut in XP. If POI Loader is not installed in the default location C:\Program Files\Garmin, change step 6 to use the location where it is installed on your PC.

1. Right-click on the desktop.
2. Select New then Shortcut
3. The shortcut wizard will ask you to type the location of the item. Type cmd and press enter.
4. The wizard will ask you to type a name for this shortcut. Type POI Loader and press enter to create the shortcut.
5. Right-click on the POI Loader shortcut on your desktop, then click on Properties.
6. Append (with a leading blank) /c "C:\Program Files\Garmin\PoiLoader.exe" -silent to the end of the Target field.
7. The Target field should now contain %windir%\System32\cmd.exe /c "C:\Program Files\Garmin\PoiLoader.exe" -silent
8. Press enter to create the shortcut.

You may now use this shortcut to run POI Loader in silent mode. On successful completion, you will see a message "Congratulations! You have successfully installed 12345 Points of Interest on your nuvi (Unit ID 0123456789).

One thing to note is that POI Loader runs using the same settings from the last time it was used. If you always store your POI data files in the same directory (folder), and don't switch between express/manual modes then this shouldn't be an issue. If any of the previous settings are now invalid, the POI Loader wizard launches, allowing you to adjust these settings and continue to install your Custom POIs.

Note for Vista users. This procedure will work as-is. The contents of the Target field in step 7 will have the Windows directory (usually C:\Windows) instead of %windir% , for example C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe /c "C:\Program Files\Garmin\PoiLoader.exe" -silent

WAASup, you're welcome. Feels like tripping on a rock, falling on my face and finding a thousand bucks on the ground. Call it the "accidental discovery". I guess it's worth going through the help section sometimes. It's getting pretty late so I'll try out your instructions tomorrow. Thank you for all the info.

petlaur, you're welcome too. It's even later here than it is on the Left Coast, so I think I'll follow your example and go catch some z's. Good luck tomorrow!

I don't think it will remember ALL of these settings for each file. I would only expect it to start up and operate in the same mode (Express vs Manual) and using the same POI folder as before. POILoader already does that no matter how you start it; it's not a function of running in silent mode. It would be unrealistic for it to remember the distance and speed setting for each individual POI file.