Dumb POI Loader Question

Sounds like you are running the install program instead of the program itself.

How do you start the POI loader program?

You should go to the start menu > all programs > Garmin > POI Loader.

Wouldn't it be nice if the installation offered to put an icon on the display to run the program? Re-running the installation is a fairly common issue from what I read at this site.

Poi Editor

http://www.poi-factory.com/node/21156

make sure you unzip all downloaded files pertaining to the POI loader.

you should have the file :POILoaderforWindows_254" in your garmin folder, try to unzip that. also check Gary's website for more help http://home.comcast.net/~ghayman3/garmin.gps/pageinfo.htm

I have a desktop icon / shortcut for POI Loader. I assume the install program created it when I installed it, I don't think it's something I set up manually. I just updated some POI files, so I know it's there...

IIRC, the icons are available for the person who installs it. If you login as another person, the icons aren't there. This is a common issue for multi users PC or for people who use Administrator account only to install software.

If you don't see an icon, try this:

Start > Programs and then search for the POI Loader. Assuming that you find "POI Loader", then right click on it and select "Send To", then "Desktop (create shortcut)". Now the icon should be on your desktop.

To avoid this problem, you should remember that you download setup programs (which are sometimes .zip files) to some location and then execute them to "install" the software. Usually installation programs want to place the software in C:\Program Files|.... (although some let you select a location). At that point you are done with the installation and will not use the downloaded installer again unless something requires that you do a re-install.

Welcome to the site. Stay with it - it took all of us a while to get going.

That instruction is only good for the person who's currently logged on to the PC.

I was saying that POI Loader installation drops a shortcut icon at the following location (assuming Windows XP OS):

C:\Documents and Settings\%Username%\Start Menu\Programs\Garmin

where %username% = the login name of the person who installs the software. It's usually Administrator or whoever has permission to install software.

When you log on as another user (say, Chewie), you won't find POI Loader shortcut anywhere in the Start - All Programs or on your desktop. Experienced Windows users know what's missing (a shortcut to the executable) and they know how to look for the EXE to run it directly without shortcut.

Additionally, if you want EVERYONE to see the shortcut, you should manually create the shortcut icon at the following location:

C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\(make a new folder called Garmin)\(Place POI Loader shortcut here)

POI Loader setup should create the shortcut at the above location so all PC users have shortcut to run the software. The least it can do is offer us an option during installation, something like "Do you want Everyone to be able to use POI Loader or just yourself?"

Note:
This is based on Windows XP OS. The location for Vista and 7 are different (I don't have Vista/7 in front of me now so I can't comment).