Re-create POI file ?

Are you talking about both Saved locations (Favorites) and Custom POIs?

I'm not sure about BaseCamp, but with Mapsource, your backups are probably Saved locations. It sounds like you successfully transferred these from BaseCamp to your new 3597.

POI Loader, on the other hand, loads Custom POIs. Unless something unusual is going on, POI Loader will not alter your 3597's Saved Locations. You should have no problem installing Custom POIs with POI Loader and keep your Saved Locations. Even if the Saved locations were somehow overwritten by POI Loader, you could still re-transfer them from BaseCamp to your 3597 again, right?

Last thought: It looks like your previous device was a nuvi 660. I also have older nuvis of about that vintage and a newer 3597. I found that most/all? of the custom icons for Saved Locations did not transfer to my 3597 so they're all the 3597's default icon for me. I haven't looked into getting the custom icons back and working in the 3597. Maybe someone else can help. Just know that there may be issues with your old Favorites icons when viewed on your new 3597.

I'm only speaking about the Custom POI files (plus icons) I've downloaded over the years from this website.

is when I connect any of my Nuvis to POI Loader, will it erase all my Custom POIs since the POI Loader target file is now empty. I don't think it will append.

I'm just wondering if I'm going to have to download all my Custom POI files to re-create my lost file that contained many csv files + related icons.

and confirmed what I expected to happen. POI Loader doesn't append, it simply over-writes the .gpi file on the device. So, I guess that means I'm going to have to re-create my entire Custom POI unless I can figure out what I did with the back up when I de-commisioned the old computer.

Ah, OK. In that case, does this help? Let me know if I'm still misunderstanding your issue. In any case, it'd be great to make a backup of your current files if future tinkering loses a needed file.

POI Loader's default custom POI file created on the nuvi is poi.gpi. Is that your Custom filename on your nuvis as well? If so, just change the filename to something like uber-old.gpi. Then any new Custom POI file you create with POI Loader will be a different filename, poi.gpi or something else. POI Loader won't overwrite the uber-old.gpi when installing a new set of custom POIs. Just remember to NOT use POI Loader's option of "Remove all previously installed custom POIs from your device!"

On the other hand, with your old file of Custom POIs and icons, they will remain the version they were and won't be updated when a custom file is updated. This may not be a problem for a rarely-updated file but it'd be a problem with frequently updated files like RestAreasCombined, Redlight and Speed custom POIs. If the latter is your situation, it seems that starting from scratch is the way to go.

The other alternative is to see if there's any way to find your old folder with POI files, icons and audio. If you had a backup of this folder saved somewhere or have access to the old computer's hard drive, this'd be the best solution.

That is correct if you accept the default file name for the file POI Loader sends to the nuvi.

But you can stop this. On the POI Loader window after being given the choice to "Install new custom POIs onto your device" or "Remove all previously installed custom POIs from your device," you'll see the line "Choose a name for the newly created custom POI file" with a default name of POI. If you change the name of the file to be created to a name other than the one currently on the nuvi, the file created will not overwrite your older data. In this case, you old and new data will be available to the nuvi.

OK, I'll give that a shot. I can live with it for the time being. I'm going to continue searching for all my csv files + their icons.

Craig, thanks. That technique does solve my near-term issue. I wanted to update my master Custom POI file by adding the "Baltimore" csv file to my existing csv files. I didn't realize you could simply change the name in POI Loader.

I have always kept a single Custom POI file called "UberPOI". I go in to those .csv files and add/delete/update as necessary. I then use POI Loader to over-write the .gpi file on the device. My Custom POI file is about 26MB. It will take some time to re-create it. I guess it's a good activity for a rainy day.

I wonder if any of the third party software out there would "reverse engineer" my .gpi file and output my many .csv files?? That would be a great solution for me.

Consider creating subdirectories on the SD card. It's a bit of work at first, but worth it in the long run, if you have a lot of POI files.

I confess I didn't read this whole thread but if your looking for some software to take your gpi files and convert them to a csv or gpx file, you could try GPSbabel. It's about the only software I know that can convert .gpi files.

You can download it from http://www.gpsbabel.org/download.html

Many of us on the site make it a point to tell new members to make a back up of their devices. Of course, if you do not make a backup of your computer - which likely contains the backup of your devices - then getting a new computer means you do not have backups of your devices.

So, let me encourage all member to have periodic backups of all of your computers.

As an aside, if you are getting rid of a computer (ie. junking it rather than passing it to some family member) it is a worthwhile effort to remove the hard drive and keep it. Unless you take great pains to "wipe" the hard drive clean, someone who gets the computer can potentially find out a lot of information about you and others in your family who have used the computer.

Whenever I dispose of a computer I remove the hard drive because it is a backup in and of itself. I have a very affordable enclosure into which I can plug and insert that drive and use it just like a USB drive.

Uber360 did not indicate how or whether he transferred files from the old computer to a new one. Myself, I would surely want to have all of the pictures and videos of the family.

There are several ways to transfer files from an old computer to a new one. Everyone should be thinking of this because it is only a matter of time until you wish that you had given it some thought. Drives crash.

My suggestion is that you download TODAY a backup program for your computer. The one I prefer is Macrium Reflect and it has a FREE version. see http://www.macrium.com/reflectfree.aspx

Having used the free version - based on the recommendations of a computer guru that I follow online - for several years, I opted to purchase the "Standard" version (now $45) because I wanted to be able to do incremental backups as well as separate file/folder backups.

You can purchase a huge USB drive, say 2 terabytes, for around $100. see http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/category/category_tl...
although you can probably get one bigger than your current hard drive for about $50.

Now using Macrium Reflect FREE and an external USB drive, you should make an "image" backup of your computer. My Western Digital (WD) 1.5 TB USB 2.0/3.0 drive is small enough to put into a safety deposit box. I mention this because if you store the USB drive next to you computer and there is a fire then you do not have a backup.

I can get multiple "images" of my computer (with its 500GB drive) on this device.

As an alternative to getting a backup program and external USB drive for your computer, you can use a third party service like Carbonite to backup up your important files.

Carbonite costs $60 a year (see http://www.carbonite.com/backup/pricing-plans)

You tell Carbonite what directories/Folders/Files you want to backup and it will set about doing so in real time.

I use Carbonite in addition to making backups to external USB drives. Carbonite also backs up my smartphone.

Yes, indeed, you should be set at least in the short term with your old POIs plus Baltimore for your upcoming trip. Given your older units, I expect you'll really enjoy the 3597 on this trip for all its new features. I wonder if you'll see any downtown 3D buildings. I have yet to see my 3597 offer 3D buildings or Active Lane Guidance (or whatever it's called).

And from this thread, you may well be able to recover your old individual icons and files with GPS Babel. I've never tried it to see how versatile it is. Let us know if it works for your purpose. My Custom POI file on the nuvi is 20MB so I can understand the effort in re-creating it.

If you do have to start from scratch, remember that if logged into POI Factory, you can click the My Favorite Files and see which custom POI files The Factory thinks you're using. It at least saves you from trying to remember what custom POIs you use. Then, there's still the needed icons, etc.—but that's what weekends are for unless you're retired and every day is a weekend.

Hmm, I bet a lot could be learned about each user here if we could see their "Favorite Files." Here's mine—I hope I'm not giving out too much info about me...:

My Favorite Files

POI files are automatically added to this list as you download.

Rest Areas Combined Oct 13, 2014

North American Breweries Oct 06, 2014

Discount Tire & America's Tire Oct 03, 2014

Culver's ButterBurger & Frozen Custard Sep 30, 2014

Trader Joes Sep 03, 2014

Choice Hotels US & Canada Jul 11, 2014

Subaru Dealerships U.S., Canada and Mexico Dec 20, 2013

Forest Fire Lookout Towers US (5600 sites combined) Dec 06, 2012

Stink Alert File Aug 06, 2010

Frank Lloyd Wright Works Mar 28, 2010

2 Meter Repeaters in the USA Feb 09, 2010

Trinity Site NM Oct 05, 2008

For my devices, I also use The Factory's redlight and speed camera files—and for all but the 3597, I also have a School Zone file. School Zones and Stink Alerts are set up as TourGuides. Bummer, I have yet to experience a stink alert in my travels.

and, boy, do I love those vehicles.

NOW, let's see how we can get the "last updated" field on http://www.poi-factory.com/node/15335 updated to the last change history date.

AND, there is a good site with dealerships
http://www.cars101.com/subaru/dealers1.html

You certainly know you're in snow country when you line up at a stoplight in a city and see six consecutive Subarus ahead of you, five of which are Foresters—six if you count yours...