copilot activation issue

joshh385 · 11-17-2007, 06:13 PM

I've been having a very frustrating problem with Copilot Live Laptop 10, and tech support is beyond useless on this issue (can't even get them to respond).

Occassionaly (roughly every 3 or 4 weeks) my Copilot installation decides it is not activated and requires that I enter the product key and activate online again. Trouble is I first have to dig around and delete the existing registration information (cplaptop10.dat files) then enter the new stuff. Sometimes I can't even get it going without a complete reinstall of the application. The "solution" on their web site is to delete those files and re-enter the information, but like I said that only sometimes fixes it. Plus, why is the application all of a sudden deciding it isn't activated anymore?

This is beyond frustrating... my GPS tends to not be there when I need it (if I power it up and want to use it and it needs to be activated, Copilot doesn't work then). Reinstalling/activating means I have to pull the computer out and haul it in the house - if I'm on the road when it happens I have to forget about using it.

I'm seriously tempted to pull it all out and go back to a tomtom or something - at least I know that will work all the time. Has anyone else ever dealt with this? I was going to get the new version of iguidance, but it has activation now too. I don't want the same problem with a different product.

Marvin Hlavac · 11-19-2007, 04:42 PM

I just experienced something similar I think, but perhaps not exactly the same. My computer crashed while driving with CoPilot Laptop 10 on Friday. From then on I was unable to start the program. I was getting an error saying something about being unable to locate registration key. I could uninstall, and reinstall, but that would only result in the program letting me to activate again, but nothing else. I would still get the same error when attempting to start, even after reinstalling and activating on-line.

But to my surprise, my issue was solved with a tech support guy over the phone in a minute or two... Read here: http://www.laptopgpsworld.com/alk-co...l-support.html

bosstone74 · 11-19-2007, 09:52 PM

Yeah this activation thing sucks...somehow, MUST bypass!

joshh385 · 11-21-2007, 03:47 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Marvin Hlavac

I just experienced something similar I think, but perhaps not exactly the same. My computer crashed while driving with CoPilot Laptop 10 on Friday. From then on I was unable to start the program. I was getting an error saying something about being unable to locate registration key. I could uninstall, and reinstall, but that would only result in the program letting me to activate again, but nothing else. I would still get the same error when attempting to start, even after reinstalling and activating on-line.

But to my surprise, my issue was solved with a tech support guy over the phone in a minute or two... Read here: http://www.laptopgpsworld.com/alk-co...l-support.html

That does sound like what I'm experiencing. I wonder if we're getting to the same problem just in slightly different ways. I run ShutControl to automatically put my notebook to sleep when the truck turns off, but maybe CoPilot isn't liking that... I checked out that link. Unfortunately I'm using XP

I did run Vista for a while and had these same issues, but I wonder if maybe it does come from leaving CoPilot running when the PC sleeps.

Marvin Hlavac · 11-21-2007, 05:27 PM

Try the 1-888 number :-)

joshh385 · 11-25-2007, 11:57 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Marvin Hlavac

Try the 1-888 number :-)

Yeah... they're useless!

CombatCQB · 12-05-2007, 06:38 PM

I've been using Copilot10 for about 6 months and haven't had this problem. I've installed it on both my CarPC and my Thinkpad, both work well everytime. I've driven for 8 hours straight with it tracking all the way. When I did call tech support once, the response was pretty quick but my question wasn't very technical so it might not be relevant here.

One thing I do like about CoPilot is that it handles my 5Hz GPS updates very well. But the user interface is not as intuitive as something like TomTom.

Queenambeach · 12-07-2007, 09:09 AM

My problem wasn't quite like yours but when I first activated copilot 10, live and traffic updates would never work, even though I had an internet connection. I just call ALK and they gave me a new activation code and everything has worked like a charm since then.

Queenambeach · 12-07-2007, 09:11 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by CombatCQB

One thing I do like about CoPilot is that it handles my 5Hz GPS updates very well. But the user interface is not as intuitive as something like TomTom.

really? I thought 1Hz refresh rate was the maximum.

Marvin Hlavac · 12-07-2007, 05:52 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Queenambeach

... live and traffic updates would never work, even though I had an internet connection ...

The traffic requires subscription, doesn't it? At least that's what I recall reading in the manual. The live reporting of my location over the ALK website works fine for me, but I think to enable traffic I would have to pay for the service (or am I wrong?).

Queenambeach · 12-10-2007, 09:04 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Marvin Hlavac

The traffic requires subscription, doesn't it? At least that's what I recall reading in the manual. The live reporting of my location over the ALK website works fine for me, but I think to enable traffic I would have to pay for the service (or am I wrong?).

I don't think so. I get live traffic updates. Never subscribed to anything.

Marvin Hlavac · 12-11-2007, 04:09 AM

Thanks. I'd better phone ALK and inquire about it this morning when they open. Last night I posted a review, and I do not want to spread misinformation.

bridqer · 12-23-2007, 09:24 PM

I use copilot 10 in my work truck every day. in my opinion version 9 was more stable. Occasionally my pc fails to recover from hibernation because of the colder weather and the stiff suspension is beating my harddrive to death. When this happens half the time the copilot key is lost from the registry. I'll start copilot and it tells me it is not activated, I hit cancel and it starts up anyways. Tech support helped me put the key in the registry manually once, but now I just use the windows recovery tool and restore the pc to a point when it worked. But it sounds like copilot software won't start at all for you. so it is probably something else.
Tech support has always been helpful with me when a hard drive has crashed(three times) and I need to reinstall copilot and I can't deactivate the licsense.