Need help with Zumo 550 and new computer

I've had a Zumo 550 for since 2007 and I was creating routes on my old computer using Mapsource. I've recently bought a new computer and things are not working out well at all.
I downloaded Basecamp and the resolution is terrible. If I struggle and am able to launch Mapsource, the resolution there is terrible as well. In the past I was able to create maps with Mapsource with the greatest of detail. I currently have City Navigator North America NT 2009. Basecamp tells me the maps are locked and that I need to unlock them via downloading Garmin Communicator Plugin. Even when I do that, City Nav still shows locked.
I'm not much of a computer wizard and could use some help.
Cheers.

 

Normally right clicking on your desktop ( windows? Linux ) will allow you to alter the resolution.Try experimenting with the resolution and see which is best for Basecamp.If I use recommended settings in Windows for resolution it's rubbish, I have to manually set it.
PS thats why I normally use Linux

 

I will give that a go, however all I can see are just basic main highways. By resolution, I am referring to details on the map. If I zoom in very closely, details do not emerge as they did in the past (like small side streets, rail lines, points of interest... zero) and I am not able to follow secondary streets that I know exist. Even if I click from one main highway to another in an area that I know are main roads (but not shown), it will not allow me to map a route along them. Instead it will take me back to the closest intersection of the shown highways and meet the waypoint I created. As an experiment I tried to create a short route around my home and cannot.
I am at work at the moment and will try the screen resolution when I get home. I believe my computer is running windows 10.

 

Sounds like you haven't enabled level of detail in Basecamp?...have a look here

 

I should mention that I have an old version of City Navigator. 2009 I believe. I did update the maps in the Zumo and Garmin told me that I didn't have enough hard drive space for all of North America so I just did the North East. The download took about an hour and a half.
I'm trying to plan a week long trip through West Virginia and North Carolina.
When I downloaded Basecamp, the tutorial froze and went black so I'm not sure what I'm doing there yet. At 61 years old I'm a bit of a computer idiot. I'm going to have my son help me out if necessary.

 

Ah...very helpful. That's exactly what it's looking like. As I said, the tutorial froze so not sure what I'm doing yet.
I acquired the 550 in 2007. I do seem to recall having to purchase a map update at one point. Perhaps 2014. I have three Garmin GPS's and use this one once a year at the most on bike trips. The last time used was in 2015 so it's been sitting in a box for the last 4 years.
Having said that, it did accept a map update as mentioned above just the other evening during my struggles. There was no charge involved. It was sent to the 550 though. Took 1.5 hours. Shite Wifi?
When looking into the device itself, it seems the onboard hard drive is almost full and my 4GB SD card is almost empty. Not too sure what that's all about. I do have about a dozen intricate routes stored at this point.

 

I didn't see that one last night but will try again.
I couldn't unlock my City Nav maps no matter what, so I downloaded the latest ones (2020, at a cost of course) and following the advice from you folks, things began to work. I was able to stumble through creating a short route on Basecamp around my home town and today I went out to try things and it seemed to work out they way it should.
Now I have about 5 days to figure out Basecamp and map 7 days of routes for my up coming tour.
Thanks for the help. I will likely be back for more advice.

 

Found this fella has really good videos on using basecamp for the beginner.
https://www.youtube.com/user/1983lparker/videos

 

I've watched three of the five videos so far and am making better maps with Basecamp than I ever could with Mapsource.
The guy really does a good job at simplifying Basecamp.
Thanks so much for your help guys. You've saved me a lot of grief.
Cheers.

 

One thing I am noticing. When I am downloading a newly made route to my GPS, a screen on the Zumo pops up that states "Route is too long, guidance towards the end of the route will be updated as you get closer to your destination"
This has never happened in the past. The route would be about 280km long (175 miles) . It doesn't happen with shorter ones.
Any comments?

 

I thought that might be an issue but the guy in the tutorial link recommends using as many shaping points as you can so the GPS doesn't autoroute like you mentioned. His example was small, but I figured that was for demonstration purposes. I can reduce them and see what happens next route map.
Thanks.
BTW...nothing followed your "You can try using:-"

 

I'm not too sure what that's all about.
Is that supposed to be a link? It didn't come through that way.

 

Ah...of course.
Like I said, I'm pretty green when it comes to this.
Thanks again Nuvi