Garmin Map Updates

[jimcol]

Garmin has just released a new North American maps update. For those of you who update your Garmin be aware this new release is a hog. I updated four different Garmin units for self, kids, and friend, and every unit told me download too large for unit. Garmin sent me these helpul instructions:
To free up more space on your nuvi 465 you must remove unnecessary files, please follow the steps below:
Connect the nuvi to the computer with a USB cable.
Find your My Computer icon and double click on it or you may find it in you Start menu and click on it.*
Double click on the Garmin drive listed under devices with removable storage
Double click on the Garmin folder
Double click on the Voice folder
Delete any unused voice language (be sure to keep your preferred language).
Return to the Garmin folder
Repeat steps 5-7 with Text and Help folders

Following these steps allowed two of the units to accomadate the new map. The other two I had to use an SD card to expand the units memory size.
Jim

[NCFischers]

Thanks for the info.

[tim43]

I added a mini SD card to my three year old Garmin and that solved the problem. Just updated two days ago and no problem where memory was concerned.

[DonandBonnie]

Garmin has a reputation for being one of the best, but the hastle that you have to go through to update coupled with the need to take out a mortgage to afford the updates is one reason that I am leaning toward the RV friendly GPS that Camping World is advertising. It is suppose to include lifetime updates.

[jimcol]

Many of the Garmin products come with lifetime updates or they can be bought on Amazon for a reasonable price. The first time I did the update it was a bit overwelming but after that pretty simple. Does consume a little time but worth it to have the most recent maps. Just curious as to how long it takes to update the unit you are talking about? Jim

quote:Originally posted by DonandBonnie

Garmin has a reputation for being one of the best, but the hastle that you have to go through to update coupled with the need to take out a mortgage to afford the updates is one reason that I am leaning toward the RV friendly GPS that Camping World is advertising. It is suppose to include lifetime updates.

[bncinwv]

I am thinking that I bought the lifetime updates on Amazon a couple of years ago for less than $80. Still have one of the prehistoric Garmins and I just leave it plugged in to the laptop overnight for the updates. Looks like I need to check into what apparently is the enhanced memory requirements.
Bingo

[Carl n Susan]

My Garmin 1490T has never accepted the full update due to a shortage of storage. Deleting all of the "foreign files" didn't help. Consequently, I have been loading just the USA 49 states data (omitting Canada and north).

Does adding a SD card allow the maps to be loaded from the computer and also utilized by the Garmin at power-up without any other actions/surprises?

[jimcol]

Carl, I can't speak to your model but that is how my Nuvi 465 worked. It has to be a regular SD card not an SDHC as the Nuvi wouldn't write to that format. It is my understanding you have to leave the SD card in the unit when using it for maps and directions but can remove it to use the garmin to view photos. You can go to the Garmin website and ask your specific questions of their tech support people. Both my questions were answer within 24 hours. Jim

quote:Originally posted by Carl n Susan

My Garmin 1490T has never accepted the full update due to a shortage of storage. Deleting all of the "foreign files" didn't help. Consequently, I have been loading just the USA 49 states data (omitting Canada and north).

Does adding a SD card allow the maps to be loaded from the computer and also utilized by the Garmin at power-up without any other actions/surprises?

[Sierra 117]

I could not get the US and Canada update until I purchased an SD card. Worked fine then.

[Lee F.]

quote:Originally posted by Sierra 117

I could not get the US and Canada update until I purchased an SD card. Worked fine then.

Mine was the same.

[tim43]

Mine is also a 1490 and it would not load the entire U.S. until I put the mini-SD card in it. When you upgrade your maps, just tell the Garmin updater to update both the computer and Garmin at the same time. As was said previously, doesn't take that long after the first data dump. As for cost for lifetime maps, it is well worth the time to shop around for the right price unless the unit comes with lifetime updates at the time of purchase. With the Rand 1710, the box said it came with lifetime maps, but I had to call RM customer service, go to the RM website, down load the form, copy the top of the box that said lifetime maps, and the then send the form, box top, and CW sales receipt to RM. Then it took a few weeks to get the lifetime map approval put on my computer's RM dock. Garmin was and is a lot less hassle. I'm not even considering updating the on board GPS on my VW Passat diesel, they want $200.00 for the DVD update each year. Plus, my Garmin is more responsive.

[DonPd]

Here is something that might help after deleting unwanted files. Run the program Disk Defragmenter on your Gramin device. While you have the device connected to your computer go to All Programs, Accessories, System Tools and select Disk Defragmenter. It will take a couple of minutes to run.

[Art-n-Marge]

Folks, it could be a lot worse. You could have a Pioneer HDisk-based system (see sig below) that requires a DVD (I got the 2010 version) and over 3 hours with the engine running (we planned a LONG trip for this), to update and the thing costs about $100. And then, even after the update and some data is better, the particular areas I was interested in are not corrected, even though these streets have been around for at least 5 years! Plus some of the areas that are wrong are still wrong. But it's way better than nothing!

[DQDick]

Looks like I'll be buying an SD card in the near future.

[DonPd]

The last software update for the oldest Garmin device I have has added SD card interface. So now the device will see the SD card without problems.

[DonPd]

If your Garmin can store more that one route you might want to use BaseCamp. It is free from Garmin. I plan a route then check it in Google Earth from a drop down in BaseCamp. Once the route is to my liking I tranfer it to the Garmin device. Once it is inported you want to check it, sometimes the device will change the route.

BaseCamp can be downloaded at http://www.garmin.com/en-US/shop/downloads/basecamp

[illapah]

SD card worked for me also. Now all maps update fine.