Screwed Garmin

[HORIZONTALLY OPPOSED]

I have a Garmin Nuvi 1490 & recently plotted a route on Mapsource at the point of download to the Nuvi I noticed I had highlighted an area map but unfortunately had already set the process in motion, since then the Nuvi shows a box identifying "Can't unlock maps" at start up any idea how to get rid of it, if I OK this the box disappears the unit functions fine it's just a nuisance, any ideas.

 

[Bumpkin]

This will have created a file called gmapsupp.img in the Garmin folder on your Nuvi. I suggest that you copy this to your PC as a back-up, just in case, and then delete the one off the GPS.

The gmapsupp.img contains any supplementary mapping that you've uploaded, by writing the file as part of your accidental mapping tile upload you will have overwritten any previous version, if it ever existed, so you won't loose anything by deleting it that you haven't already lost.

I'm assuming that the mapping that you have in Mapsource isn't unlocked for the Nuvi but is for another Garmin GPS? The Nuvi is trying to load the mapping but is finding that the unlock code for it isn't a match for the Nuvi. Thus you're getting the error message.

 

[HORIZONTALLY OPPOSED]

This will have created a file called gmapsupp.img in the Garmin folder on your Nuvi. I suggest that you copy this to your PC as a back-up, just in case, and then delete the one off the GPS.

The gmapsupp.img contains any supplementary mapping that you've uploaded, by writing the file as part of your accidental mapping tile upload you will have overwritten any previous version, if it ever existed, so you won't loose anything by deleting it that you haven't already lost.

I'm assuming that the mapping that you have in Mapsource isn't unlocked for the Nuvi but is for another Garmin GPS? The Nuvi is trying to load the mapping but is finding that the unlock code for it isn't a match for the Nuvi. Thus you're getting the error message.

Thanks for the reply Bumpkin you certainly know your GPS stuff, this all makes sense as the Mapsource is registered to my Quest, the only part I am unsure about is where do I find the Garmin folder you describe on the Nuvi to enable deletion, is this accessible direct from the unit or do I have to pick it up from my P.C. there is a map file identified if I open the Nuvi up as a drive on my P.C. created at about the time of my cock up but I also updated the units maps as a follow up therefore similar time, is the map file I can see on the P.C. the units main maps or the spurious file I created, properties suggest it's 5.45 MB & read only.

Sorry if this is a bit windy but I don't want to cock it again.

 

[Bumpkin]

Connect the Nuvi to your PC via USB and it should present itself as a drive. Open this up and you should see a folder called Garmin, open this. In that folder there will be a bunch of files and folders. Amongst these will be several files ending with the file extension .img, these are the mapping data files.

You may need to enable the viewing of file extensions for your PC's operating system to see the .img bit. In XP, whilst browsing the folder, in the menu at the top of the window, go to 'Tools' > 'Folder Options...' > 'View' tab and un-check 'Hide extensions for known file types', then click the 'OK' button.

You main mapping is called gmapprom.img and, if you have all of Europe on current mapping this will be over 2GB in size, don't delete this file. If you have 3D mapping then you'll also have gmap3d.img. The there's gmapbmap.img, that's your base-map, gmaptz.img is a time-zone map (you might not have all of these, it depends on the model). Finally you should see one called gmapsupp.img, this is the supplementary mapping file that you created when you wrote that mapping tile from Mapsource. If you want to err on the side of caution copy this file to you PC. Carefully right click gmapsupp.img and select 'delete' and the unplug your GPS, it should then boot up and the nag screen should no longer be displayed.

I just tried the whole of the above on my Nuvi 765t, including writing a mapping tile for mapping unlocked to my SP2720, and it worked as described.

Be very careful not to mess with anything else as you can potentially turn your GPS into a paperweight. Having said that I've backed the whole device up to my NAS drive so hopefully if the worst comes to the worst I can write it back again so long as I have file access to the GPS.

 

[HORIZONTALLY OPPOSED]

Connect the Nuvi to your PC via USB and it should present itself as a drive. Open this up and you should see a folder called Garmin, open this. In that folder there will be a bunch of files and folders. Amongst these will be several files ending with the file extension .img, these are the mapping data files.

You may need to enable the viewing of file extensions for your PC's operating system to see the .img bit. In XP, whilst browsing the folder, in the menu at the top of the window, go to 'Tools' > 'Folder Options...' > 'View' tab and un-check 'Hide extensions for known file types', then click the 'OK' button.

You main mapping is called gmapprom.img and, if you have all of Europe on current mapping this will be over 2GB in size, don't delete this file. If you have 3D mapping then you'll also have gmap3d.img. The there's gmapbmap.img, that's your base-map, gmaptz.img is a time-zone map (you might not have all of these, it depends on the model). Finally you should see one called gmapsupp.img, this is the supplementary mapping file that you created when you wrote that mapping tile from Mapsource. If you want to err on the side of caution copy this file to you PC. Carefully right click gmapsupp.img and select 'delete' and the unplug your GPS, it should then boot up and the nag screen should no longer be displayed.

I just tried the whole of the above on my Nuvi 765t, including writing a mapping tile for mapping unlocked to my SP2720, and it worked as described.

Be very careful not to mess with anything else as you can potentially turn your GPS into a paperweight. Having said that I've backed the whole device up to my NAS drive so hopefully if the worst comes to the worst I can write it back again so long as I have file access to the GPS.

Thanks Bumkin zapped the little beggar, it wasn't in the Garmin file but in it's own file called MAP, when I looked at the properties for this it identified as gmapsupp.img saved it to docs just in case then deleted from Nuvi, unplugged let it boot up & nag gone. Thanks again wouldn't have been brave enough without your descriptions, information & direction.

Never ceases to amaze me the depth of knowledge on this site.