Zumo 550 probs (heeelllllpp!)

[Melch]

Ok first off...would anybody happen to know why, when my Zumo starts up it automatically goes onto night time mode and only goes onto bright daytime mode after a few minutes (presumably after it has found a satellite and realises the time.) It's most annoying when you are trying to set a route and can't see the damn screen.

Secondly, I spent a highly frustrating hour this morning trying to use Garmin's unintelligible software to update my Europe mapping. It really is the most user unfriendly software I've used. I recently updated to 2012 after not updating for about 5 years. I bought the lifetime offer thingy and had to buy a 4gb SD card to fit it all on.

After it wouldn't update with the 2013 version this morning I tried deleting the 2012 version from the SD card and trying again. Nope no good. So after reading a few threads on here I gather that I will need a larger card. Does anybody now how big the file is.

Also what is the maximum size card I can put in the Zumo. I thought if I buy a big un it will at least make it a bit more future proof.

Thanks in advance!

 

[John Armstrong]

I suspect it starts up in night time mode so that if it was switched on during the night, then it won't blind you. Once it knows what time it is, then it'll adjust the brightness to the selected settings.

 

[Bumpkin]

It's possible that the internal CMOS battery is dead or dying, only a possibility mind. When it wakes up it thinks it's in Taiwan. Try turning it on in the middle of the night and see if it's in daytime mode.

As to the European mapping. The Zumo lacks the ability to use Junction View and 3D buildings. Not sure if the on-line installer takes that into account or not though. If you write the mapping to the Zumo from your PC, having updated only that during the on-line update process. Use option 2, not option 1 (Lifetime Updater). Then use Mapsource or MapInstall (the former is PC only the latter is available for both) to write the mapping data to your SD card, you'll find that it takes about 2.6GB which will fit onto your 4GB card, no problem.

You could even split the mapping across both the internal memory and the SD card, putting the country you live in plus any neighbouring countries on the GPS, the rest on the card. SD cards are marginally more likely to go belly up than the internal memory and thus having your local mapping on the GPS it's somewhat more secure.

If you can't sort out the day/night issue then RMA it to Garmin for exchange, you'll either get a good as new 550 or a 660 if they don't have any 550s available. They should transfer all your mapping and Lifetime subscriptions across. Costs around £100-120, not bad for another 5 years, or so, of use.

 

[Melch]

It's possible that the internal CMOS battery is dead or dying, only a possibility mind. When it wakes up it thinks it's in Taiwan. Try turning it on in the middle of the night and see if it's in daytime mode.

As to the European mapping. The Zumo lacks the ability to use Junction View and 3D buildings. Not sure if the on-line installer takes that into account or not though. If you write the mapping to the Zumo from your PC, having updated only that during the on-line update process. Use option 2, not option 1 (Lifetime Updater). Then use Mapsource or MapInstall (the former is PC only the latter is available for both) to write the mapping data to your SD card, you'll find that it takes about 2.6GB which will fit onto your 4GB card, no problem.

You could even split the mapping across both the internal memory and the SD card, putting the country you live in plus any neighbouring countries on the GPS, the rest on the card. SD cards are marginally more likely to go belly up than the internal memory and thus having your local mapping on the GPS it's somewhat more secure.

If you can't sort out the day/night issue then RMA it to Garmin for exchange, you'll either get a good as new 550 or a 660 if they don't have any 550s available. They should transfer all your mapping and Lifetime subscriptions across. Costs around £100-120, not bad for another 5 years, or so, of use.

Thanks Bumpkin. I've now deleted the old mapping from the GPS and it seems to be starting up in daytime mode so fingers crossed.

I forgot to mention I am using a Mac not a PC. The Garmin software doesn't seem to recognise there is an SD card in the GPS. I also cannot delete the existing 2012 map from the SD card for some reason. It was a blank card bought from Garmin so I can't imagine it could be locked, but who knows. I think what I will try today is go out and buy a new SD card and see if I can put the 2013 map onto that.
The battery indicator seems to be showing a full charge. I can't imagine that the battery could be that healthy as it is a good few years old and doesn't get used that regularly.

Thanks again for the help.

 

[andyclift]

You may have a problem if you formatted the SD card using the Mac. Although Macs format cards in FAT mode the default format is not 100% PC compatible and although most devices don't care it won't work in a Garmin.

You need to put the card in your Mac and open Disc Utility. Select the card and choose the Erase menu. Confirm it shows MS-DOS (FAT). Now go to the "Partition" menu, select "Partition Layout" and choose "1 partition". The "Options" button is selected next. That brings up a box where you can select from "GUID", "Apple" or "Master Boot Record". That is the bit that causes the problem. The Mac default is GUID which causes a problem with some devices. Select "Master Boot Record"-OK-Apply and you get an SD card that the Garmin understands.

When you use Mapinstall now when it searches for devices it should find your Garmin and a second device which will be your SD card. Just choose which one you want the maps to go on to select the maps you wish to put on it.

Incidentally, you could by pass the above formatting by just formatting the card in a digital camera and then use you Mac to delete the folders the camera makes. Cameras normally use MBR formatting so it should work in the Garmin OK

 

[Melch]

You may have a problem if you formatted the SD card using the Mac. Although Macs format cards in FAT mode the default format is not 100% PC compatible and although most devices don't care it won't work in a Garmin.

You need to put the card in your Mac and open Disc Utility. Select the card and choose the Erase menu. Confirm it shows MS-DOS (FAT). Now go to the "Partition" menu, select "Partition Layout" and choose "1 partition". The "Options" button is selected next. That brings up a box where you can select from "GUID", "Apple" or "Master Boot Record". That is the bit that causes the problem. The Mac default is GUID which causes a problem with some devices. Select "Master Boot Record"-OK-Apply and you get an SD card that the Garmin understands.

When you use Mapinstall now when it searches for devices it should find your Garmin and a second device which will be your SD card. Just choose which one you want the maps to go on to select the maps you wish to put on it.

Incidentally, you could by pass the above formatting by just formatting the card in a digital camera and then use you Mac to delete the folders the camera makes. Cameras normally use MBR formatting so it should work in the Garmin OK

Right, I seem to have found the problem after playing with the formatting thing. I don't recall having to format the card at all. However after messing about with Disc Utility I noticed the card is 'read only'. I then remembered back to the old floppy disc days that there was a tab to lock them. I had a look at the SD card and had a "Eureka" moment. Unfortunately it was short-lived as moving the lock tab has made no difference whatsoever and is still read only. The card is a Sandisk 4gb supplied very recently by Garmin. Any ideas?

Thanks for the help.

 

[andyclift]

Melch,

I have never had a problem with an SD card not responding to the LOCK switch but I have had SD to Micro adapters where the LOCK/UNLOCK slider failed to unlock the card. Is yours a Micro card in an adapter or a full sized SD. I can't remember if the 550 takes full sized or micro cards as I use a 660 now.

Maybe it is a mechanical problem with the card but cards cost about nothing these days so why not try another card

 

[Melch]

Boomshanka!!!!!!!!!

Took card out, gave it a clean, put back in, ran disc utilities – verify and repair disc.
Now being recognised by the Garmin software and installing maps.

Thanks for all the help everyone!

 

[Melch]

Melch,

I have never had a problem with an SD card not responding to the LOCK switch but I have had SD to Micro adapters where the LOCK/UNLOCK slider failed to unlock the card. Is yours a Micro card in an adapter or a full sized SD. I can't remember if the 550 takes full sized or micro cards as I use a 660 now.

Maybe it is a mechanical problem with the card but cards cost about nothing these days so why not try another card

Mine is a Micro card in an adapter. The slide didn't feel like it had much resistance to be honest, so I think I may get another just to be sure.

 

[ghiribizzo]

@andyclift - I'm with you in this up to a point...
When I get to the Erase menu, yes - it shows MS-DOS(FAT) but where do I go to get to the Partition Menu?
At that point I have Erase Free Space; Security Options and Erase at the bottom. Selecting Security Options offers a slider for more secure or more speed.
Soz for bein' fick...

 

[stolzy]

If you can't sort out the day/night issue then RMA it to Garmin for exchange, you'll either get a good as new 550 or a 660 if they don't have any 550s available. They should transfer all your mapping and Lifetime subscriptions across. Costs around £100-120, not bad for another 5 years, or so, of use.

and get an update of your maps into the bargain.

 

[Bumpkin]

and get an update of your maps into the bargain.

Don't think they do that any more.

Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk 2

 

[sanqhar]

I forgot to mention I am using a Mac not a PC.

I thought Macs put deleted card files in the Trash, on the card. You then have to empty the trash on the card.

That's why it thinks the card is "full" because they are still there, but in the Trash.

tom

 

[andyclift]

Not sure what you mean. I use a Mac and you delete files from the SD card in exactly the same way as any other file. Right click the file and select Move to Trash and then empty the trash.

 

[andyclift]

@andyclift - I'm with you in this up to a point...
When I get to the Erase menu, yes - it shows MS-DOS(FAT) but where do I go to get to the Partition Menu?
At that point I have Erase Free Space; Security Options and Erase at the bottom. Selecting Security Options offers a slider for more secure or more speed.
Soz for bein' fick...

- Put card in SD slot
- Open Utilities>Disc Utility
- Select card from list on left of window
- Select Erase tab and check MS-DOS(FAT) is selected
- Select the Partition tab
- On the Pull down menu that shows "current" change it to "! Partition"
- Now you will find the "Options" button is available.
- Click on "options" and a new window opens.
- Select "Master Boot Record" (Mac defaults to GUID partition table) and click OK
- Now apply and you should finish up with 1 partition on the disc which shows on the list as "UNTITLED 1" and checking your desktop you should see the disc has been renamed as "UNTITLED 1" Rename it as required and it will not work in a Garmin

Hope this helps

 

[andyclift]

Just noticed a small typo in my last post.

The last bit should read "Rename it as required and it WILL work in your Garmin.".