Related
This discussion has been locked.
You can no longer post new replies to this discussion. If you have a question you can start a new discussion

ATTENTION GARMIN OREGON 550 OWNERS! Help! I may have "killed" my Garmin Oregon 550!

dvdrnldprsn
over 1 year ago

Hey!

I will freely admit, right at the start, that I did something rash and stupid and destructive. I am a complete fool and in serious need of some kind soul's help.

It all started with my having a problem installing the newest update, Garmin City Navigator North America NT 2024.20. I could not seem to get rid of the existing Garmin City Navigator North America NT 2024.10 because it did not show up in MapInstall, probably because I had, at some point, uninstalled the map from my computer.

That was Strike One.

Strike Two was that, in searching for the ".img" file on the Garmin Oregon 550, I mistakenly accessed the root directory of the device and deleted a different ".img file from the "Garmin" directory of the internal storage of the device, whose name I do not completely recall but was something like "gmapsupp.img" or something vaguely similar, with a file size of about 50,500 kB.

Okay, that was more likely Strikes Two AND Three. In any case, I was out of luck and now my Garmin Oregon 550 will boot to a blank map and a locater icon with a question mark.

I am asking for someone with an old Garmin Oregon 550 laying about to find the file that I am missing (There are only two .img files in the "Garmin" directory off the root directory of the Garmin, the other being the "gmaptz.img" file that represents the time zone data.) and copy it, making it available to me so that I may replace it and, hopefully, get my device running again.

I realize that this is a big ask, but this unit is a godsend to me and, at today's prices (And my fixed senior's income!), there is no way that I can afford to replace it.

I thank you, in advance, for whatever assistance you may be able to provide.

  • 0 over 1 year ago in reply to dvdrnldprsn

    Well at least you now know they are there so whatever the problem it's not the map itself. Have you tried now using Express to install the CN map to your device? That should work as Express will send all the necessary unlock codes. If that still doesn't work your device may need a full factory reset

  • 0 over 1 year ago in reply to SUSSAMB

    Oh yes. They are on the computer, but are they corrupted in some way? I have no way to tell except that they load into BaseCamp and display... So, I guess they aren't corrupted.

    I have tried to install CN on the unit. And then install both together. And separately. The result is always the same. They show up in Windows File Explorer, but the device does not seem to be aware that they are there.

    Also, every time that I open MapInstall, even immediately after having just "successfully" installed the maps, the program opens with a window that says that BOTH maps are "available" to install on the Garmin Oregon 550.

    I remember that MapInstall used to remember what was already installed and when you went to "Customize" the maps, it would present a window listing the two maps with check boxes beside each to either keep installed (both checked) or remove one or both maps (check boxes unchecked). This is no longer the case. Always MapInstall opens and tells me that those maps CAN be uploaded to the device.

    There is either something wrong with the MapInstall program, or else with the software/firmware of the Oregon.

    I WISH that there was some way to do a complete factory reset on the device rather than simply reset the user data. I have looked around and there does not seem to be a procedure to do that.  You mention a "full factory reset" but is that even possible?

    Or I wish that I could somehow find a firmware update file and "flash" the firmware to original, perhaps restoring any missing or corrupted system files.

    And, as the old adage says; "if wishes were horses.... "

    I have pretty much exhausted what I can think of to do, and perhaps even exhausted the interest of other members of these forums as well.

  • 0 over 1 year ago in reply to dvdrnldprsn

    Well I'm out of ideas now IF you've tried using Express to install the map directly to your device. Full factory reset is here

    support.garmin.com/.../

  • 0 over 1 year ago in reply to SUSSAMB

    I know the feeling.

    Actually, the technique described in the article you linked to is a hard reset that only deletes the user data. I learned, just minutes ago actually, that the reset to factory original option is under Setup > Reset > Restore Defaults. I was thinking that it was simply a Reset All of the three options listed above it, to clear all user data at one go instead of individually. Never considered that it was a Factory Reset to original condition.

    And this means that I will be spending yet another tedious day chasing rainbows.

    EDIT

    *** ADDENDUM ***

    SUCCESS !!!

    My heartfelt thanks and congratulations to you, one and all, for all your kind suggestions, advice and patient hand-holding as I worked my way through this.

    With the eventual realization that the Setup > Reset > Restore Defaults to Factory Settings option did actually perform a complete factory reset, and not a reset of all user data as I had thought, I was soon on my way to getting the Oregon 550 back up and running as it should.

    After the factory reset restored settings and replaced any missing or corrupted files, the device booted into the basemap i remembered. I then used MapInstall to reload my maps to the microSD card and, as it always had in the past, the unit recognized both maps as being present as available to be enabled in Setup. So, TA-DA, I was back in business and the Oregon 550 was back to working to spec without me having to replace my trusty guide with a new unit which, if you ask me, have become outrageously expensive and way beyond my meagre means.

    I have taken a page from your book and now copied over the full contents of the internal storage drive and the microSD as well onto my NAS drive for safekeeping in the however unlikely event that I ever again foolishly mess with the files on the device.

    So, once again, my profuse thanks to all of those who contributed to this successful "adventure" (An "adventure" is defined as an endeavour or undertaking where everything goes horribly wrong.") that culminated in the resurrection of my Garmin Oregon 550.

    I hope some day to "pay it forward".

    dvdrnldprsn
     
  • 0 over 1 year ago in reply to dvdrnldprsn

    That's fantastic news. Glad we were able to help.  I'll now close this thread