Updating a nuvi 205w from Windows 10

I'm trying to update my nuvi. Express claims there is insufficient space (I have an empty 16GB SD card in the slot). It then asks me to select a region, all it offers is Turkey - I am UK ROI. Is this Garmin's way of telling me my Lifetime Updates arn't going to be honoured anymore?

0 5322396 2 months ago in reply to JohnfromPA

Yes, I'd seen that page. The nuvi 205W isn't listed. As it takes a 32GB SD card available memory is not the issue.

0 5322396 1 month ago

So I have finally solved this problem, identified the probable bugs in the Garmin software and determined a work around.

Problem #1. You MUST NOT use a micro SD card, you must use a standard SD (or SDHC) card. Why? Because the manufacturing standards of the micro SD card adaptors and the Garmin nuvi are incompatible. The nuvi thinks the write protection (lock slider) is in the lock position irrespective of where the slider really is. Unfortunately the nuvi doesn't tell you directly, it's only if you try and access the card from the PC whilst it is in the nuvi that the PC will tell you of the problem. It's interesting that Garmin Support continually stress using a micro SD card . . .

Problem #2. Misreporting the size of the SD card. I eventually managed to use MapInstall to put maps onto the SD card. However MapInstall reported the SD card size as 4GB whilst it was really 32GB (I had followed Garmin Support's protestations to use the largest suitable size). Now then, I am unable (without the appropriate tools) to determine which bit of software has the bug. The last SD card I had used was 4GB so the possibilites are a) The nuvi software has a bug which means it can't recognise when an SD card has changed, or b) The nuvi software can't report a size beyond 4GB or c) Both MapInstall and Garmin Express misreport an SD card with a size beyond 4GB as being just 4GB.

Problem #3. If Garmin Express can't fit the whole map onto either just the internal drive OR the SD card of the nuvi, then it will only put a part map onto just the spare space of the internal drive of the nuvi.

So the solution is as follows.

1) Make sure your SD card is formatted and empty. If you want just the UK and ROI then a 2GB card is adequate.

2) This is not really necessary - but from your PC use Windows explorer to access the internal drive of the nuvi and delete the language files you don't need. The following is from a Garmin Support email to me.

    1 Click start
    2 Click on Computer (on Windows 7 Devices) or This PC on Windows 10 and 11 PC's)
    3 Open the Garmin drive
    4 Open the Garmin folder (Some devices can skip this step)
    5 Open the Voice, Text, Help, Vehicle, or JPEG folder
    6 Click on the languages that you do not use and delete
    7 Press the Delete key on your computer keyboard
    8 You may be prompted to confirm that you want to delete the file
    9 Select Yes to confirm
    Now complete steps 6 to 9 for the remaining folders

3) Open Garmin Express and go to the Map details and then MapOptions. At this point dont' bother with the 'Install to Computer' option - it installs it to C:\ProgramData\Garmin\CoreService\Downloads which I can't see how to access. Ask Garmin Express to reinstall or change the maps. It will offer you Germany or Turkey (if you haven't done the deletions in stage 2 it will only offer you Turkey). Select Turkey as being the smaller of the two. Also tick the box that says 'Use map with Garmin Basecamp' - you will need this later.

4) After Garmin Express has downloaded the Maps, close it and open MapInstall. You may get a irritating message from MapInstall saying that the map you want is locked. If so click on 'Unlock'. Then select 'Unlock Regions'. Click on Add.... Now outside of MapInstall, use Notepad (or any other text editor) to access the file Garmin nuvi/Garmin/gmapprom.unl and copy the long string you find in there. Put that string into the Unlock Code box in MapInstall and click OK. Next go back to the main screen for MapInstall and look at the box under 'Find Device'. It probably says 'nuvi .. Unit ID ...' and you think you are OK - WRONG. Click on the drop edit and select the SD card instead. Now you can click on Continue. On the next screen check that the map ID at the bottom is the one you want - several may have been made available from the unlock code. Then it is just a question of selecting the areas you want and pressing 'Continue'. It is at this point that MapInstall misreports the size of my SD card.

Problem #4 - Garmin Support is unlikely to report these bugs back to the software developers, so make a note of this posting so you can check back to it in future years.