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

Can't connect - totally stumped!

Former Member
Former Member over 11 years ago
I have a BMW Nav V which I believe is the top of the range Nuvi. In short, my PC won't connect.

I have a new Windows 8.1 laptop, I have deleted both the Express and Drivers and have totally reinstalled both. I have restarted the pc many times but to no avail. I have been through the Garmin FAQs but nothing there helps. I am using the original Garmin cable and here's the rub - it works perfectly on my wife's Windows 8 laptop and I have been able to update the firmware using that machine therefore the Nav V is also up to date.

I also disabled the firewall. The device does not show up as a storage device in the file explorer.

I think that's it!

Having done all this and seeing it work perfectly well on another machine, I am totally stumped!

Any tips gratefully received!
  • 0 over 11 years ago
    While it may not display as a drive in Computer, it's possible that the device is showing up under Disk Management. To access Disk Management on Windows 8:

    • Hold down the Windows key and press X
    • Click Disk Management in the menu that appears
    • Locate the GARMIN drive and right-click it
    • Click Change Drive Letter and Paths
    • Click Add (or Change if the drive letter being already being used by another drive)
    • Select an available drive letter from the drop down and click OK


    If you don't see it listed in here, have you tried all the USB ports on your laptop?
    Are you using a docking station?
    Does the computer make any noise or indication when the device is plugged in?

    If the USB port on the laptop isn't able to supply enough power to the device, I could see it not being able to enter mass storage mode. Do you have a powered USB hub you could try to connect the device to?

    Sam
  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 11 years ago
    While it may not display as a drive in Computer, it's possible that the device is showing up under Disk Management. To access Disk Management on Windows 8:

    • Hold down the Windows key and press X
    • Click Disk Management in the menu that appears
    • Locate the GARMIN drive and right-click it
    • Click Change Drive Letter and Paths
    • Click Add (or Change if the drive letter being already being used by another drive)
    • Select an available drive letter from the drop down and click OK


    If you don't see it listed in here, have you tried all the USB ports on your laptop?
    Are you using a docking station?
    Does the computer make any noise or indication when the device is plugged in?

    If the USB port on the laptop isn't able to supply enough power to the device, I could see it not being able to enter mass storage mode. Do you have a powered USB hub you could try to connect the device to?

    Sam


    Thanks for this. I'll look at the Windows check later. However, I tried again last night to connect through a powered hub - and it worked! So I guess that proves that the drivers are installed correctly.

    Obviously, this suggests a power issue with the ports but this is a new pc with three powered ports so I cannot see that this would be an issue. The Nav V charges perfectly through these ports. What's the minimum voltage/power requirment to enable connection? I suppose I ought to check the spec of the PC.

    Cheers
  • 0 over 11 years ago
    This issue has been more common as ultra-thin laptops are becoming more popular. The power output from the port just isn't enough to fully power the device and put it into mass storage mode. In Device Manager, you can check the Power tab under the USB Root Hub Properties to see total power available and the power required for a connected device. You might compare that to your wife's laptop to see if your USB ports aren't supplying as much power.

    Sam
  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 11 years ago
    Thanks Sam, When she stops using it, I'll stick a multi-meter on both of them. The fact that it works through a powered hub seems to bear out what you say. However, wife's laptop is also a new ultra thin HP! I'll post the findings.

    Rgds
  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 11 years ago
    Not what I was hoping for!

    Wife's laptop USB port voltage - 5.09
    My laptop USB port voltage - 5.16

    To compound the problem, I measured the port voltage on the powered hub and this was also 5.16!

    So, the question remains. How-come the Nav V connects to my wife's laptop but only connects to mine via a powered hub?

    Any further thoughts?

    Rgds
  • 0 over 11 years ago
    What is the make and model of your laptop? Can you try to boot the laptop in Safe Mode and try to plug in it then? This should remove any software/configuration settings as the culprit.

    Sam
  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 11 years ago
    What is the make and model of your laptop? Can you try to boot the laptop in Safe Mode and try to plug in it then? This should remove any software/configuration settings as the culprit.

    Sam


    Hi Sam,

    It wouldn't connect in safe mode.

    However, suddenly, it has started to connect to two of the four USB ports. Still stumped but at least there seems to be progress. I just don't understand how this can be so "flakey" and connect intermittently.

    Anyway, I have another problem to dig into which is the lack of phone management by the Nav V. Should I start a new thread or continue here now that I have your attention! :-)

    Is there a way to completely restore the NAV V to factory? (And I mean the deepest posible restore where everything has to be re-loaded not the Reset that is in the handbook).

    Thanks

    David
  • 0 over 11 years ago
    Phone management has nothing to do with Express and your best bet is to call Customer Support.
  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 11 years ago
    Can't connect - totally stumped! - not solved (fao Sam)

    Since advising that I had managed to connect my Nav V, I have not been able to repeat.

    The latest is that occasionally, the Nav V will go into data mode but still does not connect. It charges correctly.

    This is using a non-Garmin cable. When I use the Garmin cable, it doesn't respond at all.

    No other cable work. Could it be that there is an issue with the Nav V that has rejects cables with certain tollerances?

    Rgds