Garmin Express - missing voice error is back after map update

Yes, a system reset was one of the first things I tried. No change.

I emailed Garmin Support and this is what they told me:

Thank you for contacting Garmin International. I will be happy to assist you. I am sorry that you are having so much trouble download the voice files back in your device. Please follow the instructions listed below to reinstall voice files in your nuvi 750:

Starting at the WebUpdater page, click this link (http://www.garmin.com/webupdater/)

Plug your unit into the computer via USB cable. Please see your owner's manual for more information. *
Click on Download
Select the appropriate version of the WebUpdater based on your computer's operating system
Click "I agree to the above terms and want to proceed to the download page"
Click Download
Select Run when the pop up box appears
Select Run if a message appears asking "Do you want to run this software?"
Click Next when the WebUpdater installation page appears
Check the box to accept the licensing terms and select Next

10. Select Done to complete the WebUpdater download

Once WebUpdater is installed on your computer, select the application, if it does not automatically open, to run the program and follow these prompts:

Select Next on the WebUpdater Wizard
Select Find Device and Next
Select Next to update the unit software on your device ( If the web updater program already recognizes you have the latest software please select to reinstall the same version.) Follow the prompts to complete the process

Once you have updated your device, you will be prompted to search for additional updates. To load any additional updates, check the box next to the specific updates you wish to download. Select anything that relates to Voice American English, firmware, GPS software, traffic, keyboards, Bluetooth. Once selected, click Next and check the Agreement box. At this point the updates will run directly to your Garmin device. Once the update is complete you will see a box showing the downloads and if they were a success. Click Finish and unplug your Garmin from the computer to allow the updates to load. Once the update(s) are loaded, your device will return to the normal agreement screen and it will be ready to operate. Some products will shut off after the update is complete. Turn the device back on to continue if this occurs.

Only problem is I tried the webupdater and it appears the update is not loading on the nuvi. When I reboot after an update, I do not see the usual screen where the updater is indicated as running. It is just booting like normal and appears to be bypassing the updater. So the reinstall of the software and voices does not appear to be taking place.

I wonder if you are somehow getting the voice files installed to the SD card instead of the nuvi internal storage. This can easily happen if you used the "cloning" method to install the map to the SD card and didn't remove the GarminDevice.xml file from the card after the map update.

In any case, hook your nuvi up to your comuter and look in the \Garmin\Voice folder for both the internal storage and the SD card. Do you see any .VPM files? If you have files in the \Garmin\Voice folder on the SD card, copy them over to the same folder in the nuvi internal storage.

That is not the problem. The voice folder is on the NUVI and also on the SD card, with the same files in each (I thought of this early on). I think this is related to the loader program not starting when the device software is updated. Garmin sent me info on re-installing 5.40 software, but the loader never starts when the device is disconnected from the PC. It used to start the loader, but it does not now (has not done so since the last software update which was some months/years ago when I first went to 5.40, which is also when I think we moved the maps to the SD card due to them not fitting on the device). I also note there does not appear to be an option in GE or webupdater to install the map updates to device "or" external storage like there previously was. I even tried pulling the SD card and updating the map. The software said it was updating, but I got no map when I booted the device, just the icon on a black field while searching for satellites.

I think I need to fully reinstall the firmware to fix this (or else just give up and buy a new Nuvi for the wife. I'm sure Garmin would prefer the revenue from this).

I'm going to change regions and try to force a full NA install on the SD card. It currently has the lower 48 and not the full NA. Worth a shot.

When you try WebUpdater to reinstall the device firmware, after the first stage of the install (after the download but before you disconnect and reboot), do you see the file \Garmin\GUPDATE.GCD with the current date on the device?

Incidentally, you will find older versions of the firmware if you Google "Garmin Perry site".

One other quick thought ... how much free space do you have on your nuvi's internal storage volume?

All of these are very good suggestions. And while Garmin does appreciate the purchase of any new product, we also attempt to correct any issues we possibly can with our devices. In this situation I would recommend calling our support line. We may want attempt to reinstall the software without using a GCD file.

Albert