I have an Edge 305 that has occasionally been recognized by Express although not lately. If I have the Edge 305 connected to a USB cable when I launch Express, it will crash and give an error message. On the rare occasions that it does recognize the Edge, it will start a sync, error out, and then show the device as synced although the activities have not been transferred. I then must go to Connect to transfer filed. My Edge is up to date with latest firmware.
What happens if you open Garmin Express and then connect the device, does it crash then as well? Have you tried deleting the device from Garmin Express and adding it back? Does it do the same thing on another computer?
I recommend deleting the device from Garmin Express, master resetting it after all activities have been uploaded, and then adding the device back.
How do I delete a fitness device from Garmin Express?
How do I master reset my Edge 305 or 205?
If you continue to experience problems, contact Product Support by phone for further assistance.
Scenario 1 Connect FR305 by cable Open Garmin Express Garmin Express crashes.
Scenario 2 Open Garmin Express Connect FR305 by cable Garmin Express appears to be able to confirm software up to date, but does not recognize / sync the FR305 - red dot at top.
Scenario 3 As above unplug FR305 Connect Edge 510 Automatically syncs Edge 510. Reconnect FR305 - still nothing
I have tried resetting the device, wiping history etc all to no avail. I have also tried windows compatibility settings and reinstalling windows. I did not have this problem with Garmin Communicator plugin.
The only solution was to uninstall Garmin Express, Download it again and reinstall it.
I have had to reinstall Garmin Express twice in the last couple of weeks - which may well be the twice Ive used the watch. I will check the next time I use it (tonight maybe)
I also consistently have problems with the laptop recognizing that the FR305 is connected, I have to go to device manager, disable, enable, several times to get it to connect. It happened on the old laptop with windows vista upgraded to Windows 7, and on the new laptop with windows 8. I do not remember having the problem when I first acquired the watch.
I am sorry that you are having trouble with your Forerunner 305. There are a couple of things that you can check that may help.
First, please make sure that you are not plugging the device into a USB 3.0 port. These ports do not allow these older devices to communicate with the computer properly. If you only have USB 3.0 ports on your computer, you can try using a USB 2.0 hub but sometimes that can cause other issues.
Also, make sure that you do not have any other Garmin applications open that may be trying to communicate with the device. This can interfere with Garmin Express when searching for the device.
I am a bit confused about your last paragraph. What exactly is happening when the device is not recognized by the computer. I don't understand how you can disable and enable the device if the computer doesn't recognize that the device is connected. It shouldn't show up in device manager at all if it is not detected by the computer. If this is the case, I would recommend trying a new USB cable.
If these steps do not help, I would recommend contacting Product Support by phone.
Turn Computer on Garmin in a USB 3 slot? (marked "SS" beside usb logo?) Get the yellow ! In device manager - garmin charging Disable for a short time, enable and I get the blue ? and a beep from the garmin. When using garmin express before - at this point it would start uploading itself.
Opened garmin express and it's crashed. Uninstalled communicator Garmin express still crashes Uninstall and reinstall garmin express Works straight away as soon as I click add device.
So I have to uninstall and reinstall express any time I want to connect my watch. THe USB 2 slot on the other side made no difference last night I will try it later tonight.
Just been a run. Turned computer on Plugged Garmin into USB 2 Everything fine in Device Manager - (will keep an eye on that) Opened Garmin Express Crash. If I open Garmin express and then plug in FR305 in USB 2, the computer makes the noise that acknowledges it being plugged in but Express does not see it. If I press the refresh button for update I get a message saying "Sorry we're having a problem communicating with our servers - image below. If i Swap it over to USB 3 it refreshes and says last checked "just now"
Uninstalled Garmin Express Reinstalled with Garmin in USB 2 Garmin Express started fine, found device and synced it after I logged in.
Clyde29 - Sorry if it appears I've hijacked your thread - hoping we have the same problem and didn't see the point in starting my own thread.
