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2018.20 Australia & NZ Map Update Fail

Former Member
Former Member
Two weeks ago I had an issue updating the maps for my new Fenix 5X Plus, contacted support and was told that Garmin Express wasn't compatible with a 4G wifi connection and so they couldn't help me. I have since upgraded my connection and have successfully downloaded the 2018.20 topoActive maps, however on install I am getting the error "There was an error installing the update."

Not only that, but the original maps that were on the device have now been replaced with the most basic map that only shows major roads and no contours. I now understand that a backup of all files on the watch would have been advisable before an update is carried out, something which I would have thought would automatically be done before an update by Garmin Express.

I have contacted support again and they offered me a refund. I told them that I bought the watch because I want to use it, not to get a refund. After 1.5hrs on the phone I have now lost all of my user settings/history after completing the requested factory reset.

I have now sent all files to Garmin Support minus map files in hope that they can sort something out - when is another question. I have never had an issue like this before and I have owned 3 other Garmin devices in the past 10 years. I use the watch for my business reviewing and writing up hiking trail guides in Australia, I need it sorted asap.

Garmin Express is now stuck in the install mode for this map and won't let me download it from scratch, much like the other maps already on the device - I have deleted the other maps files, and they re-download and re-install without an issue when I select Map Options -> Reinstall Map. I need to have this option for the 2018.20 A&NZ Map, or a download link for the file which support say is not possible.
  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 6 years ago
    Hi GreenTrails, I see if I can upload them to dropbox and send you the link. Do you only need the original AU map files? I think there are couple of files named gmapprom including the gmapprom.img file.
  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 6 years ago
    Hi Jay, no need. I have replaced the watch under warranty through the shop that I purchased it from. Although it was longer than two weeks and Garmin phone support said that I could not do so, the shop was happy to change it over for me. I am now backing up the files and won't update the maps until I hear back from them about a fix.
  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 6 years ago
    Hi Jay, I have taken the watch back to the shop I bought it from and replaced it under warranty. Thank you for your offer of support, but not needed now. As I understand, the file is copy protected anyhow.
  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 6 years ago
    Received an email today from Garmin stating that the issue is now resolved:

    "We have identified and resolved the issue with downloading TopoActive AU & NZ to your Garmin device. You should be able to apply updates through Garmin Express at this time. Please let us know if you continue to experience issues downloading the latest update."

    I have yet to try it out since I only just replaced my 5x plus yesterday under warranty which is now working again because I haven't yet installed any updates. Although I see now that file size on 2018.20 is now 1.16GB instead of 2.2GB. Will reluctantly give it a crack and report back.
  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 6 years ago
    UPDATE:

    The install finished with no error this time, however the map on the watch still has no details (no contours, no major roads) on it like the original 2017.40 version that came installed on the watch.

    Please also note that I had changed my watch under warranty so this is now a new watch that this did not work on.

    The installed gmapprom.img file from Garmin Express is 117,152KB – the original is 616,432KB. I had backed it up this time and therefore copied it back onto the watch which is now ok again at 2017.40 version.
  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 6 years ago
    Others may wish to note that in C:\ProgramData\Garmin\CoreService\Downloads\Temp\Map.ActiveAUSNZ.2018.20 (Hidden directory/files) ... every time an update fails and/or completes, a 1GB (964,384KB) file is stored for no good reason - I had almost 10GB of files clogging up HDD. This may become an issue for some, especially those who have had their devices for some time. I am not sure if these get deleted occasionally, but even with the new watch and one update, there are two of these temp files stored already.
  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 6 years ago
    Update is still not working here. Updated Garmin Express to the newest version and deleted all the temp maps file in the Garmin folders.

    When I try to download the 2018.20 maps i am still getting the error message.
  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 6 years ago
    Hi GreenTrails, that is good news that you got your watch replaced. I am still feeling hesitant to try and update. I don,t think we are missing much in the new update specially when you said its a fairly smaller file size. Anyway will wait until i the fix is confirmed working.
  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 6 years ago
    Tried to re-run it and got the following error:

    2019-02-16 08.14.14 (GMT+11:00) | 71947 | W | http://downloadg.garmin.com/RMU/ActiveAUSNZ/2018_20/8594dcc9-5326-47d2-a459-c790fa4c7282/IMG/006-D7250-04/manifest.xml failed validation; file doesn't exist.

    Upon visiting that URL, I noticed it's 403 forbidden.
  • I have to say, I got a bit nervous reading this thread, as I had just sent my original F5X+ to warranty for other reasons, and was getting a new one back. I thought it might have something to do with serial number batches, as I'd updated to 2018.20 on the original unit without a problem. It's looking more and more like a server-side issue from the various descriptions.

    When I got the new warranty unit, everything seemed to update file, but as Greentrails mentioned the actual detail map didn't seem to show up in the watch. This morning, it's gone properly bonkers, and won't update.

    Thankfully the paranoid in me backed up the *entire* watch before sending in for warranty, so I have a copy of the new Topo file to recopy onto the new unit. *Whew*