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Instinct Solar v. 13.20 randomly freezes: I cannot find an Instinct Solar that works!

KathyF
over 4 years ago

FIRST TRY: I purchased the Instinct Solar Standard and I kept getting "Activity Memory almost full" message. I called Garmin tech support. They walked me through trying to fix this, and couldn't figure it out. The tech advised me to return the watch (purchased from Best Buy). I figured I was returning it anyway so I would try a few things. There was an GUPDATE.xxx (can't remember the extension) file so I deleted it. This cleared up space on the watch and stopped the "Activity Memory almost full" message from happening. But at the time I had no idea what the GUPDATE.xxx file was and since I was told by tech support to return the watch I did.

SECOND TRY: I purchased a new Instinct Solar Standard from Amazon. This time, I plugged the watch into my PC and fired up Garmin Express. It told me updates were done. I removed the watch and the watch prompted me for an update, which I ran. This took the watch to version 13.20, and the watch had plenty of space for my activities. I was so happy as I believed I now had a working watch!  YAY!  Well my happiness was short lived. On the third day the buttons on the watch wouldn't work, and the watch was frozen (not keeping time). I found out that holding the CTRL button for 20 seconds or so would turn the watch off. When I turned it back on, it was fine. A few days later, it happened again, but I did'nt know it has freezed up as I didn't try to push any buttons. The watch had the wrong time on it, but I didn't notice in time. When I did notice, I didn't have enough time remaining to make it to an appointment. I called tech support again.  He suggested I do the 14.30 beta update. We tried to do the update several times (the tech support stayed on the line helping me to get the update done). We could not get the update to install. I would put the GUPDATE.xxx file where needed, but when I disconnected the watch, I was never prompted to update the watch. When I would connect again, the GUPDATE file was gone. We tried several different things with no luck. Also I was told that this is a rare issue, one they don't get. So it was highly likely if I purchased another watch it wouldn't have this problem. So I returned this watch and purchased again.

THIRD TRY: Day 3 of having the third watch, it freezes up on me. It stops keeping time too. I google the issues and find multiple posts from others with the very same issues. 

I REALLY LOVE THIS WATCH. However I do need a watch the can keep time reliably!!!  

Is there something I can do to fix this (I haven't returned watch #3 yet)??  PLEASE, CAN SOMEONE ADVISE ME about this?!!

I am so disappointed and frustrated!

PLEASE SOMEONE HELP!!

?

  • 0 over 4 years ago

    I have two Instinct Solars both of which perform perfectly. That makes me a lucky guy then. I have no idea what went wrong with all those watches you bought. I observed that the data transfer rate is rather slow, and you should not eject/disconnect/unmount the watch until after file transfer is done. Give your computer some time after transfer seemingly ends.

  • 0 over 4 years ago in reply to Rigel1967

    Rigel, thank you for your response, it gives me hope that yes, I can get an Instinct Solar that works. Please tell me which version of the software is on your watches? Mine has version 13.20. It looks like version 14 fixes the problems I've been having. However, I cannot figure out how to update my watch to version 14! 

    Oh, and yes, I have waited until the transfer is completely done, and then some. But thanks for the heads up about that!

    Thanks again! Kathy

  • 0 over 4 years ago in reply to KathyF

    Both are on firmware 14.30. I use a simple Windows 10 running laptop to transfer the file. You simply put the file gupdate."something" in the Garmin folder, which is the main folder in the root of the drive. The watch then immediately prompts you that an update is about to be performed.

  • 0 over 4 years ago in reply to Rigel1967

    Yes, I have tried that numerous times, in attempt to install the 14.30 beta version. When I eject the watch it never prompts me to do the update. ???  I will try it from my laptop as perhaps it is a problem with my desktop???  I will update with the results.

    Thank you!
    Kathy

  • 0 over 4 years ago in reply to KathyF

    OK, first I tried again from my desktop. Unzipped the folder with the GUPDATE.GCD and copied it into the GARMIN folder on the watch. Waited 5 minutes after the system indicated that the transfer was finished. Ejected the watch. Nothing happened: no prompts to update on the watch. 

    So then I started up my laptop (Windows 10) and downloaded the 1430 update. Attached my watch and copied the GUPDATE.GCD file into the GARMIN folder on the watch. Again, waited a bit to ensure it was all there. Ejected the watch. Nothing. No prompt for an update. 

    Is there something else I can do to get the watch to update to the 1430 version?

    Thanks,
    Kathy

  • 0 over 4 years ago in reply to KathyF

    BTW, auto update is turned on, on the watch (I double checked). The watch is also paired with the Connect app on my android phone.

  • 0 over 4 years ago in reply to KathyF

    You probably have Instinct Solar, APAC version. That v14.30 available for manual flashing is not compatible with APAC therefore it does not prompt for update after copying the file. You need to wait until 14.30 released to APAC over the air

  • 0 over 4 years ago in reply to 4787013

    How do I tell if the watch is APAC version? I purchased the watch from Amazon. Would it make a difference if I purchase from Garmin?

  • 0 over 4 years ago in reply to KathyF
    KathyF said:
    How do I tell if the watch is APAC version?

    ...

    trux said:
    Long-press the MENU button, go to Settings » About. APAC would stand on the first page, if I remember well. Alternatively, connect the watch with the USB cable to the computer, open the file //GAARMIN/GarminDevice.xml in a text editor, and look up the tags <Description>...</Description>. At APAC version, there would be Instinct APAC. I cannot verify it, since I have the standard version, so the name can slightly differ, but another Instinct APAC owner coud confirm it. 
  • 0 over 4 years ago in reply to seilogramp

    Checked both places and never saw the word APAC (searched the xml file for "APAC" and it didn't show any results). 
    So I guess my watch is not APAC ...

    So, now back to the question: why won't it update to 14.30?

    Thanks for the instructions.
    Kathy