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master reset - what watch data do i preserve (if any)?

Gary
over 3 years ago

hi all

Fenix 6s owner.

i know the general topic of a master reset has been raised many times.

I've seen the excellent detail guide about resetting and potentially backing up data beforehand from my watch (https://forums.garmin.com/outdoor-recreation/outdoor-recreation/f/fenix-6-series/214734/hard-reset-firmware-reinstall-data-location-and-backup---fenix-6-series/1015500#1015500)

I've had a bad battery since the 19.20 firmware update and it's got to the point of trying a full reset.

I do have some questions about the process.

  1. i'm obviously looking for a clean slate on my watch as part of troubleshooting. However, once wiped, does any data get copied back to the watch from the cloud? e.g. my totals?
  2. Is there even any benefit to keeping any of the .fit files?
    1. i get that stuff like settings would be useful / will speed up recovery from a wipe but i obviously don't know what's wrong with the watch
    2. i don't have maps
    3. what about activities?
    4. and Records, etc?
    5. are locations like waypoints or something? Or maybe GPS tracks from activities i've used the watch for?
    6. Totals sounds like a cumulative, historic record (potentially valuable) but presumably that's in the cloud, so it doesn't matter if it goes?
    7. i don't do much running but it's nice to have had my VO2 max scored - is this worth preserving?
  3. is it worth forcing a firmware refresh before i wipe?
  4. the actual master reset - i understand i can do it the watch menu or manually from the buttons. Is there any difference between the two?
  5. When re-pairing my watch with the connect mobile app, what’s the cleanest/most reliable way to do this? Delete the device from the app etc?
    1. what about garmin express?

thanks very much for any help people can offer.


Regards,

Gary

  • 0 over 3 years ago

    Turn on Physio True Up. This will bring back most of your training metrics.

    If you look through the folders on your watch, most of the titles are self-explanatory. 

    Copying Settings will probably speed up the restoration and customisation process, but I always worry about re-importing what might have caused the problem in the first place.

  • 0 over 3 years ago in reply to mcalista
    mcalista said:

    Turn on Physio True Up. This will bring back most of your training metrics.

    If you look through the folders on your watch, most of the titles are self-explanatory. 

    Copying Settings will probably speed up the restoration and customisation process, but I always worry about re-importing what might have caused the problem in the first place.

    thank you very much for the reply

    Sorry it's been a couple of days

    i did find something called "TrueUp" in my watch's main settings under "physiological metrics"

    NOTE: just for other peoples' convenience, i did google TrueUp and it's configured through connect mobile or web and it's under "garmin devices" (on the app), your device (being discussed), then under "general"

    Completely agree about re-importing the issue - that was exactly my concern too, since this is really a troubleshooting exercise.

    So aside from convenience of retaining settings, etc, is there a reason for preserving what amounts to local stats? For example, Totals.fit?

    Also, just out of curiosity, i stumbled across this just now: https://www.scarletfire.co.uk/fix-corrupt-garmin-fit-file/

    You ever heard of this?

    it sounds like it's only for per activity .fit files. And i'm assuming that something is wrong elsewhere (in a common accessed file).

    Cheers,

    Gary

  • 0 over 3 years ago in reply to mcalista

    I have an additional question. Older Fenixes like F3 did keep some performance related information regarding the user that info were not stored in GC.

    Unfortunately I cannot list what these pieces of data were, but it was said that after a master or factory reset your watch has to “learn you” first before providing accurate performance data.

    Did it change in the meantime, or  does Fenix 6X  exactly the same function to store these background data?

    Apart from setting the watch again after a master reset it would be an additional PITA if one gets some distorted VO2max, LT or FTP for some weeks.