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Moved SD card to new device and "Cannot Unlock Maps"

der_bierpuncheur
over 4 years ago

So this is not a complaint...it's an observation.

I purchased my original 1030 in Germany, and it had European maps.  It developed the halo on the screens and it was replaced under warranty, by Garmin USA, so it had a US mapset. So, last November, I purchased the European cycling maps, because I live in Europe, and I accepted that there were no updates associated, but that also didn't bother me much since I build my routes separately and load them, and roads/paths/ways change at such a slow rate that the maps wouldn't be "obsolete" before I needed a new device. Then last week, I had a mounting tab snap off and while I could still mount it, it was clearly not secure any longer. So I had to do the out of warranty replacement for my 3rd 1030...

Fast forward to 2 days ago.  New device in hand, got it set up, and then popped the SD card form the old device into the new one. Turned it on, forgetting that maps are locked to the first device they are installed on...and bam "Cannot Unlock Maps." Drats, I think...I walked outside, got a good clear view of the sky in the open lot down the street, and what do ya know the maps were displaying on the screen even though I was warned they couldn't be unlocked.

Has anyone else had this happen? I do not have a "free" map loaded, and the map being displayed is definitely the same Garmin mapset I purchased about one year ago. Regardless, I have to deal with eh map unlock warning every time I turn the device on, mere annoyance, but the maps are functional. Is this just something I am forced to deal with until I decide to either stop using these maps? I think I know the answer...

  • 0 over 4 years ago

    My first thought is that your 3rd 1030 is a European version and got the European maps per default. What happens if you remove the SD card and start it?

    Which maps are enabled?

  • +1 over 4 years ago

    Did you buy the maps on the card, or download the maps and put them on the card?

    If you bought the card with maps on them, then you should be able to move the card from device to device without a problem. The maps are locked to the card and not the device. In this case, I would contact Garmin about it.

    If you downloaded the maps and put them on a card, then they are locked to a device and cannot be moved to another device.

  • 0 over 4 years ago in reply to e7andy
    e7andy said:

    My first thought is that your 3rd 1030 is a European version and got the European maps per default. What happens if you remove the SD card and start it?

    Which maps are enabled?

    US version. When I connected it to GC, before swapping in the SD card, it immediately asked to update the US mapset to 2020.10.

  • 0 over 4 years ago in reply to fallingrock
    fallingrock said:
    Did you buy the maps on the card, or download the maps and put them on the card?

    Downloaded, and installed to the card through the device while connected to GC. Thats the crazy thing, I get the warning, but they still work. I don't get it..I'm not mad, but I cannot figure it out. I think I get the warning because it is looking for the SN of the original device that the card was in when they were downloaded, it definitely returns a different SN, hence the error, but they still work. I dunno...

  • 0 over 4 years ago

    I have seen post on similar issues in the past. I would suggest you connect the Edge to you computer, then in Connect Express click Map Options on the Edge. It should list the maps and pay give you an option to enable your purchase. You have a DRM issue. If that does not get you anywhere the get in touch with Garmin Support. I assume you have a legally purchased and unaltered SD card with the original maps. 

  • 0 over 4 years ago in reply to der_bierpuncheur

    Maps will be locked to the serial number of whatever device they were first used in. With your permission, I can look into your account on our end to see if we can help remove this error message for you.

  • 0 over 4 years ago in reply to Garmin-Blake
    With your permission, I can look into your account on our end to see if we can help remove this error message for you.

    That'd be great Blake, I had resolved to not be bothered by the "cannot unlock maps" message, because they post definitely are working, in fact I used them to ride a 167km loop around Zeeland, NLD on Sunday, with no issues whatsoever in navigating, TBT still works fine, and street names opt up on the turn notifications... should I just call the customer service number, I can call 800 numbers from my mobile phone?