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why won't my computer recognize my device (garmin 255w)
mikesbmw
0 Points
Can anyone hepl me to find out why my computer won't recognize my Garmin 255. I dowloade the garmin web updater but it still cannot find device, thank you.
Comments
Downloaded webupdater, communicator plug in and drivers.
Tried plugging it in to multiple computers on different platforms with different usb cables.
Nothing in my computer and webupdater does not find the device.
Anyone on here that can help?
What is Garmin's response? Update your software! Duh, how do I update the software if my computer cannot detect the device!!
I've had this happen to four nuvi models, where it'll be detected some of the times, but mostly not.
USB issues are not unheard of, but I don't think it's widespread. More likely than not it's the cable or the use of a USB hub. A methodical approach to troubleshooting using more than one cable and more than one computer should help you identify the problem.
I purchaced a 110v adapter from Walmart for my 1300. No problem with the adapter, it works perfectly. The adapter had about 3 different plugs for various electronic devices, including one that is a mini-USB and is listed as Garmin compatible. The Garmin adapter is a right-angled plug. The Garmin cord male mini-USB plugs into the right-angle adapter, then into to the GPS for charging.
The other night, before doing an update, I casually used the Garmin cord not realizing the AC adapter mini-USB plug was still attached. WebUpdater said it could not find my device. After a couple of reboots, plug-and-unpluggings, I realized the power adapter was the problem. As discussed on other posts here, the pin-out for power and data are different, and it you have the power mini-USB plugged into your Garmin, updates won't work. I removed the power adapter portion of the cord setup and WebUpdater communicated perfectly.
So...make sure you don't still have a power interface still attached.
An hour with tech support only resulted in being told "it's a problem with your computer", despite the fact that it happens on two different laptops and a desktop. Then I'm told that I need to go and purchase a "genuine" Garmin USB cable (which I did, and nothing changed beside 7.99 out of pocket).
This is getting frustrating, particularly since I've purchased a lifetime map update for this device, but I can't get WebUpdater or MapUpdater to actually talk to the device and update the thing.
I'm ready to toss in the trash and buy a new GPS--non-Garmin! Are other brand's update processes this ridiculously complicated??????
Martin
Anyway, I'm now in the process of updating the maps and now take back my threat to switch to the competition. That said, one would think that the tech support people here in the UK would have asked "uh, which system of firmware are you running?"
Martin
I have a 300 series Pilot and Garmin support admits that they have intentionally block the unit from showing up under 'My Computer' when plugged into USB slot. WHAT :shock: Yes, they Intentionally Block it from showing. I wanted to pair down the size of my map file (eliminate states I dont care about) so I could add more POIs. I have done this on a TOMTOM without any issues. BUT NO....... Garmin blocks you from being able to view the map file. Why? Because they can. Too bad the support is so poor. I really liked the units functionallty, but the support really stinks. This is my last Garmin unless a good hacker knows how to bypass this stupid block.
I can find a new drive on the machine too....
Your statement is unclear if your 300 does not show up at all ("...block the unit from showing up under 'My Computer' when plugged into USB slot...") or the map file does not show up ("...Garmin blocks you from being able to view the map file...").
It is a Garmin problem. READ the post before you just start making stuff up. Garmin support stated that the 300 series will not show in 'My Computer'. They block it from showing - Somehow - and it causes unsuspected owners countless hours of trying to find the hardware or user problem only to find out it is a retarded block by Garmin. Before you type you need to realize that no response is far better than an incorrect response. We post here for information from people that know what they are talking about and not for snide remarks or poor guesses.
Then use IE not Firefox. Apparently this was the major problem.
Good luck guys.
I am using the latest firefox and previously my firefox did recognize my Garmin. By chance I used IE and it worked.
That's all I can say. I guess my luck was good.
They (Garmin) must be getting quite a LAUGH from all this forum chatter about the lack of connectivity and all the possible causes.
It has been created by them and is controlled by them and there isn't anything you can do about it.
It's corporate arrogance at it's worst.
And if you think your automotive units are troublesome.....you should try and deal with the software lunacy on their aviation units......big expensive units.
I would never fly with a Garmin....ever !!
Try opening Device Manager and uninstalling any items under Portable Devices.
Hope this helps.
My computer DOES detect the device: it shows up as a drive (with the triangle icon) under 'my computer', but the web updater just waits forever.
Does anyone know how to do a 'manual' update? The updater says "Don't have a USB cable? Enter your serial number" So I enter my serial number and click the "Find Map Updates" button, and guess what? It just loops back to the same page and continues to attempt to detect the device.
Any suggestions?
Do you suppose an update to Windows Explorer has somehow screwed up it's ability to recognize the Garmin? Any other suggestions?
On the 60csx, only the memory card will be recognized as a USB disk and maps are all that are stored on the card. The 60csx internal memory cannot be accessed like a disk.
That's the only way I'd ever done it (through Google Earth), but I tried the Mapsource way and that works great as well.
Thanks so much -- I need to use this more often than every six months, I guess.
Thankx to this forum I solved the problem.
Even tho none of the replies (in 2.5 years) was exactly the solution, they hinted at it from all angles.
In my case, when I plugged in the Garmin, it ended up hiding underneath a stale Drive letter number (that used to be used by a Network mapping). This happens a lot with any kind of USB device -- especially if you do a lot of mapping of drives and network filesystems and is really bad if you use a laptop for work and bring it home with lots of now, invalid network mappings. Windows will just use the first invalid one and hide your USB device under it. To bring the Garmin USB device into the light, so to speak, you have to go into Disk Management, find the Garmin and CHANGE its letter to an unused one. After doing that on my laptop, the WebUpdater was able to find the device on the next scan.
Control Panel -> Computer Management -> Disk Management (on XP)
Select your GARMIN entry -> Change Drive Letter
All the cases where sometimes you could get it to work and sometimes not was just blind luck getting Windows to use a clear unused Drive letter so it finally worked. Much better to deliberately change the drive letter to a known unused letter and save yourself a lot of heartache.
Hope this helps...
J
I have tried to connect my Garmin Nuvi 1300 using computers running Windows XP, Vista, and Windows 7, I have tried three different USB cables. I have tried the browser-based updater (under IE and Firefox), and the stand-alone updater. I have checked the firewall and disabled
UAC. It is a forking nightmare.
The unit has never been detected by my computers.
But you can change this - see How to backup your Nuvi