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Easy way to fix "bricked" 3100s stuck on blue scre
Er0ck
0 Points
Hi, I signed up today to post this fix as I, like many others on here had my 3100 lock up on me while attempting to do a firmware/map update. After searching the net I didn't really find any useful fixes for this problem other than RMAing your unit. This is totally NOT NEEDED. One thing that really blew me away was how easy this was to fix if you have a backup of your 3100s internal HDD. This is something that they do not tell you to do before updating but something YOU SHOULD ALWAYS DO. But this is also not needed to unbrick your 3100. Also, this fix should also apply to any of the other Magellan series of gps products too, though I can't say for sure if this is true or not as I have only tryed it on a 3100. In Anycase, heres what you need to do.
Basicly the reason why your 3100 wont get back the blue start screen is because when you install any fw or map updates, the first thing the update does (which the update doesn't tell you this ) is erase all of the files on your units internal hard drive. So if something goes wrong, you are left with just a bunch of empty folders and none of system files.
If you already have a back up of your original files all you have to do is copy all of the folders and files back from your pc to your 3100 TFAT drive, which is the name of it's internal hdd. Despite not being able to get past the blue screen, your PC should still detect the 3100 as a flash drive and allow you to access it's files and folders. Be sure to check in my computer for it's flash drives. You should have 2, one called "TFAT" which is the 3100s, and another volume for your SD card. Now once you have copyed all of your original files back over to the unit, remove it from your PC and it should work fine again. At this point you will be able to run the map or fw update again.
If you are one of the people like me who didn't back up the original files and folders on your 3100, then there is a quick and easy way to fix this too. It's basicly the same as above, as all you need to do is get a copy of the files that were originally on your 3100. Here's how to do that:
First go to Magellans file ftp site. Here is the url with the user name and password, but they might change the user name and pass from time to time so you might have to call tech support to get the current login info, but that wont take much time.
ftp://qaenguser:p3ople@65.38.22.229
For those who don't know how to access ftps, all you have to do is copy and past that link in your internet broswer or open up my documents in windows and paste it in the bar at the top and hit enter.
When you login to the ftp, there will be a 6 megabyte file called "2_18 Update Recovery Files.zip". Download this file and extract it's contents out to your desktop.
you should have a folder and a txt file with instructions on how to do this. Don't worry about that, inside that folder there will be a series of folders and 1 file. These are the original files that were on your 3100.
Now just simply plug up your 3100 to your pc, open your TFAT drive, and delete all of the folders and files off of it. Once it's clean, copy all of the folders and files from the folder on your desktop to your TFAT drive. Then remove your Magellan from your pc and it should auto reboot. When it does, it should now get back the blue screen and go to a time region screen. If you get that screen then this worked. Set your time zone and it should load up the main menu.
Now, you wont have any maps on your 3100 at this point and will need to install the map update. But it's now good to go and offically unbricked. Just run the Magellan_Maestro_3100_2_18.exe and reinstall the maps and update the fw.
One thing you should also check before you run the update is the power settings in your systems menu. Make sure you set the unit to never turn off power. I belive this is the default setting but it's a good one to check before updating.
Anyway, hope this helps, worked great for me and this should actually work for all their other models too, as they have recovery files for the other units as well on that ftp. Now you guys can easily fix this in a matter of min without having to RMA your unit and wait for them to send it back.
Rember, if that ftp link doesn't work for you, call tech support and tell them you just need the ftp address and login info and they should give it to you.
Basicly the reason why your 3100 wont get back the blue start screen is because when you install any fw or map updates, the first thing the update does (which the update doesn't tell you this ) is erase all of the files on your units internal hard drive. So if something goes wrong, you are left with just a bunch of empty folders and none of system files.
If you already have a back up of your original files all you have to do is copy all of the folders and files back from your pc to your 3100 TFAT drive, which is the name of it's internal hdd. Despite not being able to get past the blue screen, your PC should still detect the 3100 as a flash drive and allow you to access it's files and folders. Be sure to check in my computer for it's flash drives. You should have 2, one called "TFAT" which is the 3100s, and another volume for your SD card. Now once you have copyed all of your original files back over to the unit, remove it from your PC and it should work fine again. At this point you will be able to run the map or fw update again.
If you are one of the people like me who didn't back up the original files and folders on your 3100, then there is a quick and easy way to fix this too. It's basicly the same as above, as all you need to do is get a copy of the files that were originally on your 3100. Here's how to do that:
First go to Magellans file ftp site. Here is the url with the user name and password, but they might change the user name and pass from time to time so you might have to call tech support to get the current login info, but that wont take much time.
ftp://qaenguser:p3ople@65.38.22.229
For those who don't know how to access ftps, all you have to do is copy and past that link in your internet broswer or open up my documents in windows and paste it in the bar at the top and hit enter.
When you login to the ftp, there will be a 6 megabyte file called "2_18 Update Recovery Files.zip". Download this file and extract it's contents out to your desktop.
you should have a folder and a txt file with instructions on how to do this. Don't worry about that, inside that folder there will be a series of folders and 1 file. These are the original files that were on your 3100.
Now just simply plug up your 3100 to your pc, open your TFAT drive, and delete all of the folders and files off of it. Once it's clean, copy all of the folders and files from the folder on your desktop to your TFAT drive. Then remove your Magellan from your pc and it should auto reboot. When it does, it should now get back the blue screen and go to a time region screen. If you get that screen then this worked. Set your time zone and it should load up the main menu.
Now, you wont have any maps on your 3100 at this point and will need to install the map update. But it's now good to go and offically unbricked. Just run the Magellan_Maestro_3100_2_18.exe and reinstall the maps and update the fw.
One thing you should also check before you run the update is the power settings in your systems menu. Make sure you set the unit to never turn off power. I belive this is the default setting but it's a good one to check before updating.
Anyway, hope this helps, worked great for me and this should actually work for all their other models too, as they have recovery files for the other units as well on that ftp. Now you guys can easily fix this in a matter of min without having to RMA your unit and wait for them to send it back.
Rember, if that ftp link doesn't work for you, call tech support and tell them you just need the ftp address and login info and they should give it to you.
Comments
lol, now i can access the ftp but when i click to downoad it tell me that this file is not found. :lol:
That is why I also don't host those types of files here, nor support people saying "go download such and such file here". Magellan should really offer the file as a direct download from their website.
I downloaded the file from the website. If your email can accept attachments of 6.4 MB I'll email it over to you. But I don't really want to host the file here, nor do I want to be constantly emailing the file around to people. (That's Magellan's job, which I recognize they are not doing-- but I don't want to make it my job.)
oh yeah, i am waiting to power up my gps unit to apply my fixes. i will update you on how this went. :D
well, got my gps unit to have enough power to install recovery files and its seems to have worked like a dream. all i have to do is try to find the map files and i think i'm in there.
ok, does anyone know what i need to do to get maps? the maps folder is empty now. so i'm at a loss as to where to go now..... :?
I saw your post and I wanted to know if you could send me the 2_18 Update Recovery Files.zip ?
My husband was updating the magellan maestro 3100 and unplugged it before it was completed, we did not back up any files prior to starting the update. Now when we turn it on it goes to the start up screen... its blue and says magellan. It looks like its going to load but goes no where. I have tried resetting it, holding the reset button and the power button at the same time and I am getting the same response. I have done a bunch or research and I have come to the conclusion that I need this file....
If you are able to send this to me I would greatly appreciate it!
Thank you!
Angela
try both e-mails:
angela48573@gmail.com or amaj8504@yahoo.com
If anyone has them please email be at
crunchaweezy@mac.com
Much appreciated :)
my email is madmax92388@aol.com
thanks you!!!!!!!
Any help is appreciated..thank you verymuch
I also bricked my 3100....sounds familiar?
Please. Please. I need the repair 2.18 zipped file
hoang @ linkline.com
Emailed support weeks ago with no reply.
Backed up to card but was unsure where files belonged and since then I needed card for camera and wiped out files.
Can someone please email me recovery files?
Thanks!
-Todd
phaze1todd@gmail.com
Shaun
I just finished downloading the recovery file
please pm me, i have contatcted tech support with no answer
Magellan3100@yahoo.com
Many many many thanks.
My E-Mail is - mechanic.saconit33@gmail.com.
Thanks For The Help!!!
olded60@msn.com
Thank you,
hoverman1@comcast.net
Thank you,
Harold