Backup

Yep. Just copy all the contents of your GPS into a backup folder. I use Garmin_Bak_061208. The last part is the date so I quickly know how old the last copy is. I also copy over my waypoints (Garmin\gpx\current.gpx) regularly since they usually get updated weekly.

I don't bother to backup Custom POIs from my Nuvi since they are stored on my laptop and already get backed up.

I have CNNA NT 2009 on a disc and I keep custom POIs on my computer. So what is there to backup except Favorites? I'm really confused.

There is really nothing to be confused about, You should all ways do a complete back up of your computer, and since the garmin is a mass storage device, it should also be backed up.
Now you do what ever you want, but backing up data is a good thing, finding why not, is a very bad situation to be in.

Bob

Excuse my stupidity, but I don't know what "Data" I have on my 350,other than Favorites, that is not contained on the 2009 disc(therefore backed up). My POIs are on an SD card and also on an external drive connected to my laptop(therefore backed up). I know backing up data is important. I just don't understand what I would accomplish by copying every file and folder on my 350 to an external HD.

And most of them are small, you should back them up. It doesn't hurt to back up a file but it sure does to not back up one that you may need... I just backed up everything when I got my unit, and when I make a change I back it up agaim, but that's me...

By "Data" we mean all the files. Some of them are Nuvi firmware (ie OS) that you are using. The *.img files are the maps. You have different vehicles, different voices, different languages, pictures, audio book and mp3 files. We can go into more details if you like.

thetick,

I understand that. Keep in mind I did not download my 2009 update. I opted for the disc. Aren't the Nuvi firmware, *.img files, different vehicles, different voices and different languages on this disc? In other words, isn't everything I need on that disc except those things I added, ie, pictures, audio books, mp3 files, etc. The things I added are on my laptop and and on my external HD. Therefore, I just don't see why it is necessary to do a complete backup every couple of weeks. In fact, ever. I'm not being smart here. I just want to make sure I'm not missing something. Again, what is on my Nuvi that isn't already somewhere else.

dog_poop

I guess I don't understand the difference between "saved" and "backed up". Aren't they the same?

Here's my situation - maybe it will help you understand why I periodically do a backup.

On my nuvi 780, I now have stored many GPX files that I generated using MapSource. I also have several more vehicles that I downloaded from Garmin Garage. And finally, my custom POI file resides on my nuvi (in addition to residing on my SD card).

While it is true that I have all these files elsewhere (or can with some effort reacquire them), I personally think it's easier to just do a total backup of my nuvi drive to my desktop PC. And by backup, I mean using the Copy To command in Vista to save the nuvi folders to my desktop PC (I actually use my external harddrive for backups).

Anyway, that's my story and I'm sticking to it.......

Durango'

That's a good story and I would stick with it.

I have a Nuvi 350 and don't have the features of your 780. The only thing on my Nuvi is favorites. An SD card contains my POIs. I use an mp3 player connected to my radio for music. I could put mp3s on the Nuvi and play them through radio but the mp3 player holds more songs. Just my way of doing things.

The only files on your update disk is the .img file, and it is created when you run the update. The other files are updated by webupdater. You should backup the files to your computer so that they are available in the event of a malfunction or if you decide to delete some of them from your Nuvi to make space.

I also did a copy to my pc which was good. because I wasplaying around tring to get more space on my gsrmin, i deleted some files that I should not have. it was easyer to just copy the filles back than it was to restore from a Disc, I still saved some of my favortes and setting.

I do understand hat you are saying but you have to know that we put stuff in and redo so of the settings that it is easy to just recopy the needed files.