nüvi 760 slow startup and strange behavior
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16 years
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Hi, folks. Just joined POI Factory today. I got a new Garmin nüvi 760 a little over a week ago and really like the device. It's my first GPS unit, and I got it primarily for my wife who gets lost easily in unfamiliar places.
Didn't have any issues with the device until yesterday (Friday, February 13, 2009). We stopped for a bite to eat and got back in the car to continue navigating to where we were going. However, the device didn't startup. It just hung on the "loading maps" screen. So after about 60 seconds I turned it off and back on, and then it came back up as normal, albeit slowly.
The other weird thing is that the voice guidance randomly turned off. After getting home and bringing the device inside, I discovered that the voice had been set to a null value (but neither my wife nor I changed this setting).
So, after resetting the voice value and powering the device on and off a few times, everything seems back to normal. But I guess I'm just wondering if anyone has experienced anything like this with his or her Garmin device. Please let me know!
Thanks!
There could be multiple reasons for the loss
Thus causing this long discussion. I have no idea why my friends 760 lost it's voice but he said he corrected it by slapping it... Could that really correct it? Maybe if there is a loose connection or some such.. Possibly he did shut it down while it was loading the maps, but apparently some have lost the voice of their gps for other reashons....
It is terrible to speak well and be wrong. -Sophocles snɥɔnıɥdoɐ aka ʎɹɐƃ
thanks for the info
The loss of voice can be duplicated every time if the operator does a forced shut off of the GPS while the loading maps screen is still up and the startup file write routine has not completed. There are many posts on other forum sites that also document this happening.
The Garmin unit writes these files every time as it completes the booting startup routine:
GarminDevice.xml
sys_log.bin
Current.gpx
It appears if this file write process is not allowed to complete the voice setting is lost the next time it starts. If I was to guess it's the GarminDevice.xml file write routine that causes the loss of voice setting to happen.
The next time your 750 has the prolonged map loading screen try a forced shut off and see what happens.
Thanks for the info. So that is one of several ways to have the error occur, it seems.
The Nuvi 750 I used didn't have the prolonged start-up problem, but I did notice that the TTS setting would disappear if I used the FM transmitter. I could duplicate it almost every time.
So it seems like there are multiple causes for the TTS to go away. And this is a sign of very sloppy coding at Garmin.
To TomTom GPS fans, don't get me wrong, TomTom has its share of problems too, and sloppy coding as well (read the TomTom forums).
Sigh, it seems GPS makers are not very good at coding reliable software.
http://www.poi-factory.com/node/21626 - red light cameras do not work
LOL
Thus causing this long discussion. I have no idea why my friends 760 lost it's voice but he said he corrected it by slapping it... Could that really correct it? Maybe if there is a loose connection or some such.. Possibly he did shut it down while it was loading the maps, but apparently some have lost the voice of their gps for other reashons....
LOL that is a very strange one... who knows, chalk it up to very sloppy/buggy Garmin GPS software.
An annoying fact that we have no choice but live with.
http://www.poi-factory.com/node/21626 - red light cameras do not work
Since You're Such a Progamming and Design Genius:
It isn't the defrag routine that is causing the loss of the selected voice setting it's the turning off the GPS unit while the loading maps screen is still showing and the GPS hasn't finished booting that causes the loss of voice. If you look at the files in the unit after it has completed booting you will see that it has written some new files as it was in the process of booting.
Problems with lost settings, etc. also occur if you just shut off a computer while it is in the middle of a shut down sequence and can even prevent the computer from starting the next time.
If you go to the hidden diagnostics screen after the long map loading has occured you will usually see that a defrag has occured.
The following is a link to a screen shot from the hidden diagnostic screen on my 760 from last October:
http://home.comcast.net/~rjrsw2005/327.bmp
Yes I saw your picture yesterday before I posted. But I still doubt it that Garmin is really doing a "defrag". Yes your picture shows that Garmin is using the terminology, but I really doubt that it is the same "defrag" that we're all familiar with.
Like I said, none of my other flashed based devices have anything like defrag, so why is the Garmin device so special that it requires regular defrag? The defrag may be referring to cleaning of memory or something, but we won't know for certain until Garmin sheds light on this.
With regards to shutting down the GPS before it's ready causing these problems, that would be a software/programming error. People regularly shut down iPods, phones, cameras, Xbox, PS3, ninendo DS, Wii, many other electronic devices without having to wait for the device to completely finish doing whatever it's doing. Again, what makes Garmin so special that it requires this special dedicated shut down process?
And with multiple people confirming this problem, are we all so careless to be cutting off power to the Garmin unit and causing it to do the same thing? I seriously doubt it. We all have only one way to shut it down, via the shutdown button. There is no other way to initiate a shut down. Garmin somehow has not built a robust shutdown sequence that apparently prevents problems from occuring. Either that or the software is buggy and will randomly lose the TTS setting. I suspect it's a little of both.
Even with my Windows systems, unless I am in the middle of creating a new file and have not saved that file, I normally will not lose any settings or configuration if I just pull the plug. It's not recommended but it has happened (where I lost power, or Windows froze) and I have never lost data other than open sessions of applications where I was CREATING data, never reading data. Garmin again is not CREATING data, it's just a dumb TTS setting, so why could it get lost during improper shutdown?
It is probably attributed to sloppy Garmin coding, that is causing these problems.
And I have experienced this several times on a Nuvi 750, and I know for sure it was not due to any improver shut down. I had used the GPS to get to my location, and once I arrived, I cancelled the route (it sometimes doesn't cancel if you're not EXACTLY at your destination), so nothing else was running, and then shut it down properly. Garmin showed the "shutting down" screen and then shut itself off. And then I experienced the TTS voice loss. This does not jive with the above explanations of "improper shut down".
So bottom line, folks, is that it is buggy / sloppy Garmin coding, probably causing this. Highly doubtful it's defrag / improper (user action) shutdown that's causing this.
Since you're so knowledgeable about how Garmin devices work, and how to program them, why don't you just trot right on over to Olathe, KS and straighten Garmin out on how to write their software, and how to properly program their devices.
While you're at it, show them all the devices you've invented and programmed, and the years of R&D you've done on GPSrs.
Frank DriveSmart66 37.322760, -79.511267
A little off the subject but still regarding longer boot times..
I have notice my 270 takes about 10 secs longer to boot.. err.. load maps with the SD card installed, which figures it has Mexico, and part of the topo map on it.. About 20 secs no SD, about 30 with SD... so as stated elsewhere the more junk in the trunk, the longer the time it takes to boot.. err load maps...
Edit I don't have my 770 handy, but if I hold the speedometer for about 5 secs i.e. speed>speedometer.. I enter a screen that has a listing for "abnormal Powerdown" hmmm....
It is terrible to speak well and be wrong. -Sophocles snɥɔnıɥdoɐ aka ʎɹɐƃ
why the trolling?
Since you're so knowledgeable about how Garmin devices work, and how to program them, why don't you just trot right on over to Olathe, KS and straighten Garmin out on how to write their software, and how to properly program their devices.
While you're at it, show them all the devices you've invented and programmed, and the years of R&D you've done on GPSrs.
Why are you trolling?
I never claimed to be a programming genius. However I work in IT, with hardware / OS / databases /portable devices every day, and I know what defrag is and is not, and how defrag errors can cause problems and how they don't cause problems.
While I have never programmed a GPS, it's true the GPS cannot defy the laws and rules of hardware / software. It doesn't matter if I've never created a GPS, I know how flash memory works, how OS works, how databases work, and how OS interacts with DBs and hardware (flash based or hard drive based). Think I'm qualified just by a little bit to comment in this thread?
I'm merely explaining why it's not possible that defrag is causing these problems.
Why are you so hostile to someone who is taking the time to explain why defrag could not be the root cause? If you care to contribute with some useful knowledge, please do so. Otherwise I suggest you refrain from trolling.
http://www.poi-factory.com/node/21626 - red light cameras do not work
Ooooooo
While you're at it, show them all the devices you've invented and programmed, and the years of R&D you've done on GPSrs.
What are you, 10 years old ??
Grow up.
Magellan Maestro 4250// MIO C310X
Not just Garmin
In spite of all the "informed" opinion about defragging SSD drives it appears that even Intel may be looking at this:
http://arstechnica.com/hardware/news/2009/02/intel-cant-yet-...
What a Maroon
Since you're so knowledgeable about how Garmin devices work, and how to program them, why don't you just trot right on over to Olathe, KS and straighten Garmin out on how to write their software, and how to properly program their devices.
While you're at it, show them all the devices you've invented and programmed, and the years of R&D you've done on GPSrs.
Why are you trolling?
I never claimed to be a programming genius. However I work in IT, with hardware / OS / databases /portable devices every day, and I know what defrag is and is not, and how defrag errors can cause problems and how they don't cause problems.
While I have never programmed a GPS, it's true the GPS cannot defy the laws and rules of hardware / software. It doesn't matter if I've never created a GPS, I know how flash memory works, how OS works, how databases work, and how OS interacts with DBs and hardware (flash based or hard drive based). Think I'm qualified just by a little bit to comment in this thread?
I'm merely explaining why it's not possible that defrag is causing these problems.
Why are you so hostile to someone who is taking the time to explain why defrag could not be the root cause? If you care to contribute with some useful knowledge, please do so. Otherwise I suggest you refrain from trolling.
A) I'm not trolling and you haven't seen hostile, yet.
B) You obviously have no idea what a troll is.
C) You obviously need to run right over and straighten Garmin out, since according to you, their units couldn't possibly be doing what they say it's doing.
Do you own a Garmin? Can you speak with authority from Garmin as to what their units are doing?
Frank DriveSmart66 37.322760, -79.511267
Enough
A). . . and you haven't seen hostile, yet.
We've seen enough here and elsewhere to know you like to pick fights. Stop it.
Nuvi 660 -- and not upgrading it or maps until Garmin fixes long-standing bugs/problems, and get maps to where they are much more current, AND corrected on a more timely basis when advised of mistakes.
I don't think it's defrag, either
I'm merely explaining why it's not possible that defrag is causing these problems.
I don't think it's defrag that's causing the problem, either. I have seen the defag notice in the status screens for a very long time. It only started this behavior with firmware 4.6. And it was "defragging" long before this problem started.
My suspicion is with the Trip Log. It keeps building in size every day until you reach 10,000 points and then starts overwriting the older data. I notice that if I delete the Trip Log it goes back to a 10-15 second boot time. Then it slowly builds up to a 3-5 minute "loading maps" delay until I delete the trip log again.
I don't know what they changed with 4.6, but to me, it seems tied to the Trip Log.
Or maybe they are forcing an ephemeris download more often. Who really knows?
And why are we arguing about something that we just don't know what's really going on?
Where?
A). . . and you haven't seen hostile, yet.
We've seen enough here and elsewhere to know you like to pick fights. Stop it.
May I enquire as to where that may be?
Frank DriveSmart66 37.322760, -79.511267
Picking fights
A). . . and you haven't seen hostile, yet.
We've seen enough here and elsewhere to know you like to pick fights. Stop it.
May I enquire as to where that may be?
Could this be an example. OH WAIT, I don't pick fights so I really don't know what I'm talking about.
Jack j
settle down guys. Let's get
settle down guys. Let's get back on topic please.
Miss POI
This is why. Thank you!
I notice that if I delete the Trip Log it goes back to a 10-15 second boot time. Then it slowly builds up to a 3-5 minute "loading maps" delay until I delete the trip log again.
And why are we arguing about something that we just don't know what's really going on?
The messages continue for a variety of reasons, some related to ego........
My intent was to keep it going long enough that someone would propose another (more plausible) explanation.
It now appears that YOU have done that. Hopefully those who have noticed the problem will try your "fix" and/or contact Garmin to complain.
Over and out.
Magellan Maestro 4250// MIO C310X
There's Your Answer
The loss of voice can be duplicated every time if the operator does a forced shut off of the GPS while the loading maps screen is still up and the startup file write routine has not completed. There are many posts on other forum sites that also document this happening.
The Garmin unit writes these files every time as it completes the booting startup routine:
GarminDevice.xml
sys_log.bin
Current.gpx
It appears if this file write process is not allowed to complete the voice setting is lost the next time it starts. If I was to guess it's the GarminDevice.xml file write routine that causes the loss of voice setting to happen.
The next time your 750 has the prolonged map loading screen try a forced shut off and see what happens.
There's your answer. Garmin is rewriting certin files, probably for efficiency. rjrsw solved the problem, or at least identified what is happening.
His post should have ended this thread with maybe the exception of Thank-Yous to rjrsw.
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