corrupt POI folder on 765T

Will Windows let you rename the POI folder to something else? If so, maybe then you can delete it and create a new POI folder. Just a guess.

What about trying to run the Chkdsk utility on the Nuvi drive and letting it try to correct the error. It sounds like the error is at the file/folder disk structure level.

If I understand the post corectly when you hook the gps unit up to the computer and go to the Garmin folder then to the poi folder you can see the poi.gpi.You say it will not let you delete it.Try moving it to the recycle bin or rename it and see if it will let you delete it.

Gary A I must have been typing while you were posting.

I just looked at my main nuvi "drive" and the SD card (used for mp3 music files) with Windows XP. Both are formatted FAT32. The problem could be a corruption in the FAT (file allocation table) that's not allowing you to write to or delete the POI folder. If it is a problem with the FAT, it needs to be fixed first.

I successfully ran the Windows chkdsk on both the main nuvi unit and the SD card, so it does work. I would strongly recommend running the chkdsk utility on the main nuvi unit and put a check mark in the box that says Automatically fix file system errors.

I can't see the poi.gpi file itself, because I can't open the POI folder

I will take a shot at renaming the folder, but I really doubt that it will let me.

and I will try the chkdsk utility too...I hadn't thought of that

thanks guys...gives me a few safe things to try while waiting for an email reply from Garmin tech support.

Similar thing happened to my friend's GPS unit. He unpluggged the unit without clicking "safely remove hardware" first. As a result, all kind of errors appeared when his GPS was switched on. Worse than your problem.

He plugged the unit back to his notebook, tried to open a folder and got the same message you saw "file/folder corrupted". Then he ran check disk from Windows (by right clicking the drive name). He said the option that he clicked was "Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors". The other option (Automatically fix file system errors) isn't checked.

When completed, he safely removed his GPS from the notebook, switched it off and back on. Voila! Back to normal.

Good luck.

You can also try using the program called Unlocker located at: --- (moderation note: ccollomb.free.fr is no longer in operation)

It will unlock/delete stubborn folders and files that you just can't get rid of. We use it (and recommend it) at a computer website forum that I belong to. It is quite successful.

Another trick we use is to try and delete a stubborn file by entering safe mode of the computer.

assuming that chkdsk doesn't do the trick, and I need to try something else, can I simply use the suggestions above to delete the POI folder, and whatever else might be in it, and then simply create a new one and run POI Loader?

will POI Loader then create a new poi.gpi, and whatever other files may have been in that folder?

can any of you please tell me what I should see in there?

or should I just rely on my backup, and copy it's POI folder over, after getting rid of the corrupted POI folder.

remember, I can't open the POI folder at all, and therefore I can't delete just poi.gpi

Have you verified that this is the *only* folder/file that has problems? I would first run chkdsk and see if it fixes things. There could be more areas on the drive that have unseen errors that could cause future problems.

Sometimes, it's better just to reformat the drive and restore the files from your backup. Or just backup your current nuvi drive's contents to disk (drag and drop), except for the bad POI folder. Then format the drive and restore the files from the new backup. Using the new backup will ensure that you have the most recent voice/vehicles/etc files that you've downloaded. Then use your old backup to restore the POI folder. I believe the only default files/folders in there are:

006D135900.gpi (file)
ddb (folder, contains downloaded OTA MSN Direct files, may only exist if you've connected to an MSN Direct receiver)

Personally, I'd go the full reformat route just to make sure there are no lingering issues. You should have no problem with the unit running strange...if it does, that would be the firmware's fault, not the files you've replaced.

my 765T is out of my hands at the moment, but I should be able to try the chkdsk approach shortly.

failing that, a reformat and restore

BTW, I believe it was a post of yours, that had me making backups to begin with...thank you for that.

chkdsk did the trick!

I was a little surprised that it removed the POI directory completely, but restoring it from the backup as per all of your suggestions was no problem.

as a matter of fact, since I didn't have any POI's loaded, that directory may have been empty, and all I would have needed to do was to create an empty one.

I did power it up, and I have my Extras and Proximity icons again.

the real test will be my drive home from work tonight, but I am pretty confident that "Jill" and I are back in business.

thanks to everyone who responded...what a great place this is

Glad the chkdsk worked.

Its a little late now, but just for your info, there is only one file in the Garmin\Poi folder on my 660 and that is the poi.gpi file, which is the custom POIs I have loaded.

So you should be fine. After you reload any custom POIs with POI Loader, you should again see a poi.gpi file in that folder.

BTW, I have disconnected my 660 from the PC USB cable without using Safely Remove Hardware and never had a problem. I just make sure that any program that writes to the device has finished and been closed first. As long as I don't disconnect the USB cable while a program is in the process of writing to the device, I've never had a problem.

I've always done it this way after running POI Loader. It causes the GPS to reboot in GPS mode automagically so I can check the POIs I've just loaded. Using the Safely Remove Hardware causes the GPS to power off and go into charging mode for as long as it remains cabled to the PC, so that when you do finally disconnect the cable, it does not reboot on its own, you have to use the power switch to turn it on. Different models may work differently.

In general it's recommended to safely remove it before physically pulling the USB plug. This is true especially if we configure the USB device policies to "Optimize for performance" instead of "Optimize for quick removal". I've unplugged a USB device without removing it first. So far it's been fine.

I've alway clicked Safely Removed Hardware before unplugging my Nuvi. It still shows both symptoms regardless. I've seen it shuts off completely when USB cable is unplugged. I've seen it starts to load Maps too. It has a mind of its own.

EDIT
(additional info)
I just connected my GPS to the notebook. Here's what happens:
- Connect GPS to notebook while GPS is OFF
- About 5 minutes later, click Safely Remove Hardware
- Unplug USB cable immediately

at this point, Nuvi screen shows a timer with 2 buttons "Turn Off" "Stay On"

- Press "Stay On"
it starts loading the maps

- About 5 minutes later, reconnect GPS to notebook while it's ON
- Another 5 minutes passes, click Safely Remove Hardware
- Unplug USB cable immediately

GPS doesn't prompt me with a timer anymore. It's completely off. I have to slide the button to turn it back on.