External memory problems

What happens if you copy 6 files that are 2 megs each?

I would try to see if there is a "free" utility out there that would verify the integretity of a hard drive.

Since the computer "sees" the GPS as a removable "Drive", then a utility that would check a drive for errors could verify whether the memory is defective or not.

If the external memory is OK, then I would increase the size of the "swap file" on the PC. If that doesn't work, then I would check out some of the PC forums and search them for similar problems with external memory - key words like: large file external memory problem

I think it's a PC problem, not the memory - but that's just a hunch.

The program h2testw

http://sosfakeflash.wordpress.com/2008/09/02/h2testw-14-gold...

will test SD memory. It's often used to detect counterfeit SD cards (either defective memory or cards that have had their memory size made to look larger than they really are). The link I provided has a link for the download as well.

I doubt that the card the OP has is a counterfeit since it fails at a fairly small file size but still the card may be defective and the h2testw program should flag that as well.

One other suggestion for fxs44 if you have a card reader in your PC is to transfer the larger file to the SD card via the PC's card reader and not try to do the transfer to the card while in the nuvi. It may also be worthwhile to reformat the SD card, preferably via the computer's cad reader, too, then try to use it in the nuvi.

Note to all: as much as I like eBay, be very cautious of buying seemingly too-good-to-be-true deals for large capacity SD memory cards on eBay, especially from sellers from China or Hong Kong. Many defective and counterfeit SD cards are knowingly sold by unscrupulous sellers.

how do i incrrease the size of the "swap" file?

Hi Frank,
You said the file didn't load to the internal memory with sd card removed and also didn't load on sd card. I believe you have a problem with the CSV file. Run POIloader again with only this file, there will be a message telling you X quantity of records were loaded. Record the quantity on records and compare this quantity to number of lines in the CSV file, should be same quantity.

If the file just hangs with no message check the CSV file for column titles on first line. Remove this line of text, should only have lat, log, description and additional inf.

Given the size of the file, I doubt that this is a POI csv file. If so, POILoader shouldn't be needed. I had been thinking the OP was loading images or mp3 files. fxs44, what are you trying to put on the SD?

Frank,

Those of you trying to help - please note that Frank said he tried to copy a file and next he tried to use POI-Loader. Both failed to write to the card. Don't know if he tried to use POI-Loader to write the normal GPS directory. If it will write to the GPS directory, then it's not the .csv file.

Frank, there are lots of folks here to help, but maybe you could supply some more info.

PC or Mac?
What operating system (OS)? PC would be Win 2000, Vista, etc. Mac would be ?.
What brand and model of GPS?
What brand and size of Memory stick?
Where was memory bought?
What type of files are you trying to transfer? (MP3 maybe?)
Have you been able to copy other files to the memory stick?

Did you try copying 6 files that are 2 megs in size? If so, what happened. Copy them one at a time. (Just find any file on the PC that is 2 megs in size and copy it to the Temp directory. Copy it again 5 times and give it a different name each time. Doesn't matter what is in the files or what they are named. Then copy them to the memory stick.) If it copies a few of them and then stops - the memory stick is defective or mis-labeled. If they all copy OK, just delete them.

You either have a bad memory stick or a buffering problem.

Don't mess with the swap file just yet - it is also known as a paging file. Windows (and other systems) use a file on the hard drive to swap data to and from memory in the system. Sometimes it's too small and causes problems, but a 12 meg file transfer should be OK under most conditions.

Wow, I appreciate all your help on this. New information. I finally got to a Garmin technician(very helpful once you get to one) We went through the same scenario that most of you have mentioned. It appearss I had the methodology correct. So he asked me to e-mail him the identical 11.9mb poi folder that i could not upload to my external memory. He got the same identical problem. Therefore the problem seems to be in the poi files themselves. Quote from Garmin:

Mr. Schott, I’ve been playing with this and it seems that the larger gpx files are the source of the trouble. I’m not sure of the difference between the two but I wonder if there might be some corrupt information in them. That would be my only thought as to why it isn’t working. Did you experience anything different?

Best Regards,

So I need to go through every file to see which one is corrupt. My concern now is whether POI factory has a lot of these corrupt files or is this just a aberration?

I have a nuve650 with a 2gb external memory card(PNY sd-m02g)made in Japan. Using a dell computer vostro 200. Thanks for your help. Frank

Good work. I had forgotten how big POI files can be--I checked and see that my directory with csv and their associated bmp and mp3 files total over 9.4MB. For what it's worth, my files successfully upload directly to my Garmin internal memory so I've never had to try to install them on a SD card.

It sounds like you know what to do next--install each of your POI files (with audio and bmp, if there) individually and see if one fails. If you do find one to be an issue, please let Miss POI or the manager of that file of your results.

For what it's worth, I have about a dozen POI files, most with a bmp and many with an associated mp3 file and they always install and work for me so I doubt that a corrupt file here occurs very often. Maybe you could tell us which files you're trying to load.

Which are your larger GPX files you are trying to load? If you try loading them into Extra_POI_Editor it should barf on a bad file. If it doesn't error, then keep trying the various GPXs until you find the files with errors. Download them again and see if you received an error in the D/L process. I suspect your connection as no one else has complained of a bad GPX except for the FL Golf file.

This is driving me crazy. After I tried to upload the 11.9mb file and it did not work I left the nuvi plugged in to my computer to charge the battery. After several hours i came back to unplug it and i had the message from the poi loader that all the files were uploaded. I checked the nuvi, and sure enough, the files were there. My conclusion is that it took several hours to upload 32 files (11.9mb) which I know is not right. So the problem now is that the files are being uploaded, but at a snails pace. So where does this leave me-a computer problem?-a SD problem?-or still a corrupt poi file problem? Thanks

Frank,

Here is an isolating technique we use at work to quickly find the problem file. Just a simple process of elimination.

Remove (move to another folder) 1/2 of the files and try to upload with POI-Loader.

If it fails then split those files.

If it works then try the other 1/2. (If both halves work, then it's the size that's the problem)

Keep splitting the 1/2 that fails untill you are down to 2 files. 1 of them should fail and now you won't have to examine all of them. Just one.

Hope this makes sense.

Free, or not. You don't need to do that.

I'll assume you probably have a PC with the ability to read an SD card

Take note of the capacity that's usually somewhere on the SD card. Plug your SD card into your computer.
1. Try to copy a file that's almost as big as the SD card to it. Then see verify the copy. If you have an 8gb or greater card, use several, 3 - 3.5 gb files. FAT32 has a 4gb size limit.

2. Format it, make sure you can do either FAT32 or NTFS.
If you can't maybe your system hasn't been configured correctly.
a. Go to My Computer>(Pick your USB Drive).
b. Right Click > Properties
c. Go to the hardware Tab on top
d. Choose your USB device and click on Properties.
e. Go to Policies on top.
f. Choose optimize for performance and click ok.
Now try the format again.
Format it NTFS. If you get an error then there's a good chance it is a fake.

FAT32 has an upper limit on Files at 4gb. so you will not be able to copy a 5gb file onto a FAT32 drive.

Also I'm not sure if your GARMIN can read NTFS or not, most can't. Not sure about all. So after you format it NTFS make sure you format it back to FAT32.

It was the following files:

National Register of Historic PLaces-South and West.
They are very large files and this may be the problem. Thanks for all the assistance on this problem. Frank