How do I back up my map for my nuvi before upgrading OS

If you want to back up your maps from your 760, they are the single file in the garmin folder of your gps named gmapprom.img (it's over a gig in size) and you can simply copy it to your PC over the USB port if you wish to have a backup copy of your maps.

By the way... Your maps are by far the largest single file out there. If to back them up why not just back up ALL the files in the 760. The size isn't that much more.

I appreciate it

I don't see the relevance of upgrading to Win 7 and backing up your GPS unless you are realling talking about Mapsource maps on your computer.

For the GPS itself, I burn the contents of the entire GPS onto a DVD.

Not sure about capturing updated maps installed from a download into Mapsource on your computer. If this is the case, its something I've thought about and would like to know how to do it.

It's not necessary to backup your map to upgrade your OS. Maybe you're referring to the update file on your computer. If so, you don't need to worry about it. IT's merely an update on your pc, I usually uninstall the update from my pc after I've completed the upgrade as it just takes up space.

I read on Wired.com that if you're changing from Windows XP to v7 then you need to do a "clean install" which involves formatting your hard drive before hand. So you need to back up all your files, install Win7, then bring your files back in. If you have Vista and want to go to Win7 this is not necessary.

When you update from XP to 7 you do a "Custom Install" not a "Clean Install". The difference is that all your data is saved in a folder called Windows.old on the C drive. Once the upgrade is finished you do need to reinstall your software but all of your data can be restored from the Windows.old folder. Once everything is up and running again you can delete the Windows.old folder from your system.

You should have an exe file that was included with the updated maps from Garmin. That or the DVD will need to be installed after a clean Win7 install, as there are registry items that MapSource needs to find the maps and the Add/Remove Programs also has registry items and an uninstall file. Just backing up the map files is useless.

I subscribe to numaps. On the last update, if my recollection serves me well, the gmapsupp.img file on the GPS was revised to the latest version. While, on the PC, maps for the latest version were added, keeping the old version intact. Seems like it once it started everything both the PC and GPS had the latest version available.

I don't recall getting an installation file. So, the question remains as to how install the latest version of CNNA if no dvd is available.

The downloaded exe file for NuMaps does a number of things when you run it:

- installs a new version of Mapsource on your PC if applicable

- installs the new maps, in individual .img files, in the C:\Garmin directory in an appropriately named folder (CNNANT2009 for the 2009 maps)

- builds a new mapset for transfer to your Nuvi and names the set gmapprom.img

- installs the gmapprom.img file on your Nuvi

Note that the gmapsupp.img file you refer to is the basemap file not the City Navigator maps and may also get updated in the same way as described above (?)

There is no .img file in the garmin folder of my 1310. Should there be?
I have show hidden files/folders ticked on my WinXP Explorer and the 1310 does work... there is just nothing in that folder.

I have read that on the 1xxx nuvi's they have moved the map file to a folder named .system. It is a hidden folder so you have to go into folder options (on your computer) and allow it to show hidden files and folders and protected operating system files.

Correct. I have a 1250T and the maps (base and detailed) are in system folder. If you want the folder to be visible you have to make sure that protected operating system files are not hidden.

You should have backed up your nuvi anyways. I don't know about the rest of these guys but I back up my nuvi before i do an upgrade anyways, which means i can go back to what i had if something goes wrong, or back to what i had when i bought it. I also have a directory dedicated to my Garmin on another drive, which is backed up also. Garmin programs go into my C: drive. I make sure those programs point to my dedicated Garmin directory on my other drive. I do that with all my important stuff. It's a pain at first to remember this stuff but it becomes second nature after a while. 99% of the time it's your c: drive that goes first. If you partition that drive and your OS corrupts its self and your important stuff is on that other partition it will be safe. I still have drives here from the early 80's. Very small...lol. I have drawer full of them, 30 at least. I learned very early on THE HARD WAY. I haven't lost a thing since, because of hardware failure. Remember your main drive is always moving. The others don't move as much. Leaving the puter on 24/7 is also way better for those hard drives than turning them off. Hope this makes sense to you.

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