nuvi 855 update death
    14 years
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After resting content with a GPS V for many years, I've purchased a nuvi 855 for routine car use, and an Etrex Vista HCx for travel and hiking use.
I enjoyed the 855 for a couple of hours yesterday, then attempted updates. The base map update would not start up in Google Chrome, so I switched to IE8. It appeared to download and install OK (so saith the progress prompts).
In the morning I checked out myDashboard, which asserted that I had a "software update" available. The last step in the process advised is to check again--It still wanted to offer me an update, so I went around the loop three or four times.
At the end of this process, I attempted to use the device. For almost five minutes the satellite status had only one red bar--then finally it got satellites and a correct position, but no map data (nothing to view, no address associated with my position fix, no POI finds).
After spending a half hour with first line Garmin support, and an hour and a half with "software support" I had reinstalled both base map and firmware under direct tutelage, with no change in behavior. The support person advised return. Happily Amazon made that part painless.
What update methods do you suggest? I don't want to leave my base map as delivered, nor do I wish to forgo firmware updates. Do you think WebUpdater better than MyDashboard?
Thanks for any safety tips--I don't think this was a hardware failure, so I'm frightened of ruining another unit.
Both Garmin support types declare my specific problem combination unusual. (the map image and key files are there, just not somehow used by the unit).
webupdater should do the
webupdater should do the job. I think you just got a bad unit that didn't show it's true colors until you tried something other than the factory disk image.
myDashboard worked for me
I used the myDashboard and updated the maps without any problems. Maybe somehow your map download got corrupted which in turn corrupted your device.
Part of the problem is
Part of the problem is you used "My Dashboard." This is a flawed interface that always tells you you have an update and then never says what it updates - most of the time, it only says that to make you think it is doing something.
Use Web updater and watch this board. It will tell you when new software is released for your unit(s) and what the updates will do.
Just to proof that my dashboard doesn't know what it's talking about, hook up the unit to the PC, run web updater and check for not only system but other updates. Then use My Dashboard and see what it says - every time you bring it up.
ɐ‾nsǝɹ Just one click away from the end of the Internet
How about maps?
From comments here and elsewhere, I do intend to use WebUpdater rather than MyDashboard for system software updates--in particular I like the sense of control of being told what is proposed to be replaced, and being able to decline individual elements.
Any comments on favored map update entry points?
My own guess, by the way, is some oddity in the update process corrupted a file on the unit not actually meant to be updated by either the map or the system update, so that redoing those updates did not clear it away. But I agree that a pre-existing hardware fault which just happened not to matter in the prior configuration is a real possibility as well.
The good news is that mostly I really liked the unit before it died.
personal GPS user since 1992
Just got my free update map
Just got my free update map from "My Dashboard", for the 855. Everything seems to be OK, although I haven't yet used all the options available.
Took about 1 1/2 hrs to download, another hour for it to load the Garmin and then about 1/2 hour to fcomplete everything.
nuvi 855. Life is not fair. I don't care who told you it is.
Don't put too much faith in Webupdate either
I just returned 2 765Ts to Amazon after the software update from Webupdated killed both nuvis. They were replacements for my 1st 765T that had a terrible touchscreen. Immediately after each of the replacements was done with the update it flashed "No System Software" on the display and then shut down. Both failed to turn on after that. I suspect it was a bad update from Garmin but both crashed about a week apart. It may not be related to your 855 but Garmin has some issues to work out with regards to their software updates. I gave up after trashing the 2 765Ts and ended up sending my original one back to Garmin for repair. Shouldn't have these hastles on a 2 week old GPS. Garmin used to be much better.