Garmin 855 Mapsource

Mapsource is compatible with most Garmins and the map and Mapsource will install in the computer if you run the latest map update file again that you installed when you got your 855 and did the free map update.

Just unplug the 855 when it says it is building the map file for the GPS and it will abort the GPS install but Mapsource and the map will be in the computer. If you just install Mapsource alone no map will be available and it will not work.

Thank you. Very informative.

When you do a map update to your Garmin, MapSource will install to your computer, and then update your GPS with the latest maps.

You don't have to unplug your GPS for MapSource to install.

Thanks. I deleted the last map update from my computer due to the size of the file. I guess I have to wait for the next map update, I bought the lifetime updates.

Back them up to a DVD or DVD-RW to make sure you can restore your unit if there is a problem with a current version. It's a cheap investment.

I bought 50 Verbatim DVD-RW's for $20.

One of Garmin's people told me if you run the update file you have to have MapSource installed or it will just update the GPS, in other words the update file will not install MapSource. I asked him about updating just MapSource on one of my other computers and he said to hook the GPS up, run the file, and when it starts building the maps, unplug the GPS. I haven't did the MapSource update on my other machine yet so I'm just going by what he told me.

According to the Garmin people if you deleted the file you can call them and they will set it up so you can download it again.

I best price I've found on the RWs was about 60 cents apiece. Where did you get yours?

I also picked up a Western Digital 500Gig USB portable drive for $99.00, very handy.

I can't remember where I got them, but they were on sale I believe. As far as MapSource, it was downloaded and installed when I got my free map update.

You can get mapsource by Installing Training Center: http://www8.garmin.com/support/download_details.jsp?id=835. Then download the MapSource update: http://www8.garmin.com/support/download_details.jsp?id=209

Using the Training Center software and the Mapsource Update is an excellent way to get a working copy of Mapsource on your computer, however if you don't have a copy of a map update then Mapsource doesn't have any maps to use. Redbull-1 will still have to wait for the next update as he has deleted his update file.

Yes, this is how I got the map update installed on two computers that use MapSource but a single Nuvi. I wanted the ability to program my Nuvi from either my desktop computer as well as from my laptop. And Garmin is fine with that.

I did the full map upgrade process using my desktop computer which already had MapSource installed and Nuvi connected, so it updated the Nuvi map and MapSource at the same time.

Then I moved the Nuvi to my laptop and copied the downloaded map file to the laptop and ran it again. After the initial internet connection to Garmin was obtained to verfy the subscription or license code is valid, I unplugged the Nuvi. The installer copies the map data to MapSource first, and then downloads to the Nuvi. So after it was done with MapSource it couldn't find the Nuvi any more and I was able to abort the process. Pretty easy, actually.