New User? We need your help.

If you have just bought a new Garmin GPS unit, you can be of help to us by answering some questions about the unit, its internal memory and some files. To reciprocate, we can do something for you.

You have probably already registered your GPS so you know how to hook the unit up to your PC. Why don’t you get your unit and USB cable so we can get started.

On of the most important things every user (new or old) needs to do is make a backup. Before we ask you some questions, backup your GPS by following this procedure:

STEP A. Connect your GPS to your computer using your USB cable. Wait for the GPS screen to show it is connected and ready to receive files (Black screen with an ICON at the bottom showing it is connected to the computer.) Your computer should alert you that it has found a new removable device and offer several options - one of which is to “Open folder to view files in Windows Explorer.”
STEP B. Open Windows Explorer and make a note of the drive letter which is shown as “Garmin Nuvi” (or Streetpilot or Zumo - we will assume Nuvi) Make sure that you see both a left and a right pane in Windows Explorer. If you do not, then click on the Folders option just below the menu bar.
STEP C. Now, left click on your C:\ Drive to highlight it and show its contents.
STEP D. Move your cursor into the right pane and right click in a blank space anywhere within the pane. Select New > Folder. For the name, type in something like Garmin Backup 2010mmdd (where mm is today’s month and dd is today’s date). Press Enter to accept the name.
STEP E. If you have not already set Windows Explorer to show hidden files and extensions , follow this prodedure.
1. In the Menu bar, click on Tools > Folder Options… and then select the View tab of the Folder Options dialog box.
2. Uncheck the box next to “Hide extensions for known file types.” Click the radio button to select “Show hidden files and folders”
3. Click Apply at the bottom of the dialog box
4. Click the selection bar near the top of the dialog box that says “Apply to all Folders.”
5. Click Ok to accept your changes.
STEP F. Go to the Gamin Nuvi drive in the left pane and left click to select it.
STEP G. Move your cursor into the right pane and right click on a blank space anywhere within the right pane.
STEP H. Do a CNTL-A to select all the files; then do a CNTL-C to copy all the files.
STEP I. Return to the folder you just created in Step D. above by finding it in the left pane. Left click on it to select it. Since it was just created, there will be no files in it. Move your cursor into the right pane Left click anywhere in the right pane and do a CNTL-V to paste all the files from the Garmin.

Now, you have a backup and will be protected if something goes awry in the future. You ought to create a new backup before you make any major change to your unit - like new maps.

Now, please answer some questions for us. You should write down your answers before doing a reply to this post.

Go back to the Garmin Nuvi drive letter and left click on it to select it and show its contents. Now, right click on it and select Properties. On the right side of the Properties dialog box, make a note of the Used space, Free space and Capacity.

Now double click on the Garmin folder in the right pane of the Garmin Nuvi drive to open it and show its contents. Then, double on the POI folder to open it and show its contents. Make a note of the name of any .gpi file(s).

Now it the time to “Reply” to this post. But - before you do so, use your cursor to highlight the questions below and do a CNTL-C to copy what you highlighted. When you reply, you can do a CNTL-V to paste the questions into your reply and then answer them.

Click on the “reply” link at the bottom of the page to proceed and thanks for your help.

1. name and model of your GPS
2. Used space
3. Free space
4. Capacity
5. Name of any .gpi files in POI folder.