I deleted Gmapprom.Img from my Nuvi 265w HELP!

You would need to use Mapsource to re-load maps onto the device. How old is the unit? Should be able to have Garmin send you the Mapsource Maps for the year your device was release.

Or if you want a true, quick fix, but its not legal, find an unlocked mapset online and put that onto your device. Happened with my friend whose device was formatted (similar dumb mistake to your's) and it was just quicker and less hassle to download it as a torrent. Just giving you options, you make the call.

First try a hard reset... Hold the on-off button down for 10-15 seconds and let it reboot.

Second (if that doesn't work), prepare to buy a SD memory chip (2 Gb) to transfer a map onto that chip to do the work of the original map. [Garmin seems to have a proprietary O/S and I am unable to see all the files on the GPS.]

Third... You may have to resort to the above advise (dockster) and load another map on to the SD chip.

You mentioned that Windows doesn't see the drive. Have you plugged the computer cable into the Garmin while the Garmin is off? If you tried this, and the device still wasn't recognised, you may have problems greater that just the missing file.

Wow seems like you screwed up! why did you erase the file in the first place? Call Garmin support maybe they can be of some help.
Or did that sound to much like parenting?

I have repaired a few units in the past for people that can't go to Garmin for answers because they have bricked their units trying to use cracked maps.

Now I'm no saying that's your situation but Garmin should be able you get you to the map image you have coming for that unit.

Here is a place to start:
http://www.garmin.be/missing.html

Thank you.
Although my concern is that neither of those methods would work because the computer does not recognize the nuvi 265w.

The only way it might work is if it is possible to somehow load the map on the card and insert that in the device and have it boot off the card... I am not sure that is possible. And I don't know if I need to name the mapsource gmapprom.img or gmapsupp.img.

so there are several ifs
if the device can somehow communicate with the sd card before the infinite loader screen. Then if it would recognize the new correct mapsource. Then if the incorrect mapsouce and or image file name of the one I tried to put on there in place of the first 1gb that no longer exists. I know impossible is just an opinion. This can be done.

Also if teh computer could somehow view the device I could delete the incorrect file and or get garmin to send me a back up of mine or possible download a same one which I do have a right to have.

Dockser
we don't talk about hacks here of any type.

thank you I proceeded to that link and downloaded the 2x5.
But the files are only 4 mb what exactly do they do and are they?

recognized by your computer! you want the "w" file since you have a wide unit!

http://www.garmin.be/Downloads/UnitSoft/Nuvi2x5W/2x5W.zip

post

after I run the updater it says there are no usb devices available.

Why don't you just call Garmin and tell them that you erased the map tied to your GPS unit's serial number and explain what file you replaced it with and ask them if they can help you out.

Unless you have the copy of the file you erased you are out of luck trying to fix it on your own.

Let us know how that works out for you.

alright I will consider calling them and explaining a third time but I don't think they will want to help me seeing that the device is well over its 1 year warranty without their 90 surcharge... The device needs some kind of Jtag because it never enters operational mode. Sequence: it turns on, shows the first garmin logo screen. Then shows screen loading maps the bottom bar scrolls over. then third screen says garmin then on top it says loader loading...
and stays there..

Unresponsive.

is there some way of getting the device recognized by windows in preboot. Or through some type of safe mode where the maps do not start to load and is accessible through a user interface instead of locking up upon not recognizing the file its as though Garmin decided to brick units that users chose to alter as a punishment. Which doesn't seem fair there should be some ability of prevent users form doing things they don't want while allowing them to go back to the state they purchased the unit for. I read someone deleted it by mistake trying to add mp3s. Well either way its the persons fault for deleting the file, but I realized what the file was and followed instructions that obviously didn't pan out. Though I should be able to access the user interface and refresh, delete, and or add proper files to make the unit work properly as I paid for. As it is not physically broken. If the garmin techs fix this then I can too. So I just need to know what they know so I don't have to give them 90 dollars for something that is not tangible that I already own but don't have.

Loader loading has nothing to do with the map file you said you erased.

It is trying to initiate a firmware update. The firmware is hidden so you didn't erase the operating system. Exactly what was the file or files you copied on to the unit?

Garmin is usually very helpful with people that made an honest mistake and normally do not charge unless the person was attempting to load something illegal!

a map of lebanon which garmin doesn't supply for purchase.
I work for USMC and was being sent there.
So I found a garmin compatible map deleted the main renamed that one and placed it on my 265w.

Then what you should of done instead of erasing anything is just name the additional map file "gmapsupp.img" and just copy it into the Garmin directory and you would have had both maps available.

You could have put that map named "gmapsupp.img" on a SD card if the 265 didn't have room.

well I hope that comment helps some poor sap that is thinking about this in the future. But I unfortunately read someones instructions and did rename that map to that and deleted the one from my device. So what method may I replace the crapmap with the right Garmin image file.

in theory if I put the original on the sd card and renamed it to gmapsupp.img will it get it picked up and I will have both maps?

one not working and one that allows me to access the device again via windows to delete the failure map and replace the original with the original name. Then delete the map of the sd card. I am not sure if the device reads from the card before it does its own main drive. Is there a boot sequence? Or are both read at the same time.

Gmapprom.Img has to be in main memory while the supplemental can be on an SD card.

does it matter what the map on the main drive is called? does it matter the folder name or if it is in a folder on my sd card does the capitalization matter?

Thank You

Yes, it matters what the map is called. The xml file looks for a specific map to load. Always put maps where they were originally, and using the same names. This eliminates any issues you may experience.

I put gmapsupp.img on my card in the Garmin folder, and have never had a problem.

Are there certain gmapsupp.img files that are not compatible with my nuvi 265w.

well I placed GMAPSUPP.IMG which is 1.3GB 2010 for usa and mexico in the folder D:/garman on my sd card and it does not work. I have also tried renaming it to GMAPPROM.IMG

the folder has nothing else in it.
I have one more folder on my sd card called program files is this file normal? Also I am doing this by using my sd card slot in my laptop.

Still the same LOADER LOADING...

The folder should be D:/garmin not D:/garman

It would need to go in the root directory on the unit itself, if it were to work. That's where the nuvi would look for it to load.

I believe on many units, only one gmapsupp.img can be on the card and in use at one time. Many here use different SD's to load various supplemental maps i.e. Mexico, regions of the US, etc.

Have you tried to use a recovery program to undelete the file yet?

it was garmin not garman but smart call i realize i misspell garmin.

undelete from where? the main drive?

I can't access the garmin or sd card with garmin via computer at all.

Someone already mentioned hard reset but I'm not sure if you have tried resetting or not. Have you reset it?

It is also worth trying a different USB port on your PC. Try each one of them.

yes i have held the power button off for 15 seconds.
I have found the little lever under the sticker and held that until the screen went white then booted again.
I have found the pressure point in the top left corner to enter some kind of configure mode (the the brilliant garmin tech support didn't even know about he just said bottom right and when nothing happened he was astonished!) the configuration still gets over ridden exactly the same time the loader loading screen would appear if I hadn't configured it upon boot and goes to loader loading permanently. I'm about to open this thing up

I will throw a thought out but I do not know if it will work. Others will have to give their opinions on this.

The garmin drive is Fat32. It is just a drive. Mine is seen by computer management in XP. Would "Garmanwonthelp's" drive be seen by computer management? It probably should because unformatted drives are seen there before they are formatted. Would there be a way (after a reformat) to put all the software back on? What is included in a software download?

If I understand it correctly, OP's computer doesn't even recognize there's a device connected to the USB port. If that's the case, you won't see anything in the Disk Management but doesn't hurt to take a look. Since we can't see what OP sees, only OP can answer that question.

I checked in computer management. nil

yes you are correct universal plug and play does not recognize the garmin nuvi 265w when plugged in via usb.
I have tried 3 different computers and 3 different data traversable usb cords.

No ding.

Computer management will recognize devices before windows will. Since it can not see the 265w, then I do not think there is anything that can be done. You have to have access to the drive in windows to attempt any recovery. I would bet that there is a way to flash it with a connector internal on the unit. That is how the company I work for can recover some of our boards. It is special cables, connectors, and software.
I do not know if a live linux cd (run from cd) will be able to see it.

i will find out...

this much will happen too
if the device is off
i plug in the usb cord from the computer to the device the device turns on.

You had to be on drugs, for you to delete the gmappron file like that!! Is it possible it is still in your trash folder in Windows? If it is, right click on it and select "restore". As for contacting and expecting help from Garmin to help you with a 3 year old unit, would be a waste of time. I called about my StreetPilot 340 a year or so ago. They point blank refused to help at all unless it was less than 2 years old.

AFAIK files deleted from flash drives doesn't get into Windows recycle bin. At this point, OP should try one of those recovery software with its own boot media. Or try a PC with different operating systems (Mac OS, Linux).

Garmanwonthelp I had a similar symptons with my 765 after I loading a large quanity of maps through mapsource. For whatever reason, corrupt file, bad map, who knows, the Nuvi would not boot up in normal mode nor would it boot up so windows could set it as a drive. It would just power up to the loading message, crash and start over, all by itself. After working tech support and they could not resolve it so I was given an RMA to send it back for repair. Not wanting to be without if for weeks I kept playing. I found a technique which I can only paraphrase now, so the steps may not be exact. But once it booted correctly, I was able to find and delete the offending file (the supplemental map file) and reboot it and all was well.

In my case, I recall that if I did a master reset of Nuvi while it was under USB power from the PC the unit would go through it's reset and start asking the normal questions. But after answering the unit's questions the Nuvi would crash and turn off. Immediately it would try to power back on again.
Anyhow, on this very next boot cycle windows would see it. However, if the USB cable was not connected during the very first restart Windows would not see it once the cable was connected.

Maybe there is something about this technique that you can adapt and will find useful.

Thank You Mbrun
I will read your post a few more times and play with my 265w and my pc. But I have tried variations but will try again.

And I will have to wait until I am able to use mac and linux as I don't know anyone with them but the first person I know with one I will try to see it on those

Thank You...

Given that the firmware seems to be stuck in a loading loop and the computer doesn't see the GPS, you might want to take a look at the following thread. It may help you...and then again it may not.

http://www.gpspassion.com/forumsen/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=117599...

If it brings back the unit, especially if there is the stupidity factor, AND he is no better off than when he started, AND he got what he bought the unit with, AND if Garmin...the provider of the software...cannot provide the repair facility necessary, I feel he is open to any repair to his device he deems fit. I also feel that most hacks are bad, and compromise the software writers as you all do. BUT if he is NOT better off than when he started, what is the harm? Being restored???? Is that such a bad thing?

Just my thoughts. Please dont take them as inflammtory. I hate piracy too. He just needs to get back to square-1.

TheVanman

We use puppy linux 2.16 seamonkey full drivers iso on another forum I am a member of. We use it to recover data from hard drives that are no longer bootable. You download it as a iso file and boot from the cd. It runs in memory and will allow access to the drives. If you can "mount" the garmin, then you have access.
ftp://ibiblio.org/pub/linux/distributions/puppylinux/

He has an option, he just doesn't want to pay the bucks to Garmin for his blunder for poking around in a OS he knew nothing about. it's Garmins penalty for doing so.

And we do not talk about hacks even under his circumstance.

If your unit is over three years old and you don't want to pay to have it fixed properly then why don't you just buy a new unit...sounds to me like you may end up bricking something else while you are trying to fix the GPS...Just the frustration factor and time wasted would direct me to a new unit....

Your business, your money and your choice but why go through all this aggravation....

One local retailer has a refurb 265WT on sale for $119.99.

(For those with a Micro Center nearby, check their stock as it's in-store only.)

The problem you are having is a quick fix if you're a computer technician or a technical type. That said, if you don't fit the type, you're better off paying to get it fixed or replacing it. Fixing it yourself may not be a direct path but instead require some trial, error and patience.

A replacement unit is cheap enough. Save yourself the frustration.

There's nothing illegal or even unethical about modifying something you own or software that is licensed under GPL, as long as you understand that any damage you cause cannot be repaired through the warranty, and that you cannot expect Garmin to assist you while the unit is not "stock". In the case of software modification, Garmin uses Linux (under GPL) on the Nuvi series. As per the GPL, Garmin must make available its source code (and does so on their website at http://developer.garmin.com/linux/). So as long as you stay clear of modifying the non-GPL software, the sky is the limit.

So I say as long as there are no license restrictions, and as long as the modifiers post a clear disclaimer (warning that damage may be caused, that support will be unavailable, and that future problems may arise), there's really no need for any kind of policy restricting the hacking or modifying of at least these three series families.

And I am the technical type I am CompTIA A+
I have to go actually work now but I'll will be back tonight

Thank You all so far for your contributions

Since you're a tech type, I won't be afraid to talk tech. Like many other devices with an embedded processor, the Nuvi firmware has to reach some point in its initialization sequence before the USB port even becomes active. Hopefully, mbrun's suggestions lead you somewhere, or at least to the point the Nuvi is recognized as a mass-storage device. I myself have bricked a few devices (not Nuvis) trying to load non-standard firmware, and I know how frustrating it can be.

Not all the Nuvis run on Linux. In general I don't think the 2xx series do. But all Nuvi's do contain some sort of licensed Open-Source component (like the XML parser, and font renderer).

As far as licensing goes, Garmin asks us to agree to two licenses. One is the software license, and the other is the data license (maps). I'm assuming the data license is more like the books are treated.

Again, good luck, and keep cool. (Literally! it is darned HOT around here oday)

I've read with interest the different suggestions from my colleagues and they all have merit of one sort or another but they all seem to have resulted in no success.

Let's see if I have the facts straight. You are in the USMC and are being deployed to Lebanon. you obtained maps for Lebanon and tried to insall them on your Garmin. For whatever reason (not to go into the various posts above) the process failed to the point that the Garmin is virtually unusable. Garmin, so far won't help as the unit is older.

If the facts are right, might I suggest either a call or a "Letter to the Editor" explaining the problem and seeing if Garmin will help a Marine trying to use the Garmin product. Your own USMC tech guys may also be able to assist - I'm willing to bet the procurement folks in DC use Garmin products in a variety of combat systems!

Just an off the wall thought!