Question re: Nuvi 255W requires SD Card for Map Update
Sat, 11/10/2012 - 5:26pm
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15 years
|
I downloaded the newest map 2013.30 and was told I needed an SD card to hold the entire map. I had a 2SB SD on hand from an old point & shot camera, so used it.
My question is that the 2GB card only has 300Mb of space left. If I was to buy a newer 4GB or 8GB card, can I just reload the maps to the new card? the installer removed what was on the GPS itself, so if I replace the card, I won't have any existing files on the device when trying to re-install to a larger SD card. Will this be a problem?
Thanks in advance for any and all help.
- Gene
Copy/Paste should work
I expect you do not need to do the Garmin reinstallation, but can simply copy the files from the small SD card now to your computer, then copy the files from the computer to the new large SD card. Be sure that your computer is set to show extensions, hidden files and system files before starting. And please, don't delete the files from the old card, at least not until you're sure the new SD card works with your 255W.
If your SD installation is like mine, there will be just four files (one large and three tiny) in a single folder on the SD card.
Unless you need or want to use the older card for something else, it may be handy to keep the old card with the map files in case something happens to the new card. Ditto for keeping the files on your computer as a backup.
Since you're doing all this now, if you haven't done so yet, make a backup of your internal nuvi files to your computer hard drive, recordable DVD or something as well.
Good luck.
Thanks
Appreciate the feedback, Craig. I normally back up all files on the Nuvi to the hard drive before and after any updates. I have multiple card readers so should be able to copy from the 2GB SD to a larger one.
Again thanks for the help.
- Gene
Gene - NUVI 255W
SD card map purchases from Garmin
SD card map purchases (maps pre-installed on SD cards at the factory) that you buy from GARMIN are locked to the serial number of the SD card and can not be copied to another SD card.
Maps you download and install on SD cards are locked to your GPS ... and as such, should be able to be copied from SD card to SD card and used in the intended GPS.
Make sure you copy all the files to your new larger SD card and you should be good to go.
And as has already been pointed out ... always good to make back-ups of everything before you start.
Garmin 205, 260W, 1450LMT, 2460LMT, HEREwego for iPhone ... all still mapping strong.
Thanks for additional info.
I purchased a 4 GB SD card on sale at Staples this afternoon. With the Garmin 255W with teh 2 GB SD card installed attached to one USB port and an SD Card reader with the new 4GB card installed. I simply copy and pasted the entire Garmin directory from the smaller card to the larger card. 1.5 GB of data took a while to transfer over but once done and cards switched all is well.
- Gene
Gene - NUVI 255W