Why won't my laptop recognize my GPS??

Try a different one.

There's not a lot of options here. One is what kch50428 suggests for sure. Then you need to make sure that there are no yellow icons in your device manager in the usb section. Two computers, same problem...not good, if the usb cable is ok. Same thing happened to me with my 765T. It would charge, but the computer wouldn't see it. That's why i'm super careful now when i plug the mini usb into my units.

I am asking because you said PoiLoader did not recognize it. When I attach my 765 to my computer, I get dialog boxes wanting to know what I want to do with the Nuvi and also with the SD card in it.

If I click on the "Safely Remove Hardware and Eject Media" icon in my system tray, it shows me the devices.

What happens when you attach your device (preferably with a different USB cable)?

I'll second that idea...oh wait, I'll fourth it.

Two computers, same results, never happened before: I give it an 80% chance it's the cable (with the power and ground lines working but one or more data lines broken).

Correct on your last part..data lines, lets hope it on the cable end and not on the unit end, like it was on my 765T. Then all you get to do is charge it. Did we ask if the unit still works in the vehicle? Not that that that helps.

Yup, a bad socket or open connection in the 780 is a worst case scenario.

The 780 in a vehicle gets its power (and traffic, cord-permitting) from a powered socket on the mounting bracket. The USB connector on the 780 is only used for computer connections or for a slow-charge when not in a vehicle so the issue with a USB problem should not affect use through the powered cradle in a vehicle.

Neither computer recognizes the gps, yet the gps works fine in its cradle, so I suspect the answer is that there is something defective in the connector cord or gps slot. Which means I can't update my maps either and I have a lifetime subscription! Wonder if that rolls over if I get a new unit? Or if I should try a new cord? Or just keep using the unit as is? I updated last August, so can't be too far off.

yes, try a different USB cable...

Here are the answers I think are correct:

1. Your Lifetime maps won't roll over to a new unit unless you send your 780 into Garmin and they replace it with another. But so many good models are out there now at great prices with LM that if me, I wouldn't pay to send in an old 780 to keep the Lifetime maps. I'd buy a nuvi. Right now, I'm thinking my $100 with free S&H refurbed 2460LMT is the cat's meow.

2. Yes, try a new cord. Beg, borrow or buy (no, I wasn't going to say steal) a cord and se what happens! Please, if the current cord is bad, don't keep it--cut it in half and toss it so that you'll never try to use it again.

3. If it is something internal to the 780, one option is to keep the 780 with your current map.

4. Actually, if you updated your map in August, you're already one map out of date as 2013.30 came out on Oct. 31. The next map update may come out in Feb.

Come on...you did well, 5 years for a garmin product. Most of us don't last that long, even if it ain't broke. Let us help you spend some money on a new one, we are really good at that.

I want to chime in and suggest that the USB cable to connect should be a fairly heavy cable or an original Garmin USB cable. Some of the cheap skinny USB cables will often not work.

I had this same problem with my 3490LMT, and what it was for some reason was that the Micro SD card was too large to be recoginized by the software. Try taking out the SD card temporialy. The GPS will recognize it for normal use, but not the software to link the two. This fix came right from Garmin during a tech support call. If you need to transfer files from one to the other, put the SD card in another slot on your laptop and see them as two seperate drives. I hope this helps Mike

I found a cable on eBay for less than $4, money back guarantee. I might try that first. I don't even have an SD card. If that doesn't work, what kind of new $100-ish GPS should I get?

You don't have another USB cable you could try?

You mean to tell me these things are interchangeable.....like I could use the one from my cell phone?

If it fits, it works.

Yeah... they're interchangeable... the "U" in USB is supposed to stand for 'universal'...

That is not quite correct. They make charging usb cables and charging/data usb cables. Had one those off of e-bay. On the whole they do both but be aware those other single ones are out there.

http://www.amazon.com/PureGear-Charge-Cable-Universal-Micro/...

Though not GPS related. I have a few Motorola devices that will not work with generic USB cables. They all must have their supplied Motorola USB cable or it doesn't communicate.

The "U" in USB is supposed to stand for "universal"... not always does it work that way... I have used Motorola USB cables with several devices - not all of them Motorola... the OP should try other cables. And if one works... fantastic. But the OP should not feel a need to go buy a Garmin OEM cable.

What we have here is a failure to communicate.

I think that's what my wife means when she gives me "That" look.

I have only ever experienced this with Motorola devices, never with any of my or my friend's Garmins or any other non-GPS devices I regularly connect to. I should have finished by saying that I have always used any USB cable that was nearby when connecting to any of my Garmins and never had a problem. Sorry if I confused things a bit.

Now, what is the "SB" stand for.

hmm... really?

serial bus

serial bus...

Now... ever hear PCMCIA? And what does that mean?

People Can't Memorize Computer Industry Acronyms....

OK.. not really... Personal Computer Memory Card International Association

The USB cord from my MiFi works!

Good work. Now cut in half and throw out the bad cable so no one can ever experience your issues again with it.

What is the key differences between these two models?

All lines that are shaded show a difference between models:

https://buy.garmin.com/shop/compare.do?cID=164&compareProduc...

why does my laptop not show my garmin nuvi 200

Typically I would both welcome you and encourage you to make a backup of your 200. However, if it is not recognized by a computer, we have to first help you get it recognized.

Has the 200 ever been attached and recognized by any computer - laptop or otherwise - in the past?

Have you tried a different USB cable when trying to attach to your laptop?

Cause they are junk that;s why

@driver38

Can't figure out what this comment applies to.

What were you commenting on?

See http://www.poi-factory.com/node/40814 and see if that helps.

In browsing through the comments in this thread, I saw a great many suggestions to use a different cable. Agreed--but I'd also suggest, where possible trying different USB ports (including ports on other PCs or laptops).

Some combinations of port/cable/GPSr seem to be marginal, while others work reliably, with the same GPSr and cable--in my personal experience.

This includes cases of marginal behavior--where the GPSr would be initially recognized by the host computer, and even able to start a full map update download, but later the download would fail and the "disc drive" for the GPSr disappear from the Windows Explorer display.

I'm throwing this comment in for people who might come across this thread looking for solutions to their own problem--not as a currently applicable answer to particular participants in this thread.