Garmin Nuvi 1490LMT Cant Recognize Micro-SD card

Did you format the card in your nuvi?

Do you have the latest software upgrade in your Nuvi?

I been using 8 GB cards in both of my 1490's with no issues.

The 1490 is an older unit. The newer units do have more internal memory.

I have used, since I've owned my 1490LMT, a 4, 8, and 16 GB micro SD card with no problems.
Does the card show on your computer when you plug your 1490 into the computer ???
When I first tried installing an SD card into a Nuvi 260 I own, I was not pushing the card in far enough and wasn't making good contact with the GPS.

Does your computer recognize the SD card in the nuvi? If your computer can't see it, then no software will know about it either. Does the SD card work in any other device or computer slot that can use a SD card? It may just be a defective card.

Please direct us with links to the "other threads here of the same problem." I don't remember seeing them. For the nuvi models that are given the direct map update to SD card (including your 1490), I don't recall any folks reporting failures or other problems.

As already stated, the 1490 is a 2GB nuvi and an older model. Additional memory can be found on many other models--and for the 1490, Garmin now offers direct auto updates to SD as a way to put the entire map on a memory-limited nuvi model.

The issue here (after reading through your venting) is that an 8GB SD card is not being seen. If you work with us, we'll try to help and once the card is seen, you'll be able to install all of North America through a map update to the SD card for use with your 1490.

I generally welcome new users to The Factory, but for now I think I'll reserve judgment on a welcome for a while.

It's interesting to me that reddiance1 has been a member less than 12 hours, and has all of two posts, both of them complaining about Garmin.

Make sure that SD card is formatted to Fat32 and not NTFS, the Nuvi will not recognize a card with the NTFS card format.

The maps of Canada and USA do not fit on the GPS unit, so it suggests to install a micro SD card, which I bought. It's an 8GB card from Kingston. I plugged the card into the GPS and connected the unit to my computer. The computer recognizes the GPS and the memory card as separated units, but the GPS updaters do not recognize the memory card.

Welcome to The Factory.

I'm guessing you tried using Garmin Express to update your 1490. You may also want to confirm that the SD card is properly formatted as FAT32 before proceeding. I assume your computer shows the SD card in the nuvi as an empty 8GB drive, right?

I suggest you try the map update again, but using Garmin Updater instead:

https://support.garmin.com/support/searchSupport/case.faces?caseId={60f574f0-602d-11e2-f3fb-000000000000}

You should be offered the full North America map update to your GPS's SD card:

https://support.garmin.com/support/searchSupport/case.faces?...

Just keep in mind that once your map is installed to the SD card that the SD card is an integral part of the nuvi and removing it will remove your City Navigator map and leave you with only the Basemap which is not routable and has no POIs.

Please report back with your results so we can share a glass of bubbly--or work further at finding out what we need to do to fix your issue.

If either/both of the two links above don't appear as hyperlinks, you'll need to copy & paste them to your web browser.

If nothing seems to work and you're willing to spend a few bucks as an experiment, you could go out and buy a 8GB Sandisk SD card and try the map update with it. On sale, these cards are quite cheap and can be found everywhere from Amazon to RadioShack to WalMart. I do strongly advise not buying any memory cards from eBay or independent Amazon Sellers, especially those shipping from Asia. An inexpensive Class 4 card will work fine in your GPS.

In fact, once you succeed, you may want to look into downloading from Garmin and manually installing the larger Junction View file that will work with your 1490. The larger file will give you many more junction views which will be photo-realistic images compared to what comes by default to your nuvi series with map updates. But first things first--let's get the current City Navigator onto your SD card.

No problem with the SD card in my 1690 and never had a problem with map updates. Probably some operator error going on there.

Superb, informative & patient response!

Strange things happen sometimes.

When installing the Europe maps to my nuvi 3590 with a 16G SDHC card I got a message (from mapinstall) that there was not enough room for it to load. So I just backed out of the program, and tried again and it installed easily on the SD card. So don't give up and try what the good people here at the factory say. You will find they are a wealth of knowledge....better than Garmin support (as I have experienced personally).

Bought the unit with NAmerican maps preloaded. Bought Europe maps online and have been struggling to download it.

Using a sd micro card formatted in fat 32. 4gb. No luck.
Then Used a new 8 gb no luck. Downloads 2-3% and says download has failed. This has been the case for he last 30-40 attempts. Highest download was 7%

Any ideas?

Just wondering if your internet connection is wonky, these days not too many people are on dial up anymore?
You are on high speed I assume?

Can you even download the map update on a dial up connection anymore. I seem to recall that a broadband connection was a minimum requirement.

Are you downloading to the card?
Is the card in the Nuvi?
Is the card in a card reader?
Are you connected via USB right to a main port? ie not using a hub or splitter.

Did you purchase the Euro Map download from Garmin?
Since you're in Dubai(UAE), is the internet service ther reliable for large sized downloads.

I would try to download to the PC first and then transfer to the SD card using a card reader and the PC's main USB port and not a hub as member pwohlrab pointed out.

The strangest thing is I had bought the same map CN Europe for my Nuvi 765 on the same day and downloaded it without a problem. Then I bought another for the Nuvi 3590 and struggled. The Garmin site only allows download to the specific unit or card in the unit. Download speeds are good.

Then I tried another computer in my house and it worked out.

But now the map does not show up in the My maps.
Thank you for trying to assist me.

yes it was to the card and it was in the Nuvi. Garmin website did not allow me another download option. Yes I was connected to a main port.

Then I tried another computer in my house and it worked out.

But now the map does not show up in the My maps.
Thank you for trying to assist me.

yes broadband

Please check that the downloaded Euro map was copied to the proper folder on the SD card.
The SD card should contain a folder named Garmin\Map,
The M is a capital, the a & p are small case.

I don't know if you are aware but your 3590 by default does not show all hidden files.

Instructions to show hidden files:

1.Make NUVI DIR & Files visible for Backup
1. To make all of Nuvi files visible you must unhide protected files via Win7 like any other HD.
2. Start NUVI by itself and go to Volume Screen.
3. Press the upper right hand corner of screen for 10 seconds.
4. The Developers Screen will pop up
5. Scroll down to MTP SETTINGS
6. Change from AUTO DETECT to MASS STORAGE
7. Shut down NUVI and hookup to Computer USB cable
8. Start NUVI and it should recognize it is hooked up to the computer.
9. Explorer will now see all files in ROOT directory and the .System directories

Once changing to MTP mode, PLEASE MAKE A BACKUP of all the files, some day it may save you from grief for not doing so.

Yes it's Fat32, on the computer the Nuvi, the card and its contents can be seen.
But the city navigator Europe does not show up as installed in the my maps.

If you have two maps, then they have to have different file names. I don't remember the correct names so someone else can supply those.

Nuvi map naming convention
------------------------------------
1. gmapprom.img: (7x0/7x5) Nuvi drive only, (primary mapset, factory installed USA or Europe or other country.)

2. gmapprom1.img: (7x0/7x5) Nuvi drive only (secondary mapset) example: North American / European units

3. gmapsupp.img: (7x0/7x5) Nuvi drive (supplemental mapset)

4. gmapsupp.img: (7x0/7x5) Nuvi SD Card drive (supplemental mapset)

5. gmapoem.img: (7x0/7x5) Nuvi drive only (OEM mapset), user accessible, cannot be unselected from the unit via Tools/Settings/Map/Map Info

*Note, when using the following default system maps as user maps, you'll naturally lose their default map attributes.

6. gmapbmap.img: (7x0/7x5) Nuvi drive only (default basemap), configurable as a supplemental map; rename desired mapset to gmapbmap.img, NOT selectable and does NOT show up under installed maps (Tools/Settings/Map/Map Info) but may be visible under Tools/Settings/System/About/Basemap

7. gmaptz.img: (7x5 only) Nuvi drive only (default 7x5 Timezone map), configurable as a supplemental map; rename desired mapset to gmaptz.img

8. gmap3d.img: (7x5 only) Nuvi drive only (default 7x5 3D Buildings map), configurable as a supplemental map; rename desired mapset to gmap3d.img

9. gmap3d1.img (7x5 only) Nuvi drive only (secondary 7x5 3D Buildings map), configurable as a supplemental map; rename desired mapset to gmap3d1.img

Map names was about the only thing we hadn't covered.

I doubt Map naming is the issue here. I would imagine Garmin would named the downloaded Europe map gmapsupp.img. This way it will work on any unit, old or new.

The 1490 has the ability to read any map name as long as it ends with .img. It's the folder location on the SD card that's important.

If the map name is gmapsupp.img it needs to be located in the Garmin folder on the SD card.
SD?\Garmin\gmapsupp.img

You can name the map anything you like if placed in the Map folder.
SD?\Garmin\Map\Europe.img

Member 3D-art need to get back to us and inform us exactly what folders are on the SD card with the map name. My earlier post advised him to put it in a Garmin\Map folder but he did not acknowledge doing so.

Is the statement you made about the 1490 true for most Garmins. I thought I would put a note on the gmapsupp.imp Glossary entry about a map being able to have any name if it is on the SD card.

How does it show up in the unit itself for selection purposes?

Thanks

It's true for the 2460. Any img file in the maps folder is a valid map as best as I've seen so far. It's great for multiple maps (topo, National Forest MotorVehicleUse, etc.)

Not true for the 855 and 750 and 295W. I wonder if it started with the 14xx series. Darn, here's another feature that we could work on identifying--along with powered vs. unpowered mounts, internal storage, etc.

You are correct. Garmin changed the map naming rules with the nuvi 1xxx series. At the same time they changed the folder structure, putting the pre-installed map and other critical files in the hidden .system folder instead of the exposed Garmin folder.

So, would it be correct to say that the introduction date of the nuvi 1xxx series is the differentiating point after which Garmin units could have "anyname.img" files recognized if on the SD card? (trying to apply this to non-Nuvi models, too)

I think that is generally true, although the nuvi 465T introduced at approximately the same time as the 1xxx and the nuvi 295W introduced later have the old folder structure and I assume the restricted map naming conventions. I am not sure about the Zumo 660, but I think it has the new folder structure. (Model release history can be found here: http://www.poi-factory.com/node/37811)

I believe the map naming flexibility on the newer units applies whether the map is placed in internal memory or micro SD card, as long as you put the file in the Map folder. I don't have one of these newer units to test with, so someone please correct me if this is wrong.

I tested your Map folder statement on my 2460LMT and it seems incorrect. A MAP folder on the Nuvi itself WILL NOT BE RECOGNIZED (at least on my 2460).

I created a folder named "Map" in the Garmin folder and copied a map named gmapsupp.img in it.
The map was not recognized.

I then moved the Map folder(with map) into the system folder, the 2460 did not recognize it.

Next I moved ONLY the gmapsupp.img file into the system folder, it too was not recognized.
Then I renamed the gmapsupp.img to gmapprom1.img and moved it from the System\Map folder into the System folder, then deleted the empty Map folder.
The map was now recognized. It appears at least on the 2460 model any additional maps added to the unit itself must be named gmapprom1.img.

From my experiment on the 2460, I have established a Map folder on the Nuvi will NOT be recognized.

Using that same map I copied it to my SD card to the folder Garmin\Map. I renamed the map file "CRAP.img"
and the map WAS recognized.

So it appears that the Map folder MUST be on the SD card and you can name the map anything you want, however, on the Nuvi itself added maps must be named gmapprom1.img.

I can't say this holds true for the 1XXX series since I don't own one.

On my 2460LMT, I have two maps installed to the nuvi's internal Map folder and both are seen and work fine.

One that I call AZ_Topo.img was a file manually copied by me into the folder and the other (CoconinoMVUM_2013.img) was installed by the Mapinstaller directly to the Map folder with no extra effort on my part.

Just to make sure we're on the same page, my internal Map folder is in the nuvi's root directory, not Garmin/Map, .System/... or some other subfolder. The Map folder was already there (but empty) when I bought the nuvi so it wasn't like I had to create it. It looks like you created a Map folder under the Garmin folder. Don't do that. Look for an existing Map folder and try your supplemental maps (with any filename) in it and I think it may work for you.

To confirm what CraigW posted, I found this Garmin FAQ about deleting supplemental map files: https://support.garmin.com/support/searchSupport/case.faces?... .

It definitely states that on newer units, supplemental map .img files can be found in the \Map folder of the internal storage.

I also learned from this FAQ that the statement I made about the Zumo 660 in my earlier post is incorrect. Apparently the Zumo 660 has the older folder structure and naming conventions even though it was introduced at about the same time as the nuvi 1xxx series.

Can someone explain which each one is?
This is what I have.
Nuvi 1490 with 2013.4 US & Canada
Garmin Nuvi (K:) 259 MB free
k:\system
gmapbmap.img 48.6 MB (51,003,392 bytes)
GMAPTZ.IMG 584 KB (598,016 bytes)
On the card
L:\Garmin\JCV\D3060090A.JCV 756 MB (792,980,375 bytes)
L:\Map\gmapupdate.img 1.63 GB (1,753,317,376 bytes)
---------------
Nuvi 1450 with 2013.4 US & Canada
Garmin Nuvi (k:) 17.4 MB free
k:\system
gmapbmap.img 48.6 MB (51,003,392 bytes)
gmapprom.img 1.63 GB (1,753,317,376 bytes)
GMAPTZ.IMG 584 KB (598,016 bytes)
On the card
L:\Garmin\JCV\D3060090A.JCV 756 MB (792,980,375 bytes)
------------------
Nuvi 295w with 2011.40 US & Canada
Garmin Nuvi (K:) 1.83 GB free
k:\Garmin\
gmapbmap.img 49.2 MB (51,654,656 bytes)
gmapprom.img 1.20 GB (1,295,024,128 bytes)
gmaptz.img 591 KB (605,184 bytes)
No SD card

gmapbmap.img is the base map.
gmaptz.img is the time zone map.
gmapprom.img is your City Navigator map.
D3060090A.JCV is the junction view file for CN NA 2013.40.

gmapupdate.img is apparently a City navigator map. I am not sure how it got this name. Garmin Express maybe?

More info under M for maps and B for Basemap in:

http://www.poi-factory.com/node/37552

jgermann, you don't have a Contact button on your account so I hope you see this. In your glossary under maps, you say ".sum files are required for the .img files to work".

I think .sum files are error checking files created at times. .sum files with the same filename prefix as the .img map files are not needed and the .sum can be deleted. Not that it'll offer much in terms of extra free storage space since they're tiny 1KB files.

Also, (and I may need others to correct me), the .unl file I think contains a minimum of 25 characters, but often has more. It may be that each map update adds 25 characters to whatever was there previously.

Depending on model number, some nuvis have additional map files such as gmapsup1.img. I think DorkusNimrod has a listing somewhere here---ah:

http://www.poi-factory.com/node/19164

although maybe there's a more updated list somewhere that includes the likes of gmapsup1.img, etc.

That's 100% correct, CW. There are also instances where you can have multiple .unl files with each containing one (or more) 25-digit unlock code strings for each corresponding mapset that requires an unlock code. In other words, you can have:

Mapset: gmapprom1.img (locked map file)
Unlock file for gmapprom1.img: gmapprom1.unl

Correct again. The .sum files are only created when you perform a specific diagnostic test in the the nuvi diagnostics (the one that's accessed by pressing/holding the battery meter (or it's position on-screen) for ~20 seconds or so). The .sum files are there from the factory as Garmin runs that particular diagnostic test before shipping the unit. If the .sum files are user-deleted, they will not reappear unless that particular diagnostic is run by the user. The .sum files are in NO WAY required by the nuvi to run normally. As you mentioned, they can safely be deleted without issue.

First let me apologize to alandb for stating my Nuvi 2460 does not recognize maps in an internal Map folder. I was wrong in that statement.

It did cross my mind to put the Map folder in the nuvi's Root directory but I got lazy after moving all the files and constant disconnecting from the PC to test. Another factor was I checked my first backup of the 2460 as soon as I received it, unlike you it did NOT have a Map folder in the root directory.
Seeing that, I thought that test would also fail.

I now created a Map folder in the ROOT directory of the Nuvi's internal memory and copied the map there.
Yoy are correct, as was alandb, the map is now recognized.

For my own education I tried another experiment.
I copied the gmapprom.img, gmapprom.unl, and the gmapprom.gma files from the system folder to the root Map folder. I then renamed those 3 files in the system folder by adding "old" to their extensions so they wouldn't be recognized.
The 2460 recognized the moved files and my CN2013.40 was recognized which surprised me.
Lesson learned, the 2460 will recognize all maps in the Map folder in the root directory and primary map need not be located in the System folder.

My apologies to the forum for giving incorrect information.

I recently install a new map version on a SD card ,and this is what I notice
1) I named the map on the sd card gmapsupp.img.when I insert the SD card and click on map info it only show me only 1 map the one from the sd card.

2) I rename the map on the SD gmapsupp with out the .img at the end and when I click on the map info again this time it show me the older map on my gps and the newer map on the SD card, and it give me a choise to select the older or the new map.

it is wise to select both map or just remove the check mark on the older map, and only use 1.

Did I understand that your unit recognized a file on the SD card called "gmapsupp" as a map?

I am trying to get a hold on where maps are.

I looked at 2010 backup of my 765T. In the root are
the folders
Audible
Garmin
JPEG
Then in the Garmin folder are all my maps

As far as I know, I have never had a /Map folder.

This is still true on the Nuvi right now.

What I hope to do is put some info in the Glossary about where maps are on various units - as people feed information to this thread.

Glossary already updated for info on .unl and .sum files

These newer model groups come with the original map in the \.system folder and support storing maps in a \Map folder with flexible map naming: nuvi 30, 40, 50, 1100, 1200, 1300, 1400, 1690, 2200, 2300, 2400, 2405, 2407, 2505, 2507, 2707, 3400, 3500, 3507, 3700 series, dezl series, LIVE 1695, LIVE 2300 series, zumo 220, 350 or 665.

These older model groups came with the original map in the \Garmin folder. They only support maps in the \Garmin folder and have restrictive map naming rules: nuvi 200, 205, 295W, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 705, 800, 805, 5000 series, zumo 450, 550, or 660.

Maps can go on either internal storage or SD card as long as you put them in the correct folders as identified above and on the older units follow the correct naming conventions.

Thank you for answering jgermann's question regarding folder structure and taking the time to categorize the many units they apply to.
jgermann can now add it to the glossary he maintains and will be a beneficail to many users.

@Driver 38
Use only 1 map, the newest one if both maps cover the same area.

I agree with jgermann, I don't see how that is possible that the Nuvi will recognize any map WITHOUT the .img extension. If using Windows, do you have it configured to "hide extensions of known file types"?

Here is the link to explain how to do it.
Be sure to also uncheck hide extensions of known file types that was not included in the instructions.
http://www.poi-factory.com/node/39185

Thank you for all the input and help.
This is what finally worked Phew!!!!
The files though downloade for the Nuvi 3590 from Garmin directly needed to be renamed.
One file was slightly incomplete hence the whole download had to be redone too.
The original files were
- D0323230A.gma Size 2.53 KB
- D0323230A.img Size 2.43 GB (needed to be 2.83GB)
- D0323230A.unl Size 25 Bytes

Renamed now to
gmapsupp.gma
gmapsupp.img
gmapsupp.unl

READY TO HIT THE ROAD

THANK YOU ALL

We love to help because - as you can see above - we learn something ourselves.

Welcome to the factory

PLEASE PLEASE MAKE A BACKUP if you have not done so already. Instructions are here:
http://www.poi-factory.com/node/30394

I'm having the same problem as ed1955. Computer recognizes the microSD, but Gamin Express or Udater will not recognize it. The only thing I can think of is that I am using a 16GB card and Garmin says 8GB is the max.
I'm going to grab an 8GB and try it.

Any other suggestions?

Garmin Express and Updater won't recognize it unless the main unit lacks enough free space for the new maps.

How about using Map Install. Would that work?

If you have a card reader on your computer, you could install the map directly to the SD using the cloning method. I don't have access to a newer nuvi with the hidden .system folder to test with, but I think the general procedure is as follows:

Start with an empty (FAT32 formatted) SD card. Create folders \Garmin and \.system at the root of the SD card. Copy file GarminDevice.xml from the \Garmin folder of your nuvi into the \Garmin folder of the SD card. Insert the SD card in your computer card reader and run MapUpdater (or Express). Your SD card should be recognized as your nuvi, and the MapUpdater program should proceed normally to install the map to the card. Once that is finished, you may need to do some file renaming and/or copying of some files back to the device. If you get that far, report which files were installed on the SD card, and someone here should be able to help you complete the process.

As happened to me many times, if I add the img after the gmasupp.img the sd card will not see it.If i rename the map on the sd card just Gmapsupp with out the .img at the end the unit will see and recognize the new map.Only the internal map on your gps must be named Gmapprom.any map you install on the sd card must be name Gmapsupp. If you want to replace the map from the Sd card and install on your gps internal map then you first delete the Gmapprom,replace it with the gmapsupp. and rename the Gmapsupp ,with the Gmapprom.

@Driver 38 ... It sounds like you have your Windows folder options set to "Hide file extensions for known file types". That is why you are getting double file extensions when you add the .img to the file name. You should change this option so you can see the actual file names in Windows Explorer.

In terms of map naming, it depends on your nuvi model. The Gmapsupp.img name is required for the SD card map name on older nuvi's, but that isn't necessarily true on the newer models that can store maps of any name in the \Map folder.