Garmin mapupdater

...GarminMapUpdater does not install to PCs--it's simply run.

So just keep your copy of GarminMapUpdater in your download folder for future use.

It may also be handy to keep the link to download the file from Garmin in case there are future updates to the program. We also need to keep in mind that there's no guarantee that the program will run and install future map updates, especially if Garmin really wants us all to use Garmin Express; e.g., the old LifetimeUpdater program that was a precursor to Garmin Express no longer installs map updates.

C:\Program Files (x86)\Garmin\GarminMapUpdater.exe

Whatever folder you saved it in when you downloaded is where it stays. Just go to the folder and double click it when you want to run it. You also could create a program icon on your desktop that would run it when you wanted to.

As mldorsey indicated, MapUpdater does in fact install on the PC. I install mine directly to the desktop so that I don't have to look for it.

Phil

The file on my computer that my Shortcut on my Desktop links to when I click to download maps is:

"C:\Program Files (x86)\Garmin\GarminMapUpdater.exe"

I have a PC running Windows 7

Not to quibble (especially since my interpretation could be the issue here) but to me, the term install implies something along the lines of newly-created folders, new dlls, registry entries, etc.--and in Windows, something that can be found in Control Panel's Programs and Features (or whatever it was called with XP and earlier) and Uninstalled from a computer.

A standalone .exe or .com or .bat file that runs on its own (and in fact runs as well from a thumb drive leaving no evidence of its having been run after the fact on a computer), at least to me, is less than "an installation." But that's maybe just me and my differentiation between programs.

It's not really an issue for me other than in nomenclature. I do have a couple programs I run that are single files that to me are useful enough to have created a desktop icon for their future use where I also move the downloaded file from my "Download" folder to a manually-created folder in "Program Files" to avoid accidentally deleting it in the future.

My reply was also in part based on the way the OP worded the original text in this thread.

Examples:

To me, POI Loader and WebUpdater (and heaven forbid, Garmin Express) are installed to a computer, Garmin Communicator is installed (in a sense) to your browser, but GarminMapUpdater is simply downloaded and run. GarminMapUpdater.exe can be found and deleted, thereby removing it from a computer--POI Loader or WebUpdater for example, need to be uninstalled rather than deleted, and even then, may leave remnants that are better handled by Revo Uninstaller than the built in Windows method within Control Panel...

Clear as mud?

CraigW is absolutely correct, Mapupdater simply runs wherever the GarminMapUpdater.exe file is residing.
It DOES NOT install any extra files that may be present in unknown locations.

Unlike Garmin Express that uses valuable resources, by default it starts a Windows Service as well as Windows Startup. If you remove it from your system there will always be orphan files remaining.

I keep MapUpdater in my Program Files (x86)\Garmin\GarminMapUpdater.exe as you do. I also have a dedicated 'Garmin GPS' folder in my Documents where I keep a dupe of the file - "C:\Users\KOOT\Documents\Garmin GPS\GarminMapUpdater.exe".

In the dedicated 'Garmin GPS' folder in my Documents I keep the GarminMapUpdater.exe file along with all the other stuff I need; like my POIs and sox.exe, etc. to update my Garmin device. I'm running Windows 7 also...

As CraigW and muell9k say, wherever GarminMapUpdater.exe resides is where it will run from. It unpacks itself and then connects to Garmin.

Interestingly, the link to
https://support.garmin.com/support/searchSupport/case.faces?caseId={60f574f0-602d-11e2-f3fb-000000000000}
is now marked as "private" and does not give you any download.

It's been like that for awhile now but it's still available as a direct download from:

PC Version

http://download.garmin.com/lmu/GarminMapUpdater.exe

MAC version

http://download.garmin.com/lmu/GarminMapUpdater.dmg

CraigW, I agree with you, it IS nomenclature. To me, an installation means that after a program runs, it remains on the computer so that it can be run again.

Phil

I am not sure what all of you are saying.

All I am saying is if he downloaded the program as I did then he might look at where the program put itself on my computer. And he might look to see if it maked itself a desktop icon.

So, if I read what y'all are saying, this program:

"C:\Program Files (x86)\Garmin\GarminMapUpdater.exe"

is not on my computer??

Can you tell before my hair was gray it was blond?

That's right, it's not on your computer, in that folder, unless you put it there. On my computer GarminMapUpdater.exe is on my desktop, because I directed it there when I downloaded it from the link I posted above.

I'm using Firefox and when I click on the link above the browser asks where I what to save the file to. I picked the desktop, maybe you picked Program Files(x86)\Garmin because that's were most Garmin software can be found.

On your computer. It will show folder for the Map Updater.

in simple terms ( cause that's all i know) map updater is a fetcher..that's all it does it gets the new update and waits till you call on it again...

The program mapupdater did not do either of those things. Both are artifacts of how you downloaded it, or how you handled it after downloading.

This differs from many other programs, for which an included installation process governs or at least strongly influences both of these points.

It appears that Garmin is weaning users utilizing MapUpdater to use Garmin Express by making it unavailable to those that don't already have it. I will use MapUpdater as long as possible or until Garmin finally gets Express to work PROPOERLY. That may be wishful thinking.

For the time being, you can still get Mapupdater from Garmin

as CraigW and t923347 have noted it is available at

I want to add some comments to what CraigW has already posted. Mapupdater does not "install" itself on your computer. From whatever folder to which you download it, it will "run". When it "runs", it unpacks itself from the executable and then contacts Garmin to get ready to download a map. When you exit, there have been no entries made to the registry except perhaps recently used type entries. Afterwards, it sits there in the folder to which you downloaded it waiting for another "run". You will not find it in the Control Panel - like Basecamp and Mapsource, for example.

However, Garmin Express does "install" itself on your computer in Program Files/Garmin/Express. Express also puts an entry in the Startup folder of the Registry as well as Services. Further, if one uses the Control Panel to uninstall Express, there will be things left behind (as
CraigW has already posted).

The irritating thing to me about Express (but it is also true of most software packages, now days) is that it puts entries in Startup and Services that steal computer resources every time the computer is booted. There are solutions to that issue which I will cover later.

As you know, there is a group that love to inform us of anything that Garmin does that do not fit their expectations. I have used it successfully on both XP and Win7 systems. I would say that most people who have tried it have had no problems.

I assume that - at some time in the future - the connection that Mapupdater makes to Garmin when it runs will be turned off or blocked.

So, maybe you ought to try the latest version of Express to see if it works on your computer.

There are several freeware, portable packages that you can use to get rid of/clean up after Express if you want to try it (and you still have Mapupdater available). If Express works for you, it is likely that it will continue to do so.

If it works, however, you will want to disable it from Startup and disable the Service it fires up every boot. Several people here have done this using MSCONFIG (which is perfectly Ok) but I prefer to use a freeware, portable package called Autoruns. It can be downloaded from http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb963902.asp....

Note that the company that developed Autoruns was so good that Microsoft purchased it. AND, Microsoft itself touts Autoruns as a solutions for many situations.

Just like Mapupdater, Autoruns is downloaded to a folder and unzipped there. It runs from that folder directly. To stop Garmin Express from running all the time, all one has to do is fire up Autoruns and do a "find" on Garmin. There will be two entries - one in Logon and one in Services. Simply uncheck the box on the left of the line entry and Express will not again run until you recheck those two boxes.

In the event, that Express will not run, hangs up, whatever and you want to get rid of Express, then, as CraigW has already indicated, download a version of Revo Uninstaller from http://www.portablefreeware.com/index.php?q=revo&m=

It is freeware and portable.

By using the "Advanced" option on the uninstall, Revo will remove all remnants of Express from your computer.

My bet is that Express will work and all you should do is to disable it running until the next time you need it.