MapSource deletes old tracks

The amount of data stored as tracks on your unit is limited, but the issue you are reporting is probably due to software changes in the programs you are using. The developer's probably could think of a reason THEY would want to look at data that old, so they just don't load it.

But the old data was stored on the Nuvi and available to BaseCamp *until* I connected it to MapSource. After that, even BaseCamp couldn't retrieve the old data. Why was the old data deleted at that time?

This is what Garmin says about tracks. https://support.garmin.com/support/searchSupport/case.faces?...

In my case, it was a 200 series Nuvi, which Garmin says does not use an archive file. I'm still curious why five years of data were simultaneously deleted when I connected the Nuvi to Mapsource.

If it behaved according to Garmin's writing, the oldest tracks would have slowly been removed to make room as new tracks were created instead of a wholesale deletion.

Garmin also says that archives are not kept on the 700 series. However, on my 765T, I have archive files.

Like the 265 when is says 200 series does not have archive file.So the 265 would be the 2x5 series since it has it.So would you not have the 7x5 series not 700.Garmin does make it confusing.

[OffTopic] Garmin model numbering has always been confusing, illogical and inconsistant. One of the strangest models was the nuvi 295 which was in no way part of the 2xx series or the 2x5 series. The 295 was built on a repurposed nuviphone chassis (with the phone hardware removed), while the 205/255/265 models were part of the 2x5/7x5 generation of legacy nuvi hardware. [/OffTopic]

We have several members here who will verify that some later 260 models had some features like the 2x5 .One was the allowing of more then one via point.When the manual only says one.So that may be why the archive file is there if you have the 260.

You may want to check the more then one via point on your unit.Nice feature for a unit that does not have route ability.See http://www.poi-factory.com/node/19196 for more info

You have a good memory Charlie. I had forgotten about the undocumented and unacknowledged "upgrade" that Garmin did to the 2x0 platform in it's last few months of manufacture. But now that you reminded me, I recall those discusions, and as I remember, the late 250/260's had 2x5 hardware components with a hybrid firmware even though they were branded as 2x0's. That gave them the undocumented feature of multipoint routing on the active route, although they couldn't save or import a multipoint route.

Thanks for reminding me of this piece of Garmin trivia from the past.

The first I had heard about these "stealth" upgrades was when someone noted just after the X5 models started to appear some of the entry level 200s had micro USB slots vice the full size.

That was back in 2008.My Nuvi 265 I discovered could do more then one via point. I believe I try at least 6 and it worked.Nice to go back and re-visit some older posts.Forgot about the micro USB slot Boxcar posted.

I think there is a limit of 20 archived tracks on the device. As it creates and archives newer tracks, the older ones get deleted. If for some reason you want to save older tracks, you should download them into MapSource or BaseCamp. There are no limits to what you can save on the computer.

In my case, why did four years of tracks instantly get deleted when I connected the Nuvi to MapSource, leaving only 3 months worth behind? If the older tracks get deleted as it creates and archives newer tracks, the older tracks would have been replaced years ago.

And yes, I did (fortunately) back up the tracks in BaseCamp prior to using MapSource.

Could it have been that BaseCamp removed the files from the device? Next when put back into MapSource, the tracks would have 'disappeared'...

I could only guess that BaseCamp performed some 'file maintenance'. I use BaseCamp a lot and I've never seen anything like this. But then, I routinely move tracks that I want to save into BaseCamp and don't leave them on the device.

Don't use Basecamp, so I do not know the various options.

I assume you can ask Basecamp to retrieve various things from a device - in which case I would assume that nothing on the device is impacted.

What about "move"?

I think it is possible that Basecamp deleted the files. It is also possible that something with the PC connection (basecamp -or- mapsource) woke up the "delete old tracks" subroutine on the nuvi itself.

I have retrieved the tracks many times in MapSource and have yet to have any erased by MS.
I believe it involves an active participation on the users part to do so.