Updater 3.3.4 Not Finding Flash Drive

Does your computer see the flash drive and its contents?

Good question. I have an SD card in my computer setup for the clone map update process and both the latest version of MapUpdater (3.3.4) and Garmin Express see it as a Nuvi just fine.

Yes I can see the drive, the directory, and the file in it. I didn't mention it, but this is the same flash drive I've used before for this purpose with no problems.

I also went to the Garmin site to pull Uploaded just to make sure I had the current version.

Wow, you certainly know how to complicate things.

My only thoughts now are to:

-try a different flash drive or at least a freshly reformatted flash drive
-try a different USB port; or better, a different computer
-try a different xml file (in case the one you're using is somehow corrupt) if you have an older backup available or another nuvi
-doubtful, since you know what you're doing, but to cover all bases, check the clone faq regarding formatting the flash drive, etc.

Hmm, if using a new PC or something, could the Folder Options be set to hide extensions resulting in possibly a filename of xxxxx.xml.xml? In the process of copying the file from the nuvi to the flash drive, could the file have been opened and saved resulting in a slightly different file which is not recognized by GarminMapUpdater? This would be most worth looking into in case you have a new or different computer now or have updated the OS of the computer between when the process worked for you in the past and now.

My first thought was like Craig's, reformat the Flash Drive or try a different one.
I also thought perhaps changes in your PC may be the culprit.
By any chance are you now using Google Chrome as your browser?
If yes the link below indicates Chrome is no longer compatible with the Garmin Communicator Plugin.

http://www8.garmin.com/support/download_details.jsp?id=3607

Edited: Also make sure you're using Windows Media Player 11 or higher on your XP machine since it's a requirement for the Communicator Plugin.

Why do you say I'm complicating things? This procedure was presented on this forum a few years ago for those of us with units who's memory isn't adequate for a direct load. It has worked great several times.

++ computer has been in use for years, no problems, running XP.
++ I just tried a different flash drive - same result, and I can read the drive.
++ Tried a different port - same result.
++ Used a backup version of the xml file - same result.

Will look at the clone faq now.

Went to Garmin's site, they d/l Garmin Express which doesn't run on my system so they present a pop-up to d/l Updater, which I did. Task Manager shows it is running, but it doesn't find my drive.

Just made a directory on C: with the xml file, didn't find it.

Grrr!!!

muell9k,

I do use Chrome. So I d/l the plugin they list. Then opened IE and made it the default browser. Then ran the plugin then Updater. Still does not find the directory. Maybe I'll just reboot then plug the Nuvi in and see if it recognizes it.

Success!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

When I brought it up I had IE as default, then ran Updater. I then plugged in my Nuvi and after a couple of moments it was recognized. I was asked where to store the data and I selected the hard drive. It is d/ling now.

I believe muell9k got it for me in that I needed to make IE the default browser. Guess I'll have to make a note of this for the future.

Thanks everyone for your suggestions!!!

Alex

That you have Windows Media Player 11 or better installed.
Another thing to update if possible might ne Net Framework. I realize XP is no longer supported but I beleive older updates may still be available.

Another option you may want to try, if you gave access to a Win 7 PC, install the Communicator Plugin and Mapupdater on that machine and I think your problem will be solved.

Edited: Disregard this post, I see you got it fixed.
I know Internet Explorer 8 (with XP) is having many issues connection to sites nowadays, instead of Chrome you may want to use Mozilla Firefox to reach those troublesome sights. It may also solve your issue with your Garmin.

Amazing to see that this was the issue. Can the issue be expanded to occur for map updates to a nuvi as well as the current flash drive cloners for folks with Chrome as the default browser? If so, this is something we should be hearing about quite often. Just wait for August and the new map update when we see Chrome users not able to install the map. It'll be muell9k to the rescue. I never would have thought about browser plugins messing with GarminMapUpdater or Garmin Express.

Craig,
I just got lucky finding the solution on this one, I'm not that confident on any future rescues.

I did screw up on the link I posted regarding Chrome.
Below is the link I intended to post. Note this took effect on April 27, 2015, that was after the 2015.40 map release (March 24). So it's very likely we will have members using Chrome posting problems with the release of 2016.10 in August.

You need to copy and paste the link.
https://support.garmin.com/support/searchSupport/case.faces?caseId={50cacee0-ed07-11e4-dfa6-000000000000}

Given the percentage of folks using Chrome, it may well be that Garmin is delaying the release of 2016.10 in part as Garmin tries to figure out what to do about this.

I think a temporary fix for this will be that users who use Chrome and try to update will need to just change their default browser from Chrome to Internet Explorer as member asallwey did.
After the update, they can once again make Chrome their default.
Surely an inconvenience but should work.

Here is where I'm confused. I'm not sure how Garmin Express works. When trying to update does it by default use the available browser of Internet Explorer (not default) or does it fail by going to Chrome(set default).
I think it will automatically use Internet Explorer since we would have had a lot of complaints by now that Express failed for any type of download.

Garmin update

There is no need to change the default browser even temporarily.

For those who use Chrome as the default browser, your Windows PC also has Internet Explorer. Make sure IE has the Garmin Communicator plugin installed by running IE and going to this Garmin page which checks your PC, installs Garmin Communicator plugin, and installs Garmin USB drivers if needed:

http://software.garmin.com/en-US/gcp.html

The features of Garmin Communicator will then be running in the background whenever needed, even though Internet Express never runs.

dobs108

Ok, I want to thank all of you for your help. I thought I had it licked yesterday, but when I looked at the files today with the intent of loading my Garmin, I didn't have what I needed.

To recap a bit. Yesterday
+ I do use Chrome by default.
+ I went to the site muell9k referenced and d/l the plugin.
+ I changed my default browser to IE.
++ I did not get the files I needed.

Today
+ Chrome is back to being my default browser.
+ I looked at the xml and noticed it was dated 7/18/15. I had an older copy that I then placed in the Garmin directory on the flash drive (reformatted the flash drive just to be sure).
+ I unplugged my Garmin
+ I activated Updater, it connected and recognized the device.
+ It told me I cannot use a file over 2g so I could only get the 49 state map -- not a problem for me.
+ Updater then d/l the files I need, as it has done in the past.
+ I just need to rename and copy them to my unit.

Unknown
+ No idea if Chrome is an issue. Updater did it's thing today while Chrome was the default.
+ I do have the plugin loaded, not sure if it's used.

Summary
+ I believe that my first attempt, which failed for some reason, also left an updated xml file. Not sure if this was causing a problem.

++ Success was achieved when I used an xml file from my last successful update.

Again, CraigW, muell9k, & dobs108, thanks for helping on this.

Alex