Cloning maps on a 3597

 

I have two NUVI's, an old 750 and a newer 3597. I have been using the cloning method to get the whole NA map on my 750 and it has worked flawlessly. Seems to download and install a lot faster too.

My 3597 is running low on memory now so I thought I'd try the clone method on it too. The entire map 2016.02 fits internally but I tried installing the files to a 32 GBit card. The map files appeared to install with no problem but they don't show up on the unit, only the older 2016.01. I thought if I deleted the older files it might force the unit to look for another map but I can't locate the map files on the 3597.

I used the same cloning method that worked on my 750. I am missing something here, can anyone point me in the right direction please?

760 and 3597

I am in the same boat with my 760 and 3597. Garmin Express put the map on the SD card for the 760, but it has not done that yet for the 3597. Rather than go through the cloning process, I think I will wait until the map gets a little larger and let Garmin Express put it on the card.

dobs108 smile

Two problems, one cause?

jack, your failure to find any map files on your 3597 and inability to use the clone method on your 3597 may be related. Your 3597 by default comes in MTP mode. Have you switched to MS mode? And if using a PC, have you changed your PC folder settings?

From the cloning faq:

Although the specific steps are not detailed in this FAQ, the cloning method can be adapted to the newer Garmin model series devices. To use this procedure on these devices, you must first set your computer to expose the hidden \.system folder. If your device operates in MTP mode (Media Transport Protocol), change it from MTP to Mass Storage mode before you continue. Note: Most of the newer devices operate in MTP mode by default:

http://www.poi-factory.com/node/39185

http://www.poi-factory.com/node/41416

In the cloning faq, your method is the "Procedure for older devices without a .System folder" for your nuvi 750, but is the "Notes for newer Garmin devices with a .System folder" for your 3597. Note that some updated files on the SD card need to be moved back to the nuvi, including voice recognition files, TrafficTrends database, etc. with the 3597 which you've never needed to do with the old 750.

One last thought. I agree with dobs. If you're only using the clone method because you think the 3597 is running low on memory, the nuvi may have space for years worth of updates before running out of storage. On my 3597 with the added all English language voices, I have 835MB free of the total 7.01GB of space. If this were a primary hard drive on my PC, I'd be starting to get worried. But for a nuvi, you're not adding lots of files all the time and if you have close to my 835MB (or more) of free space on the 3597, it can handle map updates well into the future. Note, too, that when a map update eventually is too big to be stored internally on the nuvi 3597, it'll automatically offer to install the map on a SD card. So the clone method is really not needed unless you have another reason for doing the clone method; e.g., keeping 2016.10 and 2016.20 available for use on the 3597, or for testing the new 2016.20 map without installing it to the nuvi which will delete the previous map.

How much free space do you have in your nuvi 3597? Have you ever used GarminMapUpdater to perform a map update to your 3597 instead of using Garmin Express? If so, you may have ghost files left behind and you may want to look for these:

http://www.poi-factory.com/node/44415

If you do pursue the cloning technique for the 3597, make sure that your myMaps page on the nuvi does not have two versions of the same map checked. Uncheck the old map.

3597 maps on 32 GB SD card.

Make sure your SD card is formatted FAT32 and not NTSF. Also note that for maps on a 3597 to be recognized by the device after cloning, they need to be moved out of the .\system folder and into a folder on the SD named \Map. This is describedin the section of the cloning thread titled "Notes for newer Garmin devices with a .System folder:"

--
Alan - Android Auto, DriveLuxe 51LMT-S, DriveLuxe 50LMTHD, Nuvi 3597LMTHD, Oregon 550T, Nuvi 855, Nuvi 755T, Lowrance Endura Sierra, Bosch Nyon

Thank you gentlemen

That did it. After reading alandb's reply I realized that the /Map directory should be in the root directory and not in the /.system directory. It worked after I moved the Map directory. We will be taking a short trip Wednesday and I'll test it out then. I don't know why I didn't see that before, must be something about being an old man. hehe

The map update does fit in the unit's memory but that limits me to the current map only. Using the cloning method, I can have the current map on one card and the last map on another. A backup if needed.