2 updates both Chinese Audio files..... How to opt out?

 

GE reports that I have two updates available... When I check to see what they are (Garmin is in the car....) it reports that there are 2 Chinese audio files...
I'd be installing them if I knew Chinese derelicts, (Which I don't)....

My 2689LMT has plenty of space left (compared to my 660, which has as many files removed as possible) Luckily, the Chinese files are not available for the 660.

I looked, but can't find a way to de-select the two files in GE...

I'd like to do that, if possible, before the next software or map package comes out... and it automatically installs.... But can't see to determine how-to.....

Can it be done?

--
A 2689LMT in both our cars that we love... and a Nuvi 660 with Lifetime Maps that we have had literally forever.... And a 2011 Ford Escape with Nav System that is totally ignored!

Old Chinese files?

Do you have the old Chinese audio files on your device and that's why it wants to update them? If you delete them from your device, hook it up to GE so it knows you don't have them, then it shouldn't need to update them.

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Garmin Nuvi 2450

Same issue.

I am seeing the same issue on my 3597 where it shows 2 updates on the Express home page. But when I click on the 3597, it says I am up to date, but the install button is enabled anyway. The View Details shows the two audio files identified by JanJ.

@jfossy ... I have only English voice, language, text and help files on my 3597. I can find no old copies of Chinese files. So I think this is an error on the Garmin server end.

@JanJ ... I don't know of any way to deselect updates in Express. For now, I am just going to ignore the updates and hope Garmin fixes this before the next map update. If they somehow get installed, I will just remove the files after the update.

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

Looks like we're back in the

Looks like we're back in the 'wait & See' mode smile!

--
A 2689LMT in both our cars that we love... and a Nuvi 660 with Lifetime Maps that we have had literally forever.... And a 2011 Ford Escape with Nav System that is totally ignored!

Alrighty, then. Actually,

Alrighty, then. Actually, those are not update fires, they are the full language files, and they are being added to the units operating system. You can ignore them and hope they go away. Garmin engineers and such operate on the theory that all Garmin users leave the files alone and don't do "housekeeping" on files.

The new files are going to stay in GE until you install them. So, that is what I did. Install them, unplug, reboot, and reconnect. Then delete the files. They should not appear again as an update. I have never received an update to any language files I have deleted.

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Frank DriveSmart55 37.322760, -79.511267

Thanks phranc

That sounds like the correct solution.

Edit: Well, it sounded like a good solution, but didn't work. I installed the 2 updates, rebooted (power reset) the 3597, reconnected to Express, and yes, the two new files were there in the Voice folder and Express was no longer showing the 2 updates. So I removed the two Chinese voice files, did another power reset, reconnected to express and the updates are showing up again sad mad

So, it was a great idea phranc, but sadly it didn't work.

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

I need to do an addendum to

I need to do an addendum to my post. I wrote it between 2 GPS's. They showed back up again, in GE for my 3597. I had to reinstall and delete again to get them to go way. I also had trouble getting GE to recognize my 3597. In fact, the first time I connected, it didn't show as connected, yet GE installed them.

I'm not too sure what is going on, but they are kind of pesky.But they disappeared from GE after the second time.

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Frank DriveSmart55 37.322760, -79.511267

Tried 3 times

On my 3597 ... still showing up in express. They don't show up after a soft reboot of the 3597, but after doing a full power shutdown and reboot ... there they are again!

Over in the Garmin software forum thread discussing this, a uer reported this:

JerryBigJ wrote:

I went to voices installed on my driveluxe 50 and deleted every voice except the two English voices installed and restarted my unit then turned it off and hooked up to computer and garmin express version 4.5.0.0 and still got those 2 voice update region files like before. I think this should not happen especially after deleting those other voice files that were installed on this unit. I called customer support for automotive products and they told me this was done this way because webupdater was removed on the garmin website. I still think this is wrong the way garmin express is showing these two updates on the main start up page on express. These should be under tools and content optional updates. I do not want to see 2 updates circled in blue every time starting up garmin express. Just my opinion but this is annoying.

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

Don't know what to say,

Don't know what to say, Alan. I'm on a Mac. And I emptied the trash after deleting. As I said, it took 2 tries on the 3597, and only one on the 770.

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Frank DriveSmart55 37.322760, -79.511267

A few thoughts

My thoughts:

1) I'm glad I didn't pipe in at the beginning of this thread because I'd have been so wrong in my guesses.

2) What is the difference between a voice file or voice update and these two TTS3 VE (Region File only)? These TTS3 VE Chinese files are about the size of a TTS3 voice file. Clearly, GE does not offer voice files for new voices. Otherwise, we TTS3 device owners would have all seven English language voices plus all other language files installed or offered whenever GE starts up and that'd overwhelm the available storage on all our devices. So what is special about the VE or the Region Only designation that causes it to be offered through GE, even when no Chinese voice is present on the device?

3) For those that have installed them, and before deleting them, do they appear in the Garmin device as a language that can be chosen for navigation? If so, do they work? If they don't appear as an available voice, then what do they do? Do they load to the Voice folder with our other TTS3 voices.

4) This is not the first offering of 'Region files' although I'm still not clear as to what they are or how they differ from normal voices as a search through the link below offers several region files:

http://www.gmaptool.eu/en/content/voice

It's also interesting that the usually up-to-date gmaptool.eu site does not list these two Chinese voices, at least not as of right now as I write this. According to the site, the most recent 'region' file was offered way back in 2011.

5) I think Garmin tech support, email and by voice, is not being made aware of what's going on behind the scenes and that this is a Garmin error that may soon be corrected. If these VE Region files in all languages will be forced upon us by GE, eventually an immense chunk of our device storage will be filled with VE language Region files in all possible languages that do nothing at all.

6) Lastly, regarding WebUpdater. It is still available from Garmin in one of two ways: a) a search of our FAQs here at The Factory offers a link to download WebUpdater; b) for folks still using Windows XP (and I know at least one), when trying to download and install Garmin Express, they'll be told GE won't work with Windows XP and Garmin then sends them to the WebUpdater link for download and installation.

...

I was going to ask the same thing. Glad I came here first!

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Michael (Nuvi 2639LMT)

Questions, questions ...

CraigW, I can give limited response to a couple of your questions. For #3, the two new voice files did show up in the Voice folder, and I did not see anything unusual about how they were named. although I didn't really look that hard tho, so I don't know if they had the .rgn extension. However, they DID NOT show up on the 3597 as an available voice under Settings>Voice Language. Why, I don't know, but they were not listed.

For #6, I was able to still find Webupdater on the Garmin site simply by typing "Webupdater" in the search box. I think what they have removed from their site is the list of available software. You used to be able to get a list of downloadable software under Support > Software that had Express, POI Loader, Basecamp, Webupdater, etc. Now that sequence only brings up a link to Garmin Express.

Follow up: I just ran the GE Install against a clone of my 3597 so I could pay closer attention to the file names. They are as follows:
Taiwanese_Mei-Jia_D6339-00.vpm
Chinese_Tian-Tian_D6340-00.vpm

So they may be "region" files on the Garmin servers, whatever that means, but Garmin Express installs them as .vpm, not .rgn. Why they do not show up as selectable voices on the 3597, I don't know as thier naming/size is similar to the other TTS3 files.

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

Normally I wait till I see

Normally I wait till I see someone post about new version of GE...
But this thread stuck a nerve for some reason, and I've been checking every day for an update now... Nothing Yet...

--
A 2689LMT in both our cars that we love... and a Nuvi 660 with Lifetime Maps that we have had literally forever.... And a 2011 Ford Escape with Nav System that is totally ignored!

Curious ....

This morning I have an update on my Nuvi 2555 LMT is

"Traffic Text, All Languages, GLX, V1"

Version 5.80.

.....related to the files you're talking about?

--
If the only tool you have is a hammer, every problem quickly resembles a nail. (Maslow's Hammer)

Traffic text, all languages glx v1

No, that is a separate update ... got that on my 3597 too.

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

Weird! 5 min ago, when I

Weird! 5 min ago, when I opened up GE, it showed 1 update for Nuvi 50, and none for 2689LMT !! So I sat there staring at it for 10 seconds... Then closed the program.... Waited 10 seconds, and then Re-Opened GE.....
THIS TIME IT OPENED..... It showed 1 update for Nuvi 50, and 2 updates for 2689LMT, like it had before....

Has anyone else seen the "Now you see it -- Now you don't" Updates????

--
A 2689LMT in both our cars that we love... and a Nuvi 660 with Lifetime Maps that we have had literally forever.... And a 2011 Ford Escape with Nav System that is totally ignored!

New voice files

Thanks guys for the heads up. I fired up GE and updated a few files, including the two new Chinese voices, Tian-Tian and Mei-Jia. Did a couple of full on/off cycles afterward, and the new voice files no longer showed up.

alandb wrote:

~snip~
Why they do not show up as selectable voices on the 3597, I don't know as thier naming/size is similar to the other TTS3 files.

This is another one of Garmin's "smarter" features. The availability of the voices is tied to the system text language.

If the system text language is set to Traditional Chinese, the two new Traditional Chinese voices, Tian-Tian and Mei-Jia, now identified in Traditional Chinese Text, become available for selection. The voices are definitely TTS3 and are identified as Garmin Real Directions. All the other non-Chinese TTS voices are no longer available for selection, although non-TTS voices in other than the system text language are still available.

In the older Garmin GPSRs, it was possible to mix and match text and voices from different languages. I found that convenient and useful. Sometime you could, however, get hilarious and comical-relief effects.

Now that's odd

In prepping for my holiday travel, I updated my custom POIs and checked in with Garmin Express today. As expected, I saw two generic updates plus the two Chinese voice updates available for my 3597. Rather than install all, I updated the two generic updates. At this point, GE said I was up to date.

I closed GE and disconnected and fully Powered Down the 3597, then reconnected and restarted GE. No Chinese voice updates offered. Great, I thought. BUT! I then checked the contents of my nuvi. Even though I did NOT choose the Install All for the two generic and two Chinese voice updates but instead chose just the generic updates one at a time and never chose to install the Chinese voices, I see that the two Chinese voices WERE installed.

This is the first I've seen or heard that updates are being performed by Garmin Express that were not requested.

Has anyone else had this happen?

After deleting the Chinese files, disconnecting and fully Powering Down, then reconnecting, the two Chinese voices were again offered as expected. I chose no updates and see that the Chinese voices weren't installed. But it does seem that when I individually updated just the two generic updates (Time Zone and Traffic something-or-other), the two Chinese voices were also installed with no request or approval from me. evil

Unwanted voices.

CraigW, it seems that Garmin REALLY REALLY wants us to have these voices whether we want them or not exclaim mad For me, Express is still only showing the two voice updates on my 3597. What were the other two updates about? I think I installed something last week called "Traffic Text All Languages" or something similar, but it was only 1 update, not 2.

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

I've been 'laying low'...

I've been 'laying low'... Since there is not any firmware or map updates to be concerned with, I'm just watching for any changes with the 2 Chinese files... and not connecting the 2689LMT to the computer for GE, Just for POI upgrades.... Without GE running..
Still seeing the 2 files as there, at V5.0.0.0 GE

alanb: Tried looking to see if link to the garmin forums you posted a month or so back would have any references to these files and why they are needed... Didn't find any, and 6 weeks after registering, I still cannot log in there!

--
A 2689LMT in both our cars that we love... and a Nuvi 660 with Lifetime Maps that we have had literally forever.... And a 2011 Ford Escape with Nav System that is totally ignored!

Yup

alandb wrote:

CraigW, it seems that Garmin REALLY REALLY wants us to have these voices whether we want them or not exclaim mad For me, Express is still only showing the two voice updates on my 3597. What were the other two updates about? I think I installed something last week called "Traffic Text All Languages" or something similar, but it was only 1 update, not 2.

Yup, that was one. The other was the fairly recent Time Zone map. And of course, both had already been updated on the nuvi but GE oftentimes forgets this and tries to get me to install them yet again. Being small updates, I usually give in and re-update them hoping they'll stay away forever rolleyes

Test 2: Just to see if it was a fluke, I connected a 2nd nuvi 3597. I did check the files on this nuvi and confirmed that the two Chinese voices were not there. This time I had five software updates available which included the two Chinese voice updates. I manually selected just the Time Zone Map update which went well. At the completion of the TZ map update, I checked the files and sure enough, the two Chinese voice updates were installed.

I then deleted the two voices, disconnected and fully powered down the nuvi. With GE, I now installed only the Traffic Text of the three available updates and did not choose either voice. Once again, in addition to the Traffic Text update, both Chinese voices were installed contrary to my Installation choice. So yes, Garmin REALLY REALLY REALLY wants these voices installed. exclaim crying exclaim evil exclaim

Garmin Forum login.

JanJ wrote:

I've been 'laying low'... Since there is not any firmware or map updates to be concerned with, I'm just watching for any changes with the 2 Chinese files... and not connecting the 2689LMT to the computer for GE, Just for POI upgrades.... Without GE running..
Still seeing the 2 files as there, at V5.0.0.0 GE

alanb: Tried looking to see if link to the garmin forums you posted a month or so back would have any references to these files and why they are needed... Didn't find any, and 6 weeks after registering, I still cannot log in there!

@JanJ ... sussamb can probably advise/help with your Garmin forum login problem since he is a moderator over there.

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

Yes ...

... What login name did you choose and I'll have a look. Just a bit more info though, how are you trying to log in and what happens when you try? Any error messages?

--
Where there's a will ... there's a way ... DriveSmart51LMT-S, DriveSmart50LMT-D, Nuvi 2508LMT-D, 1490LMT, 1310, Montana 650T, Etrex 20

V 4.5.0.0

I haven't updated Garmin Express yet as there's no immediate need & also hoping that this forced Mandarin Chinese & Taiwanese update issue will be resolved by then.

It's also not very reassuring when you specifically decline certain updates & then see that it was updated without your consent.

Not good at all ....

--
Nüvi 255WT with nüMaps Lifetime North America born on 602117815 / Nüvi 3597LMTHD born on 805972514 / I love Friday’s except when I’m on holidays ~ canuk

Agree.

Garmin definitely blew it on this one. I still suspect the problem is on their end (servers) and not with Garmin Express, so it seems like it should be easy for them to correct. I get the impression that Garmin takes little interest these days in the automotive and handheld market. It is all about the sports and personal training devices.

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

I Sidetrack this thread

I Sidetrack this thread....... Only because subject was mentioned in this thread.....
Found out why I couldn't login to Garmin forums... The password 'saved' on their system that gets automatically recalled is 1 character short of password I used, so it failed!
If I type in password over what they provide on login window... Then it works...
Tested this via multiple logoffs and logins... No matter what I do, login screen brings up 1 character of password less than amount it should be...
I guess it is a security measure... ??

Anyway... I can login, but can't post or reply...

There is a discussion going on there about this!!
https://forums.garmin.com/showthread.php?365955-Strange-upda...

--
A 2689LMT in both our cars that we love... and a Nuvi 660 with Lifetime Maps that we have had literally forever.... And a 2011 Ford Escape with Nav System that is totally ignored!

Really ...

... My password saves without issue. This could be an issue with your password saved by Windows rather than a Garmin one, but if you can now log in but can't post something still isn't right. What's your login name at Garmin and I'll look into it for you.

--
Where there's a will ... there's a way ... DriveSmart51LMT-S, DriveSmart50LMT-D, Nuvi 2508LMT-D, 1490LMT, 1310, Montana 650T, Etrex 20

Check your email... Good

Check your email... Good luck!

--
A 2689LMT in both our cars that we love... and a Nuvi 660 with Lifetime Maps that we have had literally forever.... And a 2011 Ford Escape with Nav System that is totally ignored!

Got it ...

... Tried using your details but account issue of some sort. I've sent a pm to forum admin so hopefully resolved shortly. When I hear back I'll let you know smile

--
Where there's a will ... there's a way ... DriveSmart51LMT-S, DriveSmart50LMT-D, Nuvi 2508LMT-D, 1490LMT, 1310, Montana 650T, Etrex 20

They're Gone !

Garmin Express showed just one update, not two for my 3597. Upon checking, it was Samantha V2.50 ... NO CHINESE VOICES! The update of Samantha completed normally, and so far Express is no longer showing the two unwanted updates ... hopefully it is fixed now.

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

Try Jack

alandb wrote:

Garmin Express showed just one update, not two for my 3597. Upon checking, it was Samantha V2.50 ... NO CHINESE VOICES! The update of Samantha completed normally, and so far Express is no longer showing the two unwanted updates ... hopefully it is fixed now.

Switch your device's selected voice from Samantha to Jack and run GE again to get the new Jack.

It still seems that GE will only update the selected voice. WebUpdater will offer both Samantha and Jack for us TTS3 device owners, I bet.

Let's hope the Chinese voices stay gone for you and everyone. I'll have to wait until I return home from Christmas to try.

Yup!

As usual, you are correct CraigW ... Jack is now updated as well ... still no Chinese voices being offered. Thanks Garmin for fixing this. It was apparently an error on the server end and not a bug in Express.

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

Jack and Sam

alandb wrote:

As usual, you are correct CraigW ... Jack is now updated as well ... still no Chinese voices being offered. Thanks Garmin for fixing this. It was apparently an error on the server end and not a bug in Express.

ChangeLog:

Changes made from version 2.40 to 2.50:

Pronunciation and grammar improvements

Noticed same here when we

Noticed same here when we got back after holiday's.... No Chinese!
Haven't updated yet....

--
A 2689LMT in both our cars that we love... and a Nuvi 660 with Lifetime Maps that we have had literally forever.... And a 2011 Ford Escape with Nav System that is totally ignored!

Yup

JanJ wrote:

Noticed same here when we got back after holiday's.... No Chinese!
Haven't updated yet....

Yes indeed. The two newish Chinese files are now where they belong which is in GE's Tools & Content, Optional Updates, Other files. So at least for us English speakers, you have to want the two files to get them!