2689LMT Map Location

The maps are stored in the .system folder on the Nuvi which is a hidden folder by default in Windows. We have 2 FAQs that will help you make this folder visible to you:

http://www.poi-factory.com/node/41141 will show you how to make the required changes to Windows and

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

will explain how to change the settings in your Nuvi

2018.20 ALL is the mapset for your device
2018.20 Foursquare is the Foursquare POI database file

Thanks but...

The first link you mentioned is for unhiding file extensions, not files and folders.

My PC is already set to display hidden files and folders so that's apparently not the issue. It is also set not to hide extensions.

The 2689LMT does not appear in your second link, so I'm guessing that is not pertinent in this case either?

There is no .system or dot any folder on the 2689LMT.

One more additional comment. Despite having to insert a micro-SD card in the 2689 to get the new map, there are no files at all stored on it. I just did a Properties view of the external memory and can see that the card is blank. Perhaps it was used during the map upgrade process however.

Read down in the FAQ for the next link for hidden files and folders -

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

Once this is done hidden files and folders on the SD card will also be visible. However, it is possible the entire map was put on the device. Garmin Express waits until the last possible moment to use the SD card.

dobs108

Thanks but I am already set to display hidden extensions, files and folders, so that is apparently not the problem.

The SD card is a 16 GB card and all 16 are still available, so the map is not on the card.

Any more suggestions?

Does anyone know the filename of the map? I could do a search if I knew the actual name. Although I am doubting that will turn it up either as I have looked through all folders on the internal memory.

Has to be there somewhere obviously.

The file name is gmapprom.img and it's in the .system (that's DOT system) folder on the Nuvi. The .system folder is only visible if you follow the instructions in the FAQs to display hidden extensions, etc. AND at the same time DELETE (YES DELETE) THE CHECKMARK BESIDE "HIDE PROTECTED OPERATING SYSTEM FILES", as described in FAQ

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

If I recall correctly you can search for the file all you want but it isn't going to be found or displayed until you make the .system folder visible.

Thanks for the reply but still no go. I am using Win10 and as per the FAQ, I have the appropriate boxes checked or unchecked.

Show hidden files, folders and drives is unchecked.
Hide empty drives is unchecked.
Hide extensions for known file types is unchecked.

Hide protected operating system files is unchecked.

I closed File Explorer and then re-opened because sometimes these settings changes require that.

And yet, I still have no dot anything sub folders. Searching for gmamap results in no hits, as one would expect if a folder is still hidden.

What might I be missing? Is a reboot required? That's unusual in these Control Panel settings but...

You want to check the show hidden box.
The map will be gmapprom.img but you won't find it until you can see the .system folder.

Sorry, mistake on my part on the earlier post. Show hidden files, folders and drives IS checked.

Have you taken the Nuvi out of the default MTP mode and put it in Mass Storage mode? This is covered in my original post to you, in the second FAQ I listed there.

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

I sort of figured that but thought I'd confirm it.

Just to confirm, the default check in the Hide protected operating system files has been unchecked, right? This is the most common cause here when folks don't see .system because: 1) the default is to be checked while 2) the default for the Show Hidden is unchecked and both need to be changed to the non-default setting.

I assume that since you do see the files you have already switched the nuvi from MTP to MS mode.

A reboot of Win 10 shouldn't be required and with what you describe, you should be seeing the .system folder if you've done all the MTP>MS and Folder Settings changes described in the FAQs.

The 2689 has 8GB of internal storage and with the 2018.20 map, you're right at the cusp of needing to have the map installed to the SD card. But with your nuvi showing in myMaps that you have 2018.20ALL and that the SD card is not used, then the map was just able to be installed internally to the nuvi and this is not the problem or cause of the problem you have.

I agree that a reboot of the PC is probably required but you've confused me by saying that "I assume that since you do see the files you have already switched the nuvi from MTP to MS mode." as I thought that was the whole point - he can't see the files, or at least the files in the .system folder. For the other files on the Nuvi I don't think it matters whether the unit is in MTP or Mass Storage, they will show in the File Explorer

Some more experienced people may know better, but I think sixeyes cannot see his 2689 in the list but he is ignoring the 2609 listed.

I believe that was a problem we had here a few years ago until the numbers were shown as such 26** to signify any numbers in the 2600 series.

Maybe you're right. My experience with my MTPed nuvis was long ago and were quickly switched to MS mode. I was thinking (wrongly?) that in MTP mode, no files or folders would be seen while in MS mode with the wrong folder settings, files not in the .system would be seen.

Sixeye will quickly let us know if the nuvi is in MS mode as needed, and if not, will switch out of MTP mode and all will be well.

Regarding MS mode, Garmin devices can revert to MTP mode if the MS mode was set to be a One-time switch and also if a hard reset is performed so even folks who have switched to MS mode and later don't see .system may need to re-enable MS mode.

Regarding a PC reboot, I said it shouldn't be needed while you stated it is needed. I can't remember ever needing to reboot to activate folder setting changes.

Sorry, the FAQ did not list the 2689 as using MTP so I did not look into that initially. Now that I have, yes, it defaults to that mode.

I changed it to MS and can now see the dot* folders. The map is under 3 gigs in size. Do we know the name and whereabouts of the Four Squared file? I'd like to check on its size too since GE told me I needed 10 GB available to install 2018.20.

This new map is definitely on the internal memory so perhaps the SD card was required for some temp files and have now been erased. I can't be sure at this point.

Great work.

Regarding the need for 10GB, I believe that requirement refers to space needed on the computer's drive to do the map update to the nuvi, not the free space needed on the nuvi.

PS: Now that you can see the nuvi drive and its files, can you find how much free space the nuvi has? For those of us with similar 8GB devices (your 2689 and my 3597, etc.), many of us are reporting under 200MB of free space left after this map update. The space left free will vary depending on whether you have deleted some unneeded files, have installed additional voices, and in he worst case, when some large phantom files are left on the device from older map updates during a map update that the update process should have deleted. In any event, it's likely that our SD cards will be used pretty soon for the map file during a future map update.

Craig, not sure which drive the update would be checking for free space. My C drive is an SSD and has 16 GB free. Getting low but the update should not have squawked. My D drive is an HDD and has 601 GB free. No problem there obviously.

My 2689 has 600 MB free at this time. I have not bothered to delete any unnecessary files. I don't feel that doing so frees up enough space to make a difference for map updates. Someone correct me if I am wrong.

Text files are only using 101 MB and Voice files are using 256 MB.

Help files use 15 MB.

None of these seem to me worth deleting unused files to gain extra space.

Since GE reported that I needed 10 gig free, deleting the usually recommended files on the 2689 would not have made any difference.

Also, the 16 gig free on the SSD should have been enough.

I am puzzled...

Wow, your nuvi may be able to install North America internally for a few years before needing the SD card.

Of course, adding Karen and the other navigational voices could change that time frame

Perhaps but the voices subfolder is only about 256 meg so it too isn't taking all that much space in the overall scheme of things.

But deleting the Text, Help and Voice files from your Nuvi would increase the available free space by over 50% to 900+ MB instead of the 600 MB you say you currently have.

One other thought, using the cloning method to install a map update and leaving the map files on the SD card, as I do, allows you to have Gb's of free space on the Nuvi without deleting any files on the device:

http://www.poi-factory.com/node/39231

Now that you can see the .system folder, never mind mucking about in there. A comment from jgermann is in order: Back Up the GPS!

http://www.poi-factory.com/node/30394

dobs108

and again I say, Amen!