Garmin Nüvi 855 Update Problems
   13 years
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I purchased a lifetime map subscription for my trustworthy nüvi 855 about 9 years ago. Since then I've always used GarminMapUpdater successfully to update maps, although I think I missed the previous update.
Now GarminMapUpdater is saying I need a map subscription. I also needed to re-register my nüvi on my.garmin.com because somehow my original registration account is gone (previously the username was actually a name, but my new account's username is my email address--the same email address that was associated with the old account.
Fortunately Garmin Express was able to update to the current map North America 2020.10. However, Garmin Express doesn't seem to be able to use a separate hard drive for map storage, so your main hard drive (e.g. C:) needs to have plenty of extra room on it. GarminMapUpdater allows you to specify an external drive for this purpose.
After the successful update via Garmin Express, GarminMapUpdater still says I need to purchase maps or enter a product key.
So what gives? And where would I get a product key---I purchased my lifetime map update subscription from Amazon so I still have a receipt, but the little card is long gone. Is this stored anywhere on a previous GPS software backup? It's been a long time, but I'm pretty sure I entered the lifetime map subscription code to my (old) My Garmin account.
Is anyone else having this problem? I shudder having to call Garmin support.
Stick with Garmin Express
In my experience Garmin Express has been vastly improved over what it was 4 to 6 years ago and I think you'll find little if any support to Map Updater these days. Why don't you just stick with Express?
You will find an extended discussion of Map Updater at http://www.poi-factory.com/node/48760.
John from PA
Cloning
Unfortunately, the nuvi 8x5 series is one that Garmin Express does not have support for installing to the SD card. However, there is an alternative install method called cloning. See this FAQ: http://www.poi-factory.com/node/39231
Alan - Android Auto, DriveLuxe 51LMT-S, DriveLuxe 50LMTHD, Nuvi 3597LMTHD, Oregon 550T, Nuvi 855, Nuvi 755T, Lowrance Endura Sierra, Bosch Nyon
In my experience Garmin Express has been vastly improved over what it was 4 to 6 years ago and I think you'll find little if any support to Map Updater these days. Why don't you just stick with Express?
You will find an extended discussion of Map Updater at http://www.poi-factory.com/node/48760.
One big issue for me at the moment is Express doesn't allow you to use an external disk for the storage needed during installation. I was able to use an alternate computer as a temporary workaround, but would really like to have the full functionality available in GarminMapUpdater.
More importantly, why does it suddenly say I don't have lifetime maps after installing my lifetime map subscription for nearly a decade? I'm very confused at the moment.
Useful life
One big issue for me at the moment is Express doesn't allow you to use an external disk for the storage needed during installation. I was able to use an alternate computer as a temporary workaround, but would really like to have the full functionality available in GarminMapUpdater.
More importantly, why does it suddenly say I don't have lifetime maps after installing my lifetime map subscription for nearly a decade? I'm very confused at the moment.
One of the restrictions on lifetime updates since day one hasbeen "useful life of the product." Garmin may have decided your unit has reached the end of its useful life.
Illiterate? Write for free help.
One big issue for me at the moment is Express doesn't allow you to use an external disk for the storage needed during installation. I was able to use an alternate computer as a temporary workaround, but would really like to have the full functionality available in GarminMapUpdater.
More importantly, why does it suddenly say I don't have lifetime maps after installing my lifetime map subscription for nearly a decade? I'm very confused at the moment.
One of the restrictions on lifetime updates since day one hasbeen "useful life of the product." Garmin may have decided your unit has reached the end of its useful life.
If that was true, I'm glad that Garmin isn't in the nursing home business. However Express is still working, I'm curious if anyone else has received this error from GarminMapUpdater.
A guess
However Express is still working, I'm curious if anyone else has received this error from GarminMapUpdater.
It's possible that no one will report back as so few folks use GMU now. One thought for the "No subscription, enter a key code" is that Garmin's servers no longer communicate with GMU to confirm your Lifetime Update subscription so it defaults to a "Please buy" message.
I don't know how common it is for a computer to have little enough free space to cause a Garmin Express update error but I've heard of it several times here at The Factory. I will guess that if Garmin wanted to, they could add the option to GE in a software update as exists now in the old GMU to permit access to a secondary hard drive when the primary has too little free space. I do also have a 855 but it's now a backup to a backup device for me so I now just update a region of North America and don't install the large JCV file but luckily, my PC has a C: drive with sufficient free space to allow map updates.
I wonder how well those computers are operating
Those that don't have enough hard disk space will also have other issues such as storage, temp files, defrag, etc. The computer could very well be crashing or on the verger of crashing.
However Express is still working, I'm curious if anyone else has received this error from GarminMapUpdater.
It's possible that no one will report back as so few folks use GMU now. One thought for the "No subscription, enter a key code" is that Garmin's servers no longer communicate with GMU to confirm your Lifetime Update subscription so it defaults to a "Please buy" message.
I don't know how common it is for a computer to have little enough free space to cause a Garmin Express update error but I've heard of it several times here at The Factory. I will guess that if Garmin wanted to, they could add the option to GE in a software update as exists now in the old GMU to permit access to a secondary hard drive when the primary has too little free space. I do also have a 855 but it's now a backup to a backup device for me so I now just update a region of North America and don't install the large JCV file but luckily, my PC has a C: drive with sufficient free space to allow map updates.
Nuvi 2460LMT.
Nuvi 855
Garmin Express, current version recognizes my ancient 855 and recently had offered some update useless to me i.e some timezone change in Alaska.
I have no problem updating the maps using the cloning method.
But as CraigW mentioned, my 855 is just a backup or lend out unit temporarily to a friend.
Just curious if the OP has saved any 855 BACK UP files in previous years on his HDD? If so then the GarminDevice.xml file needed to put on the SD card might be there with his Garmin information in it to enable updating, just a thought.
Nuvi 2797LMT, DriveSmart 50 LMT-HD, Using Windows 10. DashCam A108C with GPS.
Garmin Express, current version recognizes my ancient 855 and recently had offered some update useless to me i.e some timezone change in Alaska.
I have no problem updating the maps using the cloning method.
But as CraigW mentioned, my 855 is just a backup or lend out unit temporarily to a friend.
Just curious if the OP has saved any 855 BACK UP files in previous years on his HDD? If so then the GarminDevice.xml file needed to put on the SD card might be there with his Garmin information in it to enable updating, just a thought.
I believe I do have an xml file backed up somewhere, although it's probably well hidden on an offline hard disk. Good suggestion!
Those that don't have enough hard disk space will also have other issues such as storage, temp files, defrag, etc. The computer could very well be crashing or on the verger of crashing.
No crashing here, although I have a solid state hard drive, so no defragging to worry about.