Garmin 2797 Bricked

 

Unfortunately formatting my sd card in the device caused my Garmin 2797 internal drive to be wiped. I was able to restore many files to the point that GRMIN express can load the latest maps. The installed files came from Garmin 3790 which is quite different.

In Windows file manager, the maps are shown as installed, however are not operating in the machine.

I believe the problem maybe the "GarminDevice.xml" file which I copied from another non-2797 Garmin.

USB also did not work, but was able to change the mass storage via the speed touchscreen trick.

Does anyone have a 2797 GarminDevice.xml file you wish toe share?

Thanks

There are two

There are two device.xml files, one in protected memory and the one you see in the list of files. If you didn't format the 2797 it will recreate the user copy of the file. If you formatted the device itself you will need to get a copy of the installation files or send it in for repair.

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Illiterate? Write for free help.

Too late for wpritch now

Many,many years ago due to my own stupidity I erased my Nuvi 350.

You have to also realize that when you delete or erase files in Windows, they are NOT gone until they are overwritten. Files are still there!

I installed a file recovery program on my computer and then set it to work on the 350.and managed to recover almost all "deleted" files. All I had to try and guess at what the first letter of a file is since when you delete a file Windows just changes the very first letter in a file name.

But having gone through all that, the best insurance is to have your GPS completely backed up to your HDD.

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Nuvi 2797LMT, DriveSmart 50 LMT-HD, Using Windows 10. DashCam A108C with GPS.

Bricked

Unfortunately I did format the drives, not just deleted.
“Recova “ disk recovery utility was of no help...thanks

Seems like

The leason here is NOT to format the SD card while in the GPS. Remove it and then format the card.

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I never get lost, but I do explore new territory every now and then.

Things to remember

Just because you can, doesn't mean you should.

Sympathies.

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NUVI 2595 & 2599

Have you tried...

Have you tried the content at http://www.poi-factory.com/node/45157?page=0? specifically scroll down to the input by "haydenm315" at
11/29/2016 1:14 AM.

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John from PA

I will try

Thanks John I will try that site. I registered at the site and still having a difficult time logging in.

I think I can take the xml file from from some other gatmin and edit to reflect the correct settings.

In the meantime I bought a Garmin Drivesmart 65 with Alexa, but my 2797 was built like a tank. It worked flawlessly until I decided to insert an sd card and format. If I get the 2797 “cured” I will return my new Garmin.

Sorry to hear ...

Hope you get it figured out!

Ouch

So sorry to hear about your problem. You are right about the 2797, they are one of the best units Garmin made, I have two, bought a second one when I saw Garmin were stopping production.

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Nuvi2797LMT (2) Nuvi260,Ford Sync3 Navigation. Captain Cook was a Yorkshire man too.

GarminDevice.xml

wpritch wrote:

Thanks John I will try that site. I registered at the site and still having a difficult time logging in.

I think I can take the xml file from from some other gatmin and edit to reflect the correct settings.

In the meantime I bought a Garmin Drivesmart 65 with Alexa, but my 2797 was built like a tank. It worked flawlessly until I decided to insert an sd card and format. If I get the 2797 “cured” I will return my new Garmin.

I think you will find that GarminDevice.xml is an output file, created by the device from the hidden internal memory when you boot up the device. In other words, your 2797 does not read this file at bootup, so I don't think that editing the file and storing it on your device will correct your situation. The only way I know of to recover a device bricked as you have described is to use the preboot/cure3 methods to reflash the core software, then manually restore the missing 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

Nuvi possibly "bricked"

Well I will try the cure, although I have had difficulty registering.

The info you provided on the "xml" file is interesting, and I will now stop spending time on trying to add the correct info for editing this file.

Yep

Editing the xml file only helps if you do it while the device stays connected to the PC. The minute you boot a new one is created. Indeed your device will start without a xml file present as it creates a new one at start up.

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

Nuvi possibly "bricked"

Actually, the device boots up, I can use menus etc, but despite loading maps vie G Express, and file manager shows them installed, in Garmin "MY Garmin" no maps are shown.

In other words the maps are in the Garmin, just wont load.

Reinstall?

wpritch wrote:

Actually, the device boots up, I can use menus etc, but despite loading maps vie G Express, and file manager shows them installed, in Garmin "MY Garmin" no maps are shown.

In other words the maps are in the Garmin, just wont load.

Have you tried using Garmin Express to reinstall the map in case the map file is corrupt? Actually, with a new map update now, you'd be installing the just-released new map.

Yes, Garmin Express loads

Yes, Garmin Express loads the latest fine, the map is on the Garmin. If I open Garmen Express again, it again downloade the map.

In other words, GE will always state there are updates, yet they were just installed.

Somehow, there is a misding file/key that won’t allow the internal maps to be activated, if that makes any sense.

I went to the Garmin web site and looked at my subscribed map, and obtained an unlock code, f
but the GarminDevice.xml shows two unlock codes, I only have one.

Map installed and not activated?

Is Garmin Express installing the map and not activating it? Have you updated the map for this nuvi 2797 within the last two years? Garmin has stated that the map must be downloaded at least every two years, or you will lose the right to download the map.

Contact Garmin support.

I update the maps on a

I update the maps on a quarterly basis, the gps is always up to date

Have you tried these steps?

Have you tried these steps?
1) Do a full power shutdown (not just to sleep mode) and reboot.
2) Make sure the device is in mass storage mode and not the default MTP mode.
3) Once you are sure you are in mass storage mode, do a FULL backup of everything, including the \.system folder. Hopefully you already have a full backup, but it would be good to have a fresh copy before we start deleting things.
4) check the amount of free memory you have on the nuvi's internal drive. Make sure you have at least 50 MB or so of free space.
5) search for and delete any map files (.img, .gma, .unl) that do not appear to be from the most current map update. NOTE: DO NOT DELETE the file gmapbmap.img.
6) after performing all these steps, do a fresh map update with Garmin Express and see where you are.

If it still doesn't work, take a freshly formatted SD card (using a card reader, not the slot in your nuvi) or if you don't have a SD card reader, use a USB formatted thumb drive. Now do a map update directly to the SD card or thumb drive using the cloning method. Once you get this far, post back and I will try to help you proceed from there by comparing the files on the cloned copy to the files on the nuvi.

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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 will try this. Since the

I will try this. Since the menus. etc all work, I'm guessing the firmware/OS is fine.

I tried the "cure3" but either does not stay in pre-boot long enough, because cure3 cant find the device.

I am not in the auto MTB mode and can boot in the saved MTB mode.

No joy! I even reflashed

No joy! I even reflashed the firmware via Garmin Cure3. I did it by entering pre-boot mode. Updated via WebUpdater and GarminExpress. I think the problem is unlocking the maps once installed

My subscriptions on the MyGarmin site give one unlock code, yet Garmin device.xml lists two. That is to say the copied file from a Nuvi 3790 that I placed into the 2797.

Sadly this device is trashed, all because I formatted an sd card using a MacPro while the card was in the device.

My replacement StreetSmart 65 with Alexa does work flawlessly, particulary the "OK Garmin" portion, but doesn't seem as sturdy...anyhow, thanks for your and others great help.

recoverable.

Since your 2797 boots up and displays the menu, I bet it is still recoverable. You could try calling (not email) Garmin support and give them online access to your 2797 through your connected computer. They should be able to figure it out if they can get access to the device.

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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 agree. Previously, I

I agree. Previously, I consulted with them concerning this issue and they didn't seem to be that knowledgeable, however, I will try again and possibly luck out.

Garmin Shutting down

my Garmin nuvi 50 started shutting down when I tried to do this update, screen goes black and express says make sure the garmin I am updating is turned on. when I turn on the garmin to check it, first shows a yellow screen that says no detail map available to navagate from, but when I check have the newest map installed and can navagate just fine, any idea what could be causing this?
Thanks Darrell

charge it fully

Before doing an update, charge the GPS fully. A wall charger is best. A USB port takes a long time and it might go to sleep. Then do the update again.

dobs108 smile

thanks for the info

Thanks will give that a try in the next day or 2 when I get ready to use it again.

Thanks

Thanks charged it from a wall charger and the update when just fine, fully updated now
Darrell

Updated

That's good! Thanks for getting back to us.

dobs108 smile

Weak Battery For Map Update

Good suggestions by member Dob108 on suggesting a wall charger to
charge a weak battery. Glad your update issue has corrected itself.

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Nuvi 2460LMT 2 Units

I contacted Garmin support

I contacted Garmin support today, explained that the Garmin can talk to my computer via USB, possibly they can help.

The support tech stated that unfortunately they had no files etc that could help, offered to get me a new Garmin through their "Loyalty" program, etc...

My Garmin remains bricked, and initially there was absolutely nothing wrong with it till I decided to format a micro sd card while inserted in the Garmin via my MacBook.

Thanks to everyone.

Very disappointing!

wpritch wrote:

I contacted Garmin support today, explained that the Garmin can talk to my computer via USB, possibly they can help.

The support tech stated that unfortunately they had no files etc that could help, offered to get me a new Garmin through their "Loyalty" program, etc...

My Garmin remains bricked, and initially there was absolutely nothing wrong with it till I decided to format a micro sd card while inserted in the Garmin via my MacBook.

Thanks to everyone.

Thanks for trying and letting us know the outcome. I have suspected that Garmin support has gone downhill. Sadly, this confirms it. A few years ago Garmin would have offered to access your device online and at least make an attempt to resolve the problem.

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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

For what it's worth

wpritch wrote:

I contacted Garmin support today, explained that the Garmin can talk to my computer via USB, possibly they can help.

The support tech stated that unfortunately they had no files etc that could help, offered to get me a new Garmin through their "Loyalty" program, etc...

My Garmin remains bricked, and initially there was absolutely nothing wrong with it till I decided to format a micro sd card while inserted in the Garmin via my MacBook.

Thanks to everyone.

Should you really desire to get an operable 2797 there is a used 2797LMT unit on eBay for $55 +shipping of $10. Described as "Hardly used,complete as purchased...". Listing is at https://www.ebay.com/itm/Garmin-Nuvi-2797LMT-Automotive-Moun...

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John from PA