Garmin Nuvi 500

I would just get a Micro SD card for it then let the maps install the it.

I had to do that quite a while ago for my nuvi 2450.

Either that or you can install just a portion of the map.

As far as I see, the nuvi 500 isn't limited by the 2+GB file size issue or the inability to use SD cards, so I agree to try adding an 8GB or larger SD card to the device and try the update.

The concern I do have if the Garmin warning message was exactly as described is that it's not the normal "Choose a smaller map or insert a SD card for a map update" message.

Garmin does present some conflicting information with respect to the Nuvi 500.

At https://support.garmin.com/en-US/?faq=b17m7lCO3R4UKUAt8x67J7 it is stated "These devices do not support the SD card option" and the Nuvi 500 series is listed. Could it be that the statement is exactly correct in referring to an SD card, because https://support.garmin.com/en-US/?faq=UsL6MuMMCM8PpgAhUUCqp7 states the Nuvi can use a microSD card, class 2 to 10 and up to 32 GB in size.

As far as procedure, you might review http://www.poi-factory.com/node/45079

Ah, there's nothing like a five-year-old series of messages to answer the question.

The solution, then, is to use the clone method with an SD card and then the old nuvi 500 will have the new map. For first-timers cloning, read the clone technique very carefully and follow each step exactly.

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

Good find, John from PA!

I just did this for my Garmin Nuvi 500 and it worked very well.

Thank you!

I am thinking of doing this for my Garmin Nuvi 350 and 360, too.

Unfortunately, cloning is not a good option for the Nuvi 3xx series because of the 2 GB file size limitation. For these devices, you are better off using the combination of Install to Computer Only and Map Install.

That is great to know. So, right now I have an SD card in both the 350 and 360. Each only has part of the United States downloaded onto it. With the 2 GB file size limitation, even using the Install to Computer Only and Map Install, it is no longer possible to download the entire United States maps then, right?

You should be able to get most of the map installed on your 350 using a combination of internal storage and the SD card. Make sure you clean up any unnecessary files from internal storage (unused voices, etc.), then use Map Install to install the largest region you can make fit in internal storage. After doing that, run Map Install again and install the remaining regions on the SD card (or as much as you can, making sure the total map file doesn't exceed 2 GB.) The nuvi should be able do display the merged files, giving you the full NA map, or close to it.