Garmin GPS - Removing Demo maps from Etrex Unit ?

Author

Removing Demo maps from Etrex Unit ?

swebb99

2007-01-24, 4:34 am

Hi,

I loaded a topo map onto my unit using DEMO as the key just to check it
out. This put the unit in a demo mode that I had trouble getting out
of. In the end to get it back to normal life I had to use MapSource to
send the map again unlocked however this then meant whenever I powered
the unit up it told me I had unlocked maps installed ! To fix this I
then did the same again using MapSource but very quickly after it said
it had erased the previous map I pressed the abort key. This seemed to
fix the problem.

There must be an easier way of telling the unit to remove all non
default maps from memory ! I tried some of the reset to default options
and restarting with the enter button held down but they didn't do
anything.

Any idea's ?

Jack Erbes

2007-01-24, 10:33 am

swebb99 wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I loaded a topo map onto my unit using DEMO as the key just to check it
> out. This put the unit in a demo mode that I had trouble getting out
> of. In the end to get it back to normal life I had to use MapSource to
> send the map again unlocked however this then meant whenever I powered
> the unit up it told me I had unlocked maps installed ! To fix this I
> then did the same again using MapSource but very quickly after it said
> it had erased the previous map I pressed the abort key. This seemed to
> fix the problem.
>
> There must be an easier way of telling the unit to remove all non
> default maps from memory ! I tried some of the reset to default options
> and restarting with the enter button held down but they didn't do
> anything.
>
> Any idea's ?
>

When you turn the eTrex on and are on the Satellite page, if you press
Menu, is there a selection there to start or stop the Demo mode? If
there is that might do it.

When you upload a map to any of the Garmin handhelds, it is always in a
file named gmapsupp.img, that is the only file name that the software
will recognize and use. So when you upload another map it overwrites
that file.

Jack

--
Jack Erbes in Ellsworth, Maine, USA (jackerbes at adelphia dot net)
(also receiving email at jacker at midmaine dot com)

swebb99

2007-01-24, 12:33 pm

Hi Jack

Yes there is an option to stop the demo mode but when you select
another option it changes the text but if you go back into the menu it
is demo again ! I think others had the same problem.

As for uploading another map the only map I have is the topo one :( as
the normal maps are base maps and inbuilt into the device. So the only
other maps I have that I can download/overwrite are the ones that give
me the problem ? I thought there would just be an option to say erase
all none base maps and get yourself back to default operation. There
were some options a bit like that but none seemed to work.

So I suppose my question should be how do I remove maps demo or not if
they are the only ones I have for the device. I can't use the base maps
because they aren't on disk to download they are actually always in the
device.

Steve

On 24 Jan, 15:31, Jack Erbes <jacker...@adelphia.net> wrote:
> swebb99 wrote:
>
>
>
> Menu, is there a selection there to start or stop the Demo mode? If
> there is that might do it.
>
> When you upload a map to any of the Garmin handhelds, it is always in a
> file named gmapsupp.img, that is the only file name that the software
> will recognize and use. So when you upload another map it overwrites
> that file.
>
> Jack
>
> --
> Jack Erbes in Ellsworth, Maine, USA (jackerbes at adelphia dot net)
> (also receiving email at jacker at midmaine dot com)

Jack Erbes

2007-01-24, 12:33 pm

swebb99 wrote:
> Hi Jack
>
> Yes there is an option to stop the demo mode but when you select
> another option it changes the text but if you go back into the menu it
> is demo again ! I think others had the same problem.

Okay, I'm learning here too. That is a little sinister, that you can't
just turn it off and on.

> As for uploading another map the only map I have is the topo one :( as
> the normal maps are base maps and inbuilt into the device. So the only
> other maps I have that I can download/overwrite are the ones that give
> me the problem ? I thought there would just be an option to say erase
> all none base maps and get yourself back to default operation. There
> were some options a bit like that but none seemed to work.

The eTrex has only internal memory and, as far as I know, there are not
provisions for looking at the contents of that memory from Windows.

On the Cx/CSx models there is the Mass Storage Mode that lets you see
the microSD card as a Removable Drive in Windows. Some models, the nuvi
550 for example, show you both the main memory and the expansion memory
as Removable Drives under Windows. On those you can simply delete the
gmapsupp.img file and the detail maps are gone.

When you power up or go back to the regular GPS mode, the GPS startup
screen shows a percentage bar as it reads the microSD card. So that is
when it sets itself up as far as what maps are available.

> So I suppose my question should be how do I remove maps demo or not if
> they are the only ones I have for the device. I can't use the base maps
> because they aren't on disk to download they are actually always in the
> device.

Good question. I don't know of anyway to do it on the models where the
memory and/or expansion memory are not seen as Removable Drives. If you
could see the map file you could delete it.

Uploading new (non Demo) map file to overwrite the one that is there
might get rid of the demo. I don't think I've heard of a way to upload
another map file to main memory except through MapSource.

Maybe there are some secret key strokes that will let you clear the
supplemental map file or even upload a new one via a serial link. I'd
approach that carefully, if you got unlucky you might trash your basemap
and have nothing left. Garmin wants a flat rate repair fee to fix
failed basemaps and it is usually more than the GPS is worth.

Jack

--
Jack Erbes in Ellsworth, Maine, USA (jackerbes at adelphia dot net)
(also receiving email at jacker at midmaine dot com)

swebb99

2007-01-24, 12:33 pm

Yes I'm a little worried that there doesn't appear to be a simple way
of getting rid of the maps. My technique of pressing abort when I saw
Mapsource display the erasing existing maps and getting in there before
it downloads anything new is a bit hit and miss and probably not the
way to go. Also if you install a fair few topo map area's how can u be
expected to remember which ones !

What I really need is some menu pressed that says do a factory reset
where is blanks out the memory apart from the base maps and also resets
the config back to the factory settings.

I can't see anything in the manual about how I delete the maps.

Strange. Maybe I should email Garmin themselves !

On 24 Jan, 17:59, Jack Erbes <jacker...@adelphia.net> wrote:
> swebb99 wrote:
>
> just turn it off and on.
>
> provisions for looking at the contents of that memory from Windows.
>
> On the Cx/CSx models there is the Mass Storage Mode that lets you see
> the microSD card as a Removable Drive in Windows. Some models, the nuvi
> 550 for example, show you both the main memory and the expansion memory
> as Removable Drives under Windows. On those you can simply delete the
> gmapsupp.img file and the detail maps are gone.
>
> When you power up or go back to the regular GPS mode, the GPS startup
> screen shows a percentage bar as it reads the microSD card. So that is
> when it sets itself up as far as what maps are available.
>
> memory and/or expansion memory are not seen as Removable Drives. If you
> could see the map file you could delete it.
>
> Uploading new (non Demo) map file to overwrite the one that is there
> might get rid of the demo. I don't think I've heard of a way to upload
> another map file to main memory except through MapSource.
>
> Maybe there are some secret key strokes that will let you clear the
> supplemental map file or even upload a new one via a serial link. I'd
> approach that carefully, if you got unlucky you might trash your basemap
> and have nothing left. Garmin wants a flat rate repair fee to fix
> failed basemaps and it is usually more than the GPS is worth.
>
> Jack
>
> --
> Jack Erbes in Ellsworth, Maine, USA (jackerbes at adelphia dot net)
> (also receiving email at jacker at midmaine dot com)

Christen Fihl

2007-01-24, 10:33 pm

I wrote garmin some time ago, as I had put an unregistrered map into my
eTrex Legend C.
I got the answer that there is only one way to erase maps: Do send new
maps!
And that I did, as my StreetPilot had another license key I could use.

Extract from mail from Garmin:
Thank you for contacting Garmin Europe Support.

The only way to erase maps is by sending over more maps.
You can register an additional unit with your mapping software.
Please go to the following Garmin web link http://www.garmin.com/unlock/
Then enter as a returning customer and you can add an additional unit.
....

Christen

swebb99

2007-01-24, 10:33 pm

All seems very strange to me not to have a remove none base map option
!!!!

On 24 Jan, 23:23, "Christen Fihl"
<look_at_HSPascal.fihl....@nospam.plz> wrote:
> I wrote garmin some time ago, as I had put an unregistrered map into my
> eTrex Legend C.
> I got the answer that there is only one way to erase maps: Do send new
> maps!
> And that I did, as my StreetPilot had another license key I could use.
>
> Extract from mail from Garmin:
> Thank you for contacting Garmin Europe Support.
>
> The only way to erase maps is by sending over more maps.
> You can register an additional unit with your mapping software.
> Please go to the following Garmin web linkhttp://www.garmin.com/unlock/
> Then enter as a returning customer and you can add an additional unit.
> ...
>
> Christen

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