Thread: nuvi 55 behaving badly

@diversola
It's likely a corrupt map .IMG file is causing that problem. Because the device is still recognized by Windows Explorer you don't need to load Cure3 fw and may simply remove any (unofficial) detail map/s you've added after patching V5.20 firmware. Because that device has already had patched fw loaded you may load a patched later version GCD file rather than use an RGN file or SD method to load BIN files which is required only initially. This means you can simply manually place the patched GCD (named only as gupdate.gcd) in the .System folder or drag nuvi55_56_560.gcd onto WebUpdater.exe or it's desktop icon with the device connected to your PC. Here's the link to V5.80:

Code:

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Your device is in MTP mode (Media Transfer Protocol) so it's .System folder isn't visible (see below*). There are most likely unlocked detail maps in that folder which are causing the problem.

WebUpdater does not reside on the device itself. It's a computer program, get it from here:

Code:

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If you don't wish to use WebUpdater and prefer to simply load the GCD file manually, download the V5.60 file and change file name "nuvi55_56_560.gcd" to "gupdate.gcd". *Make .System folder visible on your PC, read [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]. To set your device to Mass Storage Mode (MSM), see [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]. Then connect to PC so you can place gupdate.gcd in the .System folder.

If you haven't patched the firmware you cannot use unlocked Unicode maps (codepage 65001, such as Europe NTU). You can however use NT maps (CP 1252) which are unlocked with latest gimgunlock. Units such as nuvi 53/55/56/65/66 contain a 'weak' MSV check. So those devices only need patching for Unicode map use, or alternatively you can do [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] to use Unicode mapping.

Did you remove the unlocked maps before allowing GarminExpress to update it?

Post a screen shot of the .system folder.

You need the basic maps that come with all Garmin GPS units.
The GPS will never work correctly with out these.

These 2 file are in the .system folder.
GMAPTZ.img
gmapbmap.img

So saying you do not have any maps you are missing these 2 should always be there.
If you have a proper gmapprom.img then it should work for what ever countries you need.

How did it come that you do not have any maps in the .system folder ????

@diversola
At worst the device should only be 'soft-bricked' even though you interrupted it while it was self-loading the new firmware from the GCD file. In explanation, GE works the same as WebUpdater. That is, it loads a GCD file to the device but the fw is not immediately updated. The update happens on next boot after disconnecting from PC. The GCD is like a self-extracting EXE file which is executed by the the device itself to then flash the appropriate regions of the device with the new data which is different to the way Updater.exe directly flashes the fw's BIN files from an RGN file or the way individual BINs are flashed by Ldr.bin using SD method.

So it shouldn't be 'dead' now unless it had a failing flash chip when you bought it and the chip has now collapsed. That kind of hardware fault can't be recovered by software manipulation but that is the less likely cause, probably it's just a firmware ('software') mess-up. Take it into a pitch-dark room or cupboard and check if the screen glows faintly on pressing the power button.