Thread: Garmin Updater Program

Also if you have a backup of the file system you can look in the Garmin folder for the HWID, look at Method 1 here: [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

Provided you name the RGN file using 'safe-naming', i.e. XXXX01000xxx.rgn where XXXX is the firmware's HWID and xxx is the fw's version, Updater won't flash it if the device HWID and fw HWID don't match because it checks the device's HWID against the RGN's file name. For instance, if you were to try flashing 110401000630.rgn to a 0972 nuvi 13/14xx device, Updater would refuse. Anything other than safe-naming would allow the flash though, so be careful you find the right firmware.

Originally Posted by Garman_Nuvi

If you don't Know the HWID use [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
Just use the Firmware from the source for HWID 0972...

That is what had confused me. I did use G7ToWin and was looking for a GCD file for 0972. I didn't know you chose 0972 when using the cure program. Now that I am looking at the list of files available I see that they are different dates. Safe to assume I just use the latest?

BTW - I have been reading various threads on this forum for days trying to get a handle on how to do this. A big problem for me is that there is an assumption that one already knows basic terminology and how these things work. If there is a thread (or website) that explains things from the beginning I haven't found it.

Maybe you missed this one? .... [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]. The only thing to do differently from the guide in "How to unbrick a nüvi.doc" in my sincere opinion is to remove likely suspect files as an immediate action after loading cure firmware and treat point 2, reformatting using RMPrepUSB, as a last resort to be done only if removing all files doesn't result in a complete successful boot after loading original firmware. There is particular mention of doing that first in the initial post of kunix's thread: [Only registered and activated users can see links. ].

I know this stuff can be confusing to new users, so just ask questions if you aren't sure rather than forging blindly ahead. We'll help you as much as you need and even make cure fw files for you too. You can also try using QuickCure3, it's universal and usually works on bricked 1xxx devices in my experience. It also re-enables Mass Storage Mode but in a much different way than conventional Cure fw. It doesn't rely on the device's fw at all and its simply a modified universal ramloader which shouldn't harm the device at all. More info on that at the base of the first post in kunix's Cure thread too. Since that post was written almost 13 yrs ago i've used it on dozens of different devices including many nuvi 1xxx. Even if it hasn't worked it certainly hasn't made anything worse on any of them and it's worth trying first before going to the trouble of making Cure3 fw.

Originally Posted by Neil

Maybe you missed this one? .... [Only registered and activated users can see links. ].

Yes, I found that and saved the Word document. Unfortunately I got stuck on the first part of the first step - finding the original firmware file:

1. To enable the unit to be recognized as a mass storage device, flash CURE firmware into the unit, using GarminCure3 and Updater.exe:
- Download original firmware file *.GCD

I think I will be on the right track now but need to go out of town and won't get back to this for a week. The trip is what made me try to update maps in the first place. I didn't want the Nuvi to try to route me over the bridge in Baltimore that got knocked down.