Garmin woes!

[Steve27752]

About six weeks ago, I bought a Garmin Sat Nav 255 far a particular journey that we as a family are taking this weekend.
last night I thought that I would update it from the garmin U.K. website. Now when I turn it on the screen displays the message `System software is missing`. I have tried to reinstall from the website and all I get is the message `The update file is corrupted`.
Appart from returning it to Garmin is there anything that I can do?
I am a complete computer numpty!

 

[falling rain]

About six weeks ago, I bought a Garmin Sat Nav 255 far a particular journey that we as a family are taking this weekend.
last night I thought that I would update it from the garmin U.K. website. Now when I turn it on the screen displays the message `System software is missing`. I have tried to reinstall from the website and all I get is the message `The update file is corrupted`.
Appart from returning it to Garmin is there anything that I can do?
I am a complete computer numpty!

I don't want to sound harsh but absolutely no sympathy............... Learn tradititional methods of navigation. Those sat navs are just another consumer '(must have')....how I hate that expression.
Technology is always sold before it's really been tested thoroughly and by definition will always go wrong. Get yourself an AA paper atlas and get your money back on the sat nav. Learn to read a map. You really, really do not need the gadget.

 

[Steve27752]

I don't want to sound harsh but absolutely no sympathy............... Learn tradititional methods of navigation. Those sat navs are just another consumer '(must have')....how I hate that expression.
Technology is always sold before it's really been tested thoroughly and by definition will always go wrong. Get yourself an AA paper atlas and get your money back on the sat nav. Learn to read a map. You really, really do not need the gadget.

When walking I use a map. Whilst driving it is dangerous to read a map! And using the Sat Nav is less stressfull for my wife.

 

[falling rain]

When walking I use a map. Whilst driving it is dangerous to read a map! And using the Sat Nav is less stressfull for my wife.

No one said you should read a map whilst driving...........er...... plan route before departure!!
Anyway as you please Steve. I just think it's comical how folks always fall for the gadget hype. You DO NOT need a sat nav. And there is much more skill and satisfaction in using your brain to plan a route, than relying on a ropey gadget that cost a fortune and dosn't work properly as you've pointed out.
Hope you manage to get it sorted anyhow.

 

[Mesquite]

If you only bought it 6 weeks ago why bother trying to fix it? Take it back to who supplied it and demand a new one.

Don't be fobbed off with you have to send it back to Garmin either. They supplied it so it's up the them to sort it out.

 

[Shewie]

I bought a Go 910 off a mate at work which had been reconditioned when he bought it.

I started getting loads of problems with mine so I raised a case on the Garmin website, tried everything they recommended but still couldn't fix it. In the end I sent it in to their repair centre which was an address in Scotland somewhere I think. Two weeks after getting it back it went again, I updated my original case and they got back in touch with me straight away. I told them the internal hard drive was corrupt and needed replacing which they happily did free of charge. I've not had any problems since.

Bearing in mind it was at least 3rd hand when I bought it and was ony covered by a poxy warranty from when it was reconditioned, I thought the service I got was excellent from such a big company.


EDIT:

Just realised you're talking about a Garmin rather than a TomTom, they should have a similar support system in place though. Steve's right though, why not just take it back to where you bought it from and ask for a replacement.

 

[Steve27752]

If you only bought it 6 weeks ago why bother trying to fix it? Take it back to who supplied it and demand a new one.

Don't be fobbed off with you have to send it back to Garmin either. They supplied it so it's up the them to sort it out.

I can`t demand anything as I messed it up.

 

[Wallenstein]

Really common problem with those units apparently!

But easy to fix too.

From reading a few tech sites this approach seems to be the best way forward:

Go to the Garmin website and email Support with a title "system software missing", and they should send you a .zip file with the original files plus instructions on how to install them. You'll need the serial no., and they are usually pretty quick to reply (1-2 business days).

 

[squantrill]

I had something similar I thought I had trashed the gps but it was the SD card that was fried..

It appears as though GARMIN will only work correctly on certain brands of SD try taking out the SD card and re-insert another one this is a case of cheap is not always the best option get a good brand kingston seem to work ok..

Simon

 

[woodlanduk]

I don't want to sound harsh but absolutely no sympathy............... Learn tradititional methods of navigation. Those sat navs are just another consumer '(must have')....how I hate that expression.
Technology is always sold before it's really been tested thoroughly and by definition will always go wrong. Get yourself an AA paper atlas and get your money back on the sat nav. Learn to read a map. You really, really do not need the gadget.

well to be honest you dont even need a map just use your eyes the ground ,sky,the heavens and your memory why waste any money,same goes for any kit, we didnt have it 10,000 years ago not even the Victorian mapping system or a compass.please they are all toys just to make life easy,
enjoy the land and stop with all the what ifs and this kit or that kit dont work,