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  1. #1
    Member + Garmin Alpha 100 "SYSTEM SOFTWARE MISSING"Garmin Alpha 100 "SYSTEM SOFTWARE MISSING"
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    Default Garmin Alpha 100 "SYSTEM SOFTWARE MISSING"

    Hi!

    I have problem with one Garmin Alpha 100 device.

    When I power up this device, I get message "SYSTEM SOFTWARE MISSING" and display become pink after few seconds. Some times I can power up device regulary, but some times device is death.

    I installed newest software via WebUpdater and resolve problem, but after several hours problem is come back.

    Does anybody have sugestion how to resolve this problem?

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  3. #2
    iGO Enthusiast Garmin Alpha 100 "SYSTEM SOFTWARE MISSING"
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    Boki's Avatar
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    Replace memory chip, if possible
    Before asking a question, know it's already discussed here and at 99.9% is not unique. Use search.
    NO ONE IS A SEER, READ (click on): [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] <- Click!
    [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] <- Click!

    Spoiler: obs
    Many questions become very arduous, a lot of time chewed deja vu...Since we have lost all the year of work and effort, many people have no will to answer the same questions again. Me neither. Use a search, please.

  4. #3
    Member + Garmin Alpha 100 &quot;SYSTEM SOFTWARE MISSING&quot;Garmin Alpha 100 &quot;SYSTEM SOFTWARE MISSING&quot;
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    This is too complicated for me. Do you have other suggestion?

    You think that is problem with hardware?

  5. #4
    Important User Garmin Alpha 100 &quot;SYSTEM SOFTWARE MISSING&quot;
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    @miroslavbl
    At it's most benign, "System Software Missing" message indicates that there is corruption or missing data in the device's region 14 (0x0A) where the main firmware is located. Usually in that case the device will not boot past that message regardless of how many re-boots are attempted. Also in that case the device should default to preboot mode which allows the firmware to be easily re-flashed using an RGN file via Updater.exe.

    The other and more serious meaning of the message is that there is physical flash damage and in that case preboot isn't usually available while the message is displayed and even if it is re-flashing rgn14 either fails or doesn't fix the problem. Because your device is sometimes working, the indication is that the chip is dying. Like Boki_Srb said, replacement of the chip and reprograming it for your device is the the only fix for physical damage. The chip is probably BGA and if so re-balling is required also you'll then need to find someone to program it too. Garmin only offers an exchange service for such units, much cheaper to buy a working 2nd hand device.

    There is no software cure for a damaged flash chip, it may stay flaky for an extended period or it may die completely on the next boot or firmware flash attempt.

    If the device was mine, loading an RGN fw via [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] would be my choice of action. Convert a GCD to RGN using RGN_Tool (Zip file attached).
    Attached Files Attached Files

  6. #5
    Member + Garmin Alpha 100 &quot;SYSTEM SOFTWARE MISSING&quot;Garmin Alpha 100 &quot;SYSTEM SOFTWARE MISSING&quot;
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    Replacement of the chip and reprograming is not option for me. I do not have tools and knowlage for this job. If problem is in hardware, I can do nothing. I hope that is software problem, but...

    I have worked update via Update.exe and everything was OK several hours. After that, problem is come back.

    @Butters
    Can I replace corrupt Region 14 via SD card and xrgn command from other Garmin Alpha 100 device with same HWID number?

  7. #6
    iGO Enthusiast Garmin Alpha 100 &quot;SYSTEM SOFTWARE MISSING&quot;
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    Boki's Avatar
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    I have recommended you a solution based on experience - shortest possible. It's not an option for you maybe, but it's done in (mobile phone/computers) services.
    Unfortunately, this is a hardware problem - the chip does not hold data.
    Before asking a question, know it's already discussed here and at 99.9% is not unique. Use search.
    NO ONE IS A SEER, READ (click on): [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] <- Click!
    [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] <- Click!

    Spoiler: obs
    Many questions become very arduous, a lot of time chewed deja vu...Since we have lost all the year of work and effort, many people have no will to answer the same questions again. Me neither. Use a search, please.

  8. #7
    Important User Garmin Alpha 100 &quot;SYSTEM SOFTWARE MISSING&quot;
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    Quote Originally Posted by miroslavbl View Post
    Replacement of the chip and reprograming is not option for me. I do not have tools and knowlage for this job. If problem is in hardware, I can do nothing. I hope that is software problem, but...
    Very few ppl have the skills and equipment to do it themselves. It's not economical to pay for it to be done anyway, even if you can find someone to do it.

    I have worked update via Update.exe and everything was OK several hours. After that, problem is come back.
    I think that as it's reoccurring over and over, it's fate is sealed. The flash chip is flaky because it's failing.

    @Butters
    Can I replace corrupt Region 14 via SD card and xrgn command from other Garmin Alpha 100 device with same HWID number?
    Yes you can do that but it's pointless now that an updater.exe flash has been done. The reason being that rgn14 contains the data from fw_all.bin component of the firmware (Garmin calls it "System Software"). So flashing it via a GCD file, via an RGN file, or with a "14.bin" dump (a copy of another [but same] device's rgn14) flash via txt commands with Ldr.bin in SD, ultimately will all have the exact same effect - which is to replace current data in the region with the same data. It's just doing the same thing in different ways.

    Likely the device will fail completely sooner or later.

  9. #8
    Member + Garmin Alpha 100 &quot;SYSTEM SOFTWARE MISSING&quot;Garmin Alpha 100 &quot;SYSTEM SOFTWARE MISSING&quot;
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    @Butters, Boki_Srb

    Thank you for answers. We didn't solve problem, but I am very thankful for your time and knowledge.

    I will not work on this device any more.

 

 

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