Thread: Nuvi 42 - doing weird things - lost ability to plan routes to postcodes and some addresses

Go outside and let it get a complete sat. fix until it shows 'Ready to Navigate' and then try to search again. If it still doesn't give results then connect it to GarminExpress and re-download it's map entitlement, there may be a minor corruption in the currently loaded map data for UK_IE.

OK I tried taking it outside until all satellite signal bars were green and again searching for "Swansea"
the result was the same = "Location not found"

I then connected it to Garmin express and it said there was one update
it was very quick = less than 1 minute - then completed successfully
I then took it outside again and waited till it had a satellite fix - and again tried "Swansea"
the result was still "Location not found"

interestingly it could find a place called "Swanscombe" or something similar that came up as an autocomplete option while I was entering "Swansea"
So it seems it has some kind of map - but it is likely corrupted as many places are missing

is there any way of getting at and deleting just the map files - and if I did so - would it just get new ones via Garmin express
if not - what are the next steps?
thanks again!!

Is it an LM (Lifetime Maps) device?

Cheers Butters.
I believe so - my fiance bought it some time ago and can't remember exactly what she paid for - but whenever its plugged into Garmi express it seems to have some kind of map update available. Is there any way to know for sure?

I plugged it in and checked what Garmin express had to say, but no mention there of lifetime maps or LM

it did have an option to re-install the existing map. So I tried that option - it took quite a few minutes ( long enough to download an entire map ) so that was a good sign.
I then took it outside again and waited till it had a satellite fix - and again tried "Swansea"
the result was still "Location not found"......
so it seems my little saga continues.

Yes that's an LM. Only with a Lifetime Map entitlement does GarminExpress so easily offer the re-installation of currently loaded mapping data. I do wonder if your device doesn't have a healthy basemap loaded or it's not present. Even using a North American LM nuvi 42 i can set my location manually to Port Talbot in Wales and using 'Near' in search for Towns it offers "Swansea, WLS" almost at the top of suggestions. As there's no EU detail map in my device it's reading from the basemap. Connect to computer (set it to show hidden/system files or you won't be able to see it's .System folder, see [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]). Even if there's a basemap loaded (it'll be named only as "gmapbmap.img") you should replace it with the latest V6 from Garmin:

Code:

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Be sure to rename it from "WWAUTOROUTEDEMBMAPWEATHER_600.img" to "gmapbmap.img" or it won't work. Make a copy of your current basemap before you overwrite it..

Note that basemap updates are not usually offered by GarminExpress.

excellent! - I will give that a go and report back - thanks again!

ok - so here is what I found
the file gmapbmap.img was present - I backed up a copy just in case
I replaced it with the renamed version from Garmin as suggested and then did the usual take it outside wait for satellites and tried navigating a route to Swansea
the same "location not found" message came up.
I repeated the whole process of replacing the file and trying it a second time just in case - but the result was the same.

As an observation - if I use the "near" button and try to navigate to say a POI near a city and enter Swansea - Swansea in Wales UK comes up - together with a few other Swanseas in Australia and such like - so does this mean the base map is present and working?

Yes, clearly the basemap is working or there would be no listings for Swansea in Australia. I'm sorry but I don't have anything else for you to try.

OK - thanks for the help thus far Butters - that's appreciated - even if we dint manage to get the thing working

if anyone else has any ideas that might save this thing from the bin it would be very much appreciated - it seems a shame as its hardly been used.

Originally Posted by BDangerfield

.... if anyone else has any ideas that might save this thing from the bin .....

My Goodness! Don't bin it. At the very least sell it on ebay or strip it for parts (case, screen, battery etc.) and sell them. It's actually still usable in a somewhat limited way regardless.

One 'last gasp' effort would be to re-load the firmware although it's unlikely the problem. If you want to try that (imo you should) then connect it to computer and unzip this file somewhere convenient to find a folder named "Updater":

Spoiler:

[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

IMPORTANT If there is an existing GCD file in the device's .System folder then remove it. Now follow this:

• Open the folder named Updater where you'll have two files, 163101000400.rgn and Updater.exe
• Drag the RGN file onto the EXE file and a GUI will appear on your Desktop, select the radio button next to 'USB Device' and leave the GUI visible
• Plug a miniUSB cable directly into a REAR USB2 port of the PC (don't use a hub or a front port either)
• Ensure the device is completely OFF, not just in Standby
• Firmly hold the top LH corner of the screen and maintaining the constant pressure on the screen plug in the USB cable to the device
• Watch the window on the right of 'USB Device' and IMMEDIATELY you see the device details appear press the 'OK' button or just hit enter on your PC's keyboard (see pics behind spoiler)
• Keep pressure on the screen until the flash finishes or at least until you see 'Software Loading' written on the device screen

Spoiler: Click to see Images

[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]