DriveSmart 51LMTHD (Enterprise Rental Edition) Restricted Mode SOLVED

**timsley** · 7th August 2023, 04:53 AM

DriveSmart 51LMTHD (Enterprise Rental Edition)

Unlike most other Garmin models, these units do not have a menu option to disable "Restricted Mode" while driving, therefore they only allow Voice Commands or very minimal touch screen operation when the unit is moving.

The "user settings" of these units are stored in a small database file (settings.db) that may be edited to disable Restricted Mode (known internally as Safe Mode). See "**Editing SQLite .db Files" below.

Restricted Mode can be disabled but the menu option will still be missing.

There are three versions of settings.db on these Garmins: "settingsReadOnly.db" is a view only file that is located in: [Garmin DriveSmart(F:\.System\SQLite\settingsReadOnly.db] this file is only a mirror of the actual "settings.db" and modifying "settingsReadOnly.db" has no effect on "settings.db" or the device's operation.

Both "settings.db" and "settings.db.bckup" are located in the Garmin's RWFS (Read Write File System) on a normally Hidden FAT Partition. This partition will show as a separate drive in Windows Exlorer: GARMIN (G:.

Numerous other .db files along with "settings.db" and "settings.db.bckup" may be found in: [GARMIN (G:\.System\SQLite\]

Factory resetting the device will relace the values in "settings.db" with the default settings and re-enable Safe Mode. The settings existing prior to the latest factory reset are stored in "settings.db.bckup".

Tip: Highlight the original "settings.db" in the SQLite folder on the device, then Ctrl-C, then Ctrl-V and you will get "settings - Copy.db" you can edit or rename as desired. For example, a copy named "settings_safe_off.db" may be stored in [GARMIN (G:\.System\SQLite\] as a permanent backup. (Delete the files in [GARMIN (G:\.System\Diag\Event Logs\] if partition is too full)

To view the above files Windows Explorer View settings must be set to "Show Hidden Files Folders and Drives" and to NOT "Hide extensions for known file types". The drive letters above F: and G: are just examples.

The following steps performed on your Garmin device will allow access to the above files.

1. (Optional) Reset to factory settings: >Settings >Device >Reset >Delete Data and Reset Settings

2. Open Diagnostics Page as follows: From Main Screen (Where To? - View Map - Etc.) select Volume,
Master Volume screen should appear with Volume Slider, press and hold upper right corner of screen for about five seconds, Diagnostics Page should open.

3. From Diagnostics Page: >Configuration and Settings >MTP Settings, Select Mass Storage >Save

Mass Storage Mode allows access to Most device files using a USB data connection with Windows Explorer.

4. From Configuration and Settings Page: >RWFS Settings, Select Show RWFS in Mass Storage >Save

Once set as above, the device will default to Mass Storage and show the RWFS whenever connected to a PC using a USB data cable.

Connect cable, agree to Warning. It takes about a minute before the Garmin shows up in Windows Explorer. Be patient.

**Editing SQLite .db Files:

These files are strictly coded and care must be used when opening, editing and saving to avoid loss of the database structure.

1. Use any Hex Editor, an eprom programmer or the Hex function in Notepad++. Open "settings.db" on the device, change Hex 000086B1 from 09 to 08, save and exit.
Tip: This is easiest method and hex editors such as "HxD Hex Editor" are easy to find free online.

2. Any SQLite database editor such as "SQLite Expert" may also be used to edit "settings.db" directly on the device. Simply open the database, view [data_bool] on the [Data] tab then uncheck the box next to Safe Mode, Refresh then exit.

3. Edit the text in "settings.db" using Notepad++ (Windows Notepad will NOT work).
Open the file, turn on word wrap, search for "safe m", you are looking for the words "Nav.settingsSafe ModeAutomotive" on or about line 55 through 58. Look directly to the left of the "N" in Nav. There will be a light arrow (ascii 09 TAB) if the setting is enabled or a highlighted "BS" (ascii 08 BackSpace) if the setting is disabled. (You should see the light arrow indicating that Safe Mode is enabled). Simply copy any "BS" from another location, highlight the arrow before "Nav." then Paste the "BS", Save and exit.

**asprin624** · 7th August 2023, 06:56 AM

Why would you want to remove the Restricted Mode off on a DriveSmart 51LMTHD (Enterprise Rental Edition)???

When I use any of my Garmin units I never play with it while I am driving.
If I need to check a new location I stop my car and lookup a place after I turnoff the destination I was going to.
But have never had to do that in the first place.
I setup my places I will go to on the main screen long before I set off so they are all there when I need them.
Then when I am ready to go I tap on the one I will be going to first.

The whole point of this Restriction on a DriveSmart 51LMTHD (Enterprise Rental Edition) or any other model that has this Restriction mode is for safety reasons.

It is just like leave your fingers off your smartphone too many accidents have happened by taking your eyes off the road just to play with your Garmin unit or smartphone.

Arrive a live...........

PLus no one is going to go through all those steps just to be able to disable the Restricted Mode.
One mistake screwing with the settings.db and you have a nice paper weight for your desk.

**Butters** · 7th August 2023, 10:00 AM

@timsley
Nice work to track that down. There may also be other little hidden 'landmines' seeing that device is meant specifically for rental cars. If it's also running a custom firmware and you find there's insurmountable restrictions you may be able to flash original Garmin fw for Drive/DriveSmart 51 to fully convert it. We've done that in this forum with older hire-car devices historically.

Keep up the good work, the initial post above and your earlier one a couple of months back (about the TA10) are the best posts in this forum from a new member for quite a while!

**Bushwalker8** · 7th August 2023, 03:15 PM

Originally Posted by asprin624

Why would you want to remove the Restricted Mode off on a DriveSmart 51LMTHD (Enterprise Rental Edition)???

To make it the same as every other Nuvi in the world that do have the option to disable it.
Because many of us have partners or passengers who can operate it while we are driving.
And lots of other reasons

Originally Posted by asprin624

PLus no one is going to go through all those steps just to be able to disable the Restricted Mode.

Clearly one already has, and there's a lot of interest it's been asked many times previously.
And insight into the internals can help with a lot of other things, it was an excellent post.

Apart from not doing basic homework before posting, why are you constantly putting down and discouraging those who make the valuable contributions?

**asprin624** · 7th August 2023, 04:04 PM

@Bushwalker8,

This is all about safety on the road.
I have never screwed around with my GPS while driving.
Nor do I screw around with my smartphone.
Regardless if there is someone sitting next to me or not that can change something on my GPS it is not done.

You can drive the way you like and the chances you even have one of these DriveSmart 51LMTHD (Enterprise Rental Edition) is next to none.
It is a model that was put out for rental companies, police and emergency vehicles in the US for the sole reason of safety.

Again it had nothing to do with anyone cracking this Restricted Mode but safety.

But I do like that you seem to have a profound habit about chasing me around this forum and disliking anything I post.
A big hug for your concerns......

You have a nice day and drive safe and watch out for those who can not keep their fingers from the GPS Units they might just cause an accident........

PS:

For everyone this has been tried back in 2nd February 2021, 02:35 PM to 22nd September 2022, 06:03 PM and as of yet no one has been able to crack it on another forum.

Many user's got in the act and came up with not being able to turn off Restricted Mode. Some of the users said they can live with this Restricted Mode because the GPS works with no problems at all have the Restricted Mode on.....

**Bushwalker8** · 9th August 2023, 04:12 AM

You are still missing the basic point, Garmin provides every other standard, normal, common, garden variety Nuvi out there with the menu option to disable Restricted Mode. There's nothing special about having this option, it's ubiquitous. Everywhere, almost all of them. Many thousands.

Heaven forbid, Garmin even provided some models such as the GVN53 with a REMOTE CONTROL to operate them in the vehicle, along with the same menu option to turn off what it calls "Safe Mode" while they were enthusiastically waved about.

And newer hybrid devices are also road capable and have vehicle mounting brackets available...but don't have restricted mode at all. For example my 66i, there are many others.

If you are obsessed about passengers unwelcome advances on your private device that's your private business but is of little interest to anyone else here. If you are really concerned about safety then maybe better to redirect the soapbox away from here to Garmin: [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

**Garman_Nuvi** · 9th August 2023, 06:35 AM

100% agree with personal choice, but the Rental Industry in USA is massive, the largest car rental company in the US is Enterprise Holdings, with a revenue of $30 billion and 1.1 million cars in service. Garmin creates what ever they want ,and as a large percentage of revenue is made by exorbitant insurance they sell, I assume they are trying to limit their risk of distracted drivers causing accidents. I wouldn't be surprised if they where self insured and don't want to eat into any profit stream.

[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

Great work timsley

**timsley** · 13th August 2023, 06:52 PM

Re. Safety Comments: Fair enough, I do not program navigation units, text or even answer my phone while driving.

Hundreds of DriveSmart models 50LMTHD and 51LMTHD (Enterprise) were, and still are sold on eBay.
I initially bought one of each, cheap. I installed new batteries in both and had two like new units to play with.

I was on a road trip with my wife when I tried Voice Command "Find a Place" on the 51 without success (this usually works fine). Maybe there was too much traffic noise, I'm not sure. Both my wife and I repeated this particular request numerous times resulting in choices that were so far astray that we both had a few good laughs. I asked her to "just key it in" ... Ah, "Restricted Mode", yes we had the 51 this trip.
We had to exit the freeway (the 405 in Los Angeles), find a safe place to stop, then key in the "Place" and proceed back to the freeway as directed.

THAT is what motivated me to attempt to disable restricted mode on my 51LMTHD.

**Garman_Nuvi** · 15th August 2023, 10:41 PM

@timsley
Just thinking if you had the settings.db file from a normal fully functioning device ,would substitution be another way to change the restricted mode on an Ex rental device ?
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

**timsley** · 19th August 2023, 07:03 PM

That could work to disable safe mode, but I'm not sure about how other settings on the 51 may be affected.
Also the settings file "DS 50 settings.rar" you attached above has safe mode enabled so that file won't work.
Disable Restricted Mode in the device's settings first then download "settings.db" if you want to try it.
I think it is better to just mod the 51's settings.db file to all of your desired settings and keep as a spare.
I am going to try to convert my 51LMTHD to a 51LMT-s or something like that to totally solve the issue. I'll post the results if I can make it work. Might be awhile.