Thread: How to relocate Garmin maps to any disk on XP/Vista/W7

How to relocate Garmin maps to any unit on XP/Vista/W7 (can be USB flash or DVD - slow but works)

First Install BaseCamp (if not already installed).
This will give you the .NET and C++ objects needed by BaseCamp and HomePort.
You will also get USB drivers for Garmin devices.

Download BaseCamp from garmin.com (select support -> software -> Mapping Programs)

Start a command prompt for the sample commands below.

Create a new folder for relocated maps (i.e. "Garmin maps")

mkdir "E:\Garmin maps"

Copy DLL files for BaseCamp to new folder

Copy "%ProgramFiles%\Garmin\BaseCamp\*.dll" "E:\Garmin maps\"

Copy HomePort.exe and pathched versions of MapSource.exe & BaseCamp.exe to "E:\Garmin maps\"
Download exe-files - HomePort(2.0.4) and patched versions of MapSource(6.16.3) & BaseCamp(3.1.2)

[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

Create a subfolder "Maps"

mkdir "E:\Garmin maps\Maps"

Copy map folders to "E:\Garmin maps\Maps" (i.e. "City Navigator Europe NT 2011.20.gmap")
Newer maps are in a folder ending with ".gmap", and by default installed in "%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\GARMIN\MAPS"

i.e. C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\GARMIN\MAPS (in XP)
C:\ProgramData\GARMIN\Maps (in Vista/W7)

MapSource, BaseCamp and HomePort will find those maps in the subfolder "Maps" - no need for registry changes.
The original maps can be deleted from %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\GARMIN\MAPS.
You now need to unlock all locked maps - enter unlock info i Notepad(see sample below)

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="no" ?>
<List xmlns="http://www.garmin.com/xmlschemas/UnlockCodes/v1">
<!-- Unlock codes for UnitID 3279930521 (Nuvi) -->

<Unlock>
<!-- MapID: 355, BlueChart Atlantic v2008.5 -->
<Code>GMG7F232LKTWCCF95WXGSVQAW3</Code>
<Description>BCATL</Description>
</Unlock>

<Unlock>
<!-- MapID: 2266, CN Europe NT 2011.20 -->
<Code>2BBGM4ZB7MHQQQ2F53QBBHPMF</Code>
<Description>CNEU2</Description>
</Unlock>

<Unlock>
<!-- MAPID : 1168, Topo Finland pro -->
<Code>3GD5QNTQZF5T6KJHJGGHGG59D</Code>
<Description>TOPOSF</Description>
</Unlock>

</List>

(The codes and UnitID is only a sample - does not work)
Save As - position to "E:\Garmin maps\Maps\" - select encodig UTF-8 and File name UnlockCodes.ucx
Put the file name(UnlockCodes.ucx) within quotes(") to have the correct suffix "ucx" instead of default "txt".
(If you have a working installation copy from %USERPROFILE%\Application Data\GARMIN\Maps\UnlockCodes.ucx)

For older maps, you still have to edit registry - create a regedit file "maps.reg" with Notepad

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Garmin\MapSource\Families\BlueChart Atlantic 2008.5]
"ID"=hex:63,01
"IDX"="F:\\Garmin maps\\Maps\\BCATL105\\Tides_Marinas\\atltides_marinasv20085.mdx"
"MDR"="F:\\Garmin maps\\Maps\\BCATL105\\Tides_Marinas\\ATLTides_Marinasv20085_MDR.img"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Garmin\MapSource\Families\BlueChart Atlantic 2008.5\1]
"Bmap"="F:\\Garmin maps\\Maps\\BCATL105\\atlbluechartv20085.img"
"Loc"="F:\\Garmin maps\\Maps\\BCATL105\\"
"Tdb"="F:\\Garmin maps\\Maps\\BCATL105\\ATLBlueChartv20085.tdb"
"Notice"="F:\\Garmin maps\\Maps\\BCATL105\\eula_ENU.txt"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Garmin\MapSource\Families\BlueChart Atlantic 2008.5\2]
"Bmap"="F:\\Garmin maps\\Maps\\BCATL105\\Tides_Marinas\\ATLTides_Marinasv20085.img"
"Loc"="F:\\Garmin maps\\Maps\\BCATL105\\Tides_Marinas"
"Tdb"="F:\\Garmin maps\\Maps\\BCATL105\\Tides_Marinas\\atltides_marinasv20085.tdb"
"Notice"="F:\\Garmin maps\\Maps\\BCATL105\\eula_ENU.txt"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Garmin\Mapsource\Families\FAMILY_1168]
"ID"=hex:90,04
"IDX"="F:\\Garmin maps\\Maps\\FAM_1168\\product.mdx"
"MDR"="F:\\Garmin maps\\Maps\\FAM_1168\\MDRMAP.img"
"TYP"="F:\\Garmin maps\\Maps\\FAM_1168\\I0000490.TYP"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Garmin\Mapsource\Families\FAMILY_1168\1]
"Bmap"="F:\\Garmin maps\\Maps\\FAM_1168\\basemap.img"
"Loc"="F:\\Garmin maps\\Maps\\FAM_1168\\"
"Tdb"="F:\\Garmin maps\\Maps\\FAM_1168\\product.tdb"

Click the file to enter the info to registry.

Rgds,
Merka