Help Needed for Garmin GPSMAP 696 - Stuck on "Software Missing"

[Sasquatch]

Good evening,

I have a problem with my Garmin GPSMAP 696. A few days ago, it got stuck on the logo with a message below saying "Software Missing". I tried the solution provided on the official Garmin website using the "WebUpdater" program, but just when I am about to finish, I get a message saying that the Garmin device cannot program the requested memory region. This might be due to an incompatibility between the application and the device. I have tried several options and cannot find a solution. I was researching on this forum and found that using the "GarminCure3" program might help to get it working again. Can someone lend me a hand? I would greatly appreciate it. I am new to this and urgently need to bring this device back to life.

Thank you in advance.

Best regards, Arnold

Spoiler: Click to see large images

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[Neil]

Hello Sasquatch, welcome to GPS Power.

I have used some older Garmin aviation devices, eg. GPSMAP 295, way back in my flight training. Those are more basic in operation however in firmware type and region layout are the same as your 696, i.e. they all are devices of the 'region-only' type. That means they're without any Mass Storage Mode (MSM) or Media Transfer Protocol (MTP) which more modern devices have, enabling onboard files to be directly viewed in Windows File Explorer in the same way a media card or USB drive can be seen.

Therefore, Garmin Cure firmware cannot help you because its sole purpose is to re-enable MSM on a later-type device which has been soft-bricked by a corrupt file contained in its (usually visible) file system.

Your device communicates only in Garmin Mode (also known as preboot mode in later devices). That mode is obviously still available because WebUpdater uses Garmin Mode to communicate with devices however in your case WU fails with the error "cannot program requested memory region".

Your device freezing on the logo splash screen with that "System Software Missing" error message means that a firmware region is corrupted or has missing data needed to boot and run the device. If the error is not remedied by Garmin's advised method of simply re-flashing the firmware using WU, there is the unfortunate possibility of physical flash damage affecting an essential region or regions. Let's assume it's a 'soft' rather than 'hard' bricking for the time being and try something else.

In GPSMAP695_696_780.exe there are two files, 074502000780.rgn and Updater.exe. You can run Updater directly to shorten the flashing process by removing WU from it. Extract the EXE as if it's a ZIP or RAR archive, then drag 074502000780.rgn onto Updater.exe to open its GUI. On the GUI select the radio button next to "USB Device". Remove any media card from it then connect the GPSMAP to the PC (use a desktop PC if possible and connect directly to a rear USB2 port only - not a front port, USB3 port nor via a hub). When the device details appear in the window adjacent to USB Device, click OK on the GUI.

If the above doesn't work, please take a screenshot of any error message from Updater and post it together with any other relevant information. If you need any help extracting the file "GPSMAP695_696_780.exe", just ask and i'll do that for you and upload the 2 files.

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[Sasquatch]

Dear Neil,

Thank you very much for taking the time to help me with this problem. I wanted to inform you that I followed the procedure you indicated, but unfortunately, the same error still appears. Below, I am showing you a photo of the error message that I get. If you could give me a hand, I would be very grateful. This situation is really stressing me out XD.

Spoiler: large photo

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[Neil]

The usual region which results in the message on the device screen "(System) Software Missing" is region 14 (0x0C) which contains the data from fw_all.bin. Unfortunately, neither Updater nor WU specify the problem region when displaying that generic message of being unable to flash the requested region.

Let's try to flash only fw_all.bin without the other minor content of the firmware file (minus regions 249, 251 and 253). Same procedure using Updater, after extracting the ZIP drag the reduced 074502000780.rgn onto Updater.exe, etc.: [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

NOTE: Everything we try is at your sole risk. There is no risk at all as far as i can tell in flashing an individual region separately in a 'soft-bricked' but otherwise-healthy device and i've done so innumerable times with various types of Garmin devices over many years. However, i don't have access to a 696 to pre-test anything i suggest to you here. There is also the very real possibility that your device has a failing flash chip where there's physical damage to flash blocks which contain an essential region or regions... in much the same way a USB stick or SD card fails. If that's the case then it could fail completely at any time and of course flashing it places additional stress on it so it may even die during a flashing attempt. I'm sure you understand that and will proceed only on such condition. Rest assured i won't suggest trying anything i wouldn't do myself if the device was mine. IMHO it's worth making every possible attempt to revive it as these 695/696 units still sell for US$1000 plus in good working condition.

[crackle]

Hi Neil
I took the liberty of applying this reduced rgn to my 695, which has the same issues and error messages, and wanted to offer feedback. In my case it made the unit unresponsive, but was able to boot back to the "Software Missing" start screen.

I've reloaded the latest firmware multiple times, it mostly loads 0-100% very quickly, but has occasional taken a few seconds, sometimes failing en route, but always incomplete.

I'd love to try reformating the drive, but that doesn't seem possible. I can see the device but not the drive in Windows even with the partition management app that normally finds everything that is a data storage device.

The intermittent nature perhaps indicates a hardware connection failure at this stage, so will consider replacing a chip as I can always keep this unit for spares as it is otherwise pristine. Has anyone had success resoldering the PCB to eliminate dry joints?

Kind Regards
Christopher

[Neil]

G'day Christopher, welcome to the forum.

You can't see the internal drive in Windows Disk Management because it's not a MSM device as i explained to the OP in Post #2. It will only show up in Device Manager so conventional re-formatting isn't possible sorry.

If your 696 has a software problem then re-installing the firmware (system software) should have fixed it. If it indeed does have a hardware failure it's more likely a specific component failure than a dry or cracked joint, and unfortunately it's often the flash chip at fault.