Thread: Preboot mode for GNV 53?

That's not good, so don't let WebUpdater update it at all. Maybe it's had the wrong firmware flashed to it somehow but at least WebUpdater is seeing it at last. Please look at the GarminDevice.xml file that is now on the unit [in MSM, open Garmin > GarminDevice.xml] then look for this near the start of the file:

<Model><PartNumber>006-BXXXX-00</PartNumber><SoftwareVersion>YYY</SoftwareVersion><Description>ZZZZZZZ</Description></Model>

You can open an XML file in any web browser or text reader/editor like NotePad or WordPad.

Tell me what 'XXXX'; 'YYY' and 'ZZZZZZZ' are actually shown as please.

Oh boy! Somehow it's had Edge 500 firmware flashed to it. The correct HWID for GVN 53 is 0741, HWID 1036 belongs to Edge 500.

The way these units are updated is by placing the new firmware [Garmin calls it 'Unit Software'] named gupdate.gcd in Garmin folder on an SD card. As they do not have a true preboot mode, it seems it's not possible to flash an RGN file via Updater.exe, therefore the Edge firmware mustn't have been flashed to it that way.

There are a few things we can try. We'll do the obvious one first as per Garmin's recommendation for the device. Go to this page:

Code:

Please Login or Register to see the links

Read the 'Installation Instructions' carefully then download the V2.50 firmware [GVN53_250.exe] from the link. If flashing the correct firmware that way doesn't work we'll then look at other options.

Ok, proceed to Plan 'B' then. We can try with a higher version than V3.00.

Open the GVN53 Version 2.50 gupdate.gcd in [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] and change the 'SW Version' to 301, then press the GCD button to save as a new gupdate.gcd:



Put it on the SD and try it.

From here it gets progressively riskier. With no preboot mode to flash an rgn file a conventional cure isn't possible so if it becomes hard-bricked it will be non-recoverable. Another thing to try would be changing the HWID in the v3.01 GCD from 741 to 1036 so that the file might be recognised by the device. At your risk entirely if you wish to try that - I have no idea what will happen if it's flashed, it may boot up or it may die forever.

Here's the basic problem: we don't know if complete HWID 1036 fw was flashed or a hybrid mix of part original GVN53 and part foreign Edge 500.

Do you have any knowledge of what was done to it and importantly how it was done?

Can you let me have a copy of the regenerated GarminDevice.xml now on the device please? Best to upload it to a host site like ZippyShare and send me the link by Private Message.