Cannot update eTrex 20 with a very old firmware

It's not even getting as far as the commands it seems. White screen indicates it's trying but failing, then trying to boot again, trying to read from card .... ad infinitum. SD card commands are executed by Ldr.bin after fw is invoked, maybe there is a compatibility problem with V2.20's boot.bin/Ldr.bin and V1.16's fw contained in region 14.

Suggestions:
1. Erase the card and re-insert it to see if the device reacts any differently.
2. It it boots normally, try using boot.bin modified with first instance of "0C 80 A0 E1" changed to "0C 80 A0 E3", then made as RGN file flashed with Updater.exe to execute these commands:
rrgn,14,1:/Garmin/14-1.bin
reboot
(See kunix's [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...] for complete explanation).

Sorry for a long delay.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Butters [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]

1. Erase the card and re-insert it to see if the device reacts any differently.

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With an empty card the device boots and works flawlessly. If I put any version of boot.bin on it, I get a bootloop.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Butters [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]

2. It it boots normally, try using boot.bin modified with first instance of "0C 80 A0 E1" changed to "0C 80 A0 E3", then made as RGN file flashed with Updater.exe to execute these commands:
rrgn,14,1:/Garmin/14-1.bin
reboot

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Tried it, still no success. Mostly because the Updater.exe cannot flash any file to device. I think most promising way is to find a method to circumvent a freeze on the "LOADER LOADING..." stage.

Maybe there is some other program for flashing Garmins except Updater.exe?

I'm running out of ideas now. It may be as i suspected earlier that this mysterious V1.6 is some early experimental fw which is incomplete, deep Alpha rather than just Beta or UAT. As the device attains preboot mode and Updater.exe sees it at first it's quite odd that the flash is properly initiated (indicated by "Loader" on screen) yet then the flash always stalls and Updater consistently times-out. I guess you've been persistent with flashing attempts with Updater, some devices can be stubborn. I see you tried a couple of different OSs, 7 and 10. Have you tried on totally different PCs, directly using rear desktop USB2 ports only (no USB3 ports or hubs) and also using several different usb cables? Clearly you have Garmin USB drivers loaded or updater wouldn't even see the device.

As for other methods of flashing/updating firmware or other programs, you've tried them all i think. Here are the possibilities anyway, device dependent. Somethings should work for sure but perhaps not all however even in a healthy device:

• Connect to GarminExpress or WebUpdater conventionally to get update from Garmin server
• Drag GCD onto WU icon on desktop or directly onto WebUpdater.exe
• Place GUPDATE.GCD in Garmin folder on SD and boot
• Place GUPDATE.GCD into device's (hidden) .System folder and boot (i think E20 has .System, if not GCD into device's Garmin folder)
• Flash RGN file by Updater.exe in preboot
• Flash 14.bin via SD card commands with Ldr.bin

I can't think of any others at the moment.