Cannot update eTrex 20 with a very old firmware

[TrueRedRat]

First of all, excuse my terrible English. Some time ago I bought another one eTrex 20 on eBay, it has a beta firmware version 1.16. As usual I tried to update it with the latest firmware 4.80. To my surprise none of the ways to do it works for me.

1. Usual way by Garmin Express and WebUpdater doesn't works, the firmware remain the same.
2. Updating by GUPDATE.GCD doesn't works too, device just doesn't see this file at all.
3. I tried to use more old versions down to 2.20, but it doesn't helps too.
4. I tried to update the divece by Updater.exe and RGN file in boot mode, but device stalled on step "Loader loading..." and some time after it Updater.exe show me error:

App: Updater
At: 1/4/2019 9:59:58 AM (UTC)
OS: WIN32 Windows Platform, Major Version: 6, Minor Version: 2
Processor: Pentium Pro or Pentium II, RAM: 2097151 KB
IOU_UTILITIES.CPP-203-2.8

I tried Windows 7 and 10, result is the same.

I need an advice, which way I can update my eTrex 20 to the lates firmware version?

[Butters]

@TrueRedRat
Firstly, welcome to GPS Power. Secondly, your English is great! Thirdly, you may have a huge problem or it may be an easy fix (:.

Questions:
1. Do you have a copy of the 1.6 firmware? (V2.20 is the earliest I can locate and the first RTM version was 2.10 it seems. V2.20 has rrgn & xrgn commands to dump and flash BIN files using microSD. It may be a very early prototype device you've bought with incompletely-developed UAT firmware).
2. Can the device be seen in Mass Storage Mode by PC?

[TrueRedRat]

1. Do you have a copy of the 1.6 firmware?

Unfortunately, no. :-(
Maybe there is a way to dump it from device?

2. Can the device be seen in Mass Storage Mode by PC?

Yes, with a usual hierarchy of directories.

[rikeee]

Did you tried with Garmin live update? It is old software but works even today

[TrueRedRat]

Did you tried with Garmin live update? It is old software but works even today

I tried Garmin Express and WebUpdater, as noted in the first message. Do you mean some other program?

[rikeee]

No... I was thinking about webupdater...

[Butters]

Unfortunately, no. :-(
Maybe there is a way to dump it from device?

You can dump the contents of region 14 using text commands in card which will give you V1.6's fw_all.bin, but you'll need to use V2.20 boot.bin as Ldr.bin to execute which will then overwrite region 12. Unexpected and unsatisfactory results may result it you then boot the device before trying to write later fw_all to rgn14. If you wish to go down that path i'd suggest doing all commands in one update.txt file, i.e. dump 14 and 41 (non-vol memory region) and then write V2.20 fw_all to rgn 14. Read this thread: [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]. If you wish to try this method and need further assistance with the txt commands just ask.

Yes, with a usual hierarchy of directories.

Then it's unlikely a 'partial bricking' is preventing the fw update and therefore trying to load cure fw is pointless when you have MSM available. You could try a reformat anyway. Do a files backup first of course if you feel the need. Use only [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] to reformat, don't use anything else including the built-in Windows tool.

[TrueRedRat]

If you wish to try this method and need further assistance with the txt commands just ask.

I will be very grateful for any help!

So far my experiments:

1. Backed up all files from internal storage and formatted it by RMPrepUSB.
2. Got pristine new SD, made \Garmin\Updater\1305\ directory, put there boot.bin from 2.20 as LDR.bin and update.txt containing:

rrgn,14,1:/Garmin/14-1.bin
rrgn,14,2:/Garmin/14-2.bin
rrgn,140,1:/Garmin/140-1.bin
rrgn,140,2:/Garmin/140-2.bin
reboot

just to test, can I dump 14th region as a file?

4. After switching on device I got a bootloop :-(, and neither update.txt nor last_id.bin files was created on SD.

Could you give me a clue for the next steps?

[Butters]

The correct path for your eTrex to card should be 1 not 2. Regardless, the first and last commands should still have worked to give '14-1.bin', successfully reboot and also generate 'last_id.bin' and 'update.log' (you wrote 'update.txt' but likely that's a typo i guess). The bootloop is concerning and may indicate physical flash damage. Even if the device has a different HWID to 1305 it wouldn't result in a bootloop just a complete ignore of the folder '1305' and it's contents. Did you see anything on the screen before the bootloop started? "Loader" or similar words, or a white screen, even very briefly?

I wonder why you are trying to dump 140, rather than 41? Likely region 140 is either missing or empty on eTrex.

Just to be 100% sure, look at GarminDevice.xml in device's Garmin folder to confirm HWID. Look for "<PartNumber>006-Bxxxx-00</PartNumber>" near start of XML file. xxxx shows HWID.

[TrueRedRat]

The correct path for your eTrex to card should be 1 not 2.

Yes, but in forementioned thread was a note about new devices which uses 2 instead 1 as a SD card path, so I decided to test both ways.

Regardless, the first and last commands should still have worked to give '14-1.bin', successfully reboot and also generate 'last_id.bin' and 'update.log' (you wrote 'update.txt' but likely that's a typo i guess).

Yes, it was a typo.

The bootloop is concerning and may indicate physical flash damage. Even if the device has a different HWID to 1305 it wouldn't result in a bootloop just a complete ignore of the folder '1305' and it's contents. Did you see anything on the screen before the bootloop started? "Loader" or similar words, or a white screen, even very briefly?

Firstly I hear one click, then two clicks with a higher pitch, then Garmin logo appears on a screen, then these three messages:

[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

After that device start new circle of reboot. Here you can see and download the video of process: [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

It seems device doesn't load updater at all and trying to boot ordinary but something on SD prevent it. Without SD it boots perfect. Very strange behaviour. :-(

I wonder why you are trying to dump 140, rather than 41? Likely region 140 is either missing or empty on eTrex.

Someone in the forementioned thread use this region for dumping so I decided to take a chance.

Just to be 100% sure, look at GarminDevice.xml in device's Garmin folder to confirm HWID. Look for "<PartNumber>006-Bxxxx-00</PartNumber>" near start of XML file. xxxx shows HWID.

Here: <PartNumber>006-B1305-00</PartNumber><SoftwareVersion>116</SoftwareVersion>