Thread: Advice need - Nuvi 300 with LT subscription but no longer supported

@awsymons
Garmin has been removing unused "Garmin Accounts" worldwide, that's actually nothing to do with the EU's GBPR legislation AFAIK. Also the device's LM entitlement is not so irrevocably attached to a Garmin account as many ppl assume. In fact, removal of a linked Garmin account entirely makes it easier for an LM device to be updated by someone else.

You may be able to 'fool' GarminExpress into letting you download the PC install version of the latest EU NT mapping data by this method of "cloning" your device:

• Connect your device to a PC (ensure GarminExpress is not running)
• Look in the main Garmin folder for "GarminDevice.xml" (ensure your computer is set to show common file extension names) and make a copy of it
• Get a CLEAN media card of at least 8GB formatted in FAT32 (don't use a large exFAT card) and make a root folder named GARMIN
• Copy the saved XML file into the Garmin folder of the card, remove the actual nuvi device safely from the PC and then start GarminExpress
• GE should let you add the device (but don't register it)
• After it's been added it should allow you to update it, click on "View Details" then "Installation Options" and you can install only to the device or only the computer or both.

Spoiler:

[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

The above image on the left is of an old nuvi 3x0 with LM cloned to an 8GB microSD being updated for another region, and clearly on the right the image shows that device hasn't been updated since 2013, yet it still retains it's LM entitlement if GE determines it has enough space. However if the device was connected directly GE would likely not offer a map update due to its limited memory space being detected. Once you have the PC data on your computer, you can update the device directly with a small map of the UK using MapInstall either directly or via BaseCamp.

If the above procedure's too daunting for you, try to search the web for "gimgunlock-v0.04.exe" and look for a link to one of the other less scrupulous GPS forums .... hint: n a v i t o t a l or g p s u r l should be safe to download from and they also have unlocked versions of smaller regional EU maps available. Note that your nuvi 300 has a map IMG file size limit of under 2 GiB (maximum 2,147,483,647 bytes) i.e. the same size limit imposed by FAT16 file system of one byte less than 2 Gibibytes even though your device should be able to read a smallish card formatted in FAT32.