Garmin Drivesmart 61 stuck in boot loop

**TomasL** · 8th August 2023, 04:46 AM

Will do that, however, there is no way I can expose .System, or rather I havn't got a clue on how to make .System visible.

**Butters** · 8th August 2023, 11:24 AM

If you're using a Windows computer, follow this: Search for Control Panel, look for "File Explorer Options" (or "Folder Options" in earlier OS versions), select "View" and then set the radio button for "Show hidden files, folders and drives" and uncheck the box for "Hide protected operating system files (Recommended)". It should look something like this:

Spoiler: Click to see Image

**TomasL** · 8th August 2023, 03:22 PM

THats my default settings for all folders, but, since the device is recognized as a "Portable Device", those setting does not apply, since windows dont think it is a harddrive/removable disk, but something completly different.
Appearantly, when a device is recgnized as a portable device, Windows explorer does have a very limited functions. You cannot mount it, hence oit cannot have a driveletter etc.
The device needs to be recognized as a removable drive, to get windows explorer to function properlyu.

**TomasL** · 8th August 2023, 04:29 PM

Furthermore, RMPrepUSB cannot see the device, since it is not mounted as a storage device.

This is how it looks like in Windows Explorer

Spoiler: Windows Explorer

Spoiler: Here is Device manager an Disk Management.

As you can see, the Drivesmart does not behave like disk, but rather a portable device, and it is the Portable Device that sends the data to the computer and windows explorer, thus, Windows explorer only displays what the Portable Device allows what to be displayed.
Neither the PC, nor Windows explorer can display what the device hides.
So, What are the workarounds to have the device to emulate a removable drive instead of a portable device

**Butters** · 9th August 2023, 12:52 AM

It seems that it's connecting in Media Transfer Protocol rather than Mass Storage Mode. When Cure fw is loaded MSM should be re-enabled even if MTP was selected on the device before it 'bricked' (MTP is the default connection method on these particular devices).

I'm now suspecting that there may be more going on than a simple soft-bricking, perhaps there's been a partial failure of the flash chip. We should continue to go ahead assuming a soft problem for the time being however.

Next step is to try another PC with File Explorer options enabled to eliminate the possibility of some unknown, e.g. registry settings, preventing MSM connection of your DS61 to the current PC.

**TomasL** · 9th August 2023, 05:05 AM

Could it be a firmware issue, I am using 6.70, the latest one for my device. Could it be that Mass storage mode is removed from that firmware, and only MTP is available.

**Butters** · 9th August 2023, 05:36 AM

I guess that's unlikely however "Garmin is Garmin" and they do have a history of doing weird stuff where you think the apprentice software developers must have taken over new versions. The last change log:

Code:

Please Login or Register to see the links

"Improved software stability" could be code for "We've removed something we don't want you to know about"

Regardless, I would strongly suggest you find another PC to try first before downgrading fw.

**TomasL** · 9th August 2023, 05:38 AM

Will do this evening, Have one W11 Pro laptop and one W10 Pro Surface tablet to test with.

**asprin624** · 9th August 2023, 06:59 AM

I just test both my Win 11 and Win 10 laptops and I see this:

Spoiler: I see drive letters both with Win Explorer and XYplorer

In fact all my Garmins have always showed drive letters....

Also I have version 6.70 on my Garmin Drivesmart 61LMT-D

Spoiler: Plus have no problems accessing .system folder

Did you delete something you should of not done....?

Have you tried a different cable I only use Garmin cables when doing anything with my Garmin units on my laptops?

**TomasL** · 9th August 2023, 05:05 PM

Succeded, I was able to switch the driver from MTP to MSS, Now I can access everything (I think). Different Icon on the device display.

So WHat should I delete in .System, I see that there is a folder called "Map" and one called gpx, so I should remove the .img from "Map" and the content in the GPX-folder-

FYI, this is what I did:
Connected it, it showed up as an MTP-device.
Opened Device manager
opened "Portable Devices"
Selected the Garmin 61, right-klick
Selected Driver, Update driver.
In the dialog, I selected "Browse My computer for drivers"
Selected "Let me pick from a list......."
THere was the driver for MSS, selected it and OK'd me out, and the Garmin61 became an Mass storage device instead.

Deleted img-files in ".system\Map" and files in ".system\Gmx" no success, still rebooting

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