Thread: Help Needed for Garmin GPSMAP 696 - Stuck on "Software Missing"

Hello Sasquatch, welcome to GPS Power.

I have used some older Garmin aviation devices, eg. GPSMAP 295, way back in my flight training. Those are more basic in operation however in firmware type and region layout are the same as your 696, i.e. they all are devices of the 'region-only' type. That means they're without any Mass Storage Mode (MSM) or Media Transfer Protocol (MTP) which more modern devices have, enabling onboard files to be directly viewed in Windows File Explorer in the same way a media card or USB drive can be seen.

Therefore, Garmin Cure firmware cannot help you because its sole purpose is to re-enable MSM on a later-type device which has been soft-bricked by a corrupt file contained in its (usually visible) file system.

Your device communicates only in Garmin Mode (also known as preboot mode in later devices). That mode is obviously still available because WebUpdater uses Garmin Mode to communicate with devices however in your case WU fails with the error "cannot program requested memory region".

Your device freezing on the logo splash screen with that "System Software Missing" error message means that a firmware region is corrupted or has missing data needed to boot and run the device. If the error is not remedied by Garmin's advised method of simply re-flashing the firmware using WU, there is the unfortunate possibility of physical flash damage affecting an essential region or regions. Let's assume it's a 'soft' rather than 'hard' bricking for the time being and try something else.

In GPSMAP695_696_780.exe there are two files, 074502000780.rgn and Updater.exe. You can run Updater directly to shorten the flashing process by removing WU from it. Extract the EXE as if it's a ZIP or RAR archive, then drag 074502000780.rgn onto Updater.exe to open its GUI. On the GUI select the radio button next to "USB Device". Remove any media card from it then connect the GPSMAP to the PC (use a desktop PC if possible and connect directly to a rear USB2 port only - not a front port, USB3 port nor via a hub). When the device details appear in the window adjacent to USB Device, click OK on the GUI.

If the above doesn't work, please take a screenshot of any error message from Updater and post it together with any other relevant information. If you need any help extracting the file "GPSMAP695_696_780.exe", just ask and i'll do that for you and upload the 2 files.

Download link for V7.80 firmware:

Code:

Please Login or Register to see the links

Dear Neil,

Thank you very much for taking the time to help me with this problem. I wanted to inform you that I followed the procedure you indicated, but unfortunately, the same error still appears. Below, I am showing you a photo of the error message that I get. If you could give me a hand, I would be very grateful. This situation is really stressing me out XD.

Spoiler: large photo

[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]