Convert Nuvi 40/50 (US/EU) to 42/52

@pit bull
Welcome to Noeman. This thread is about converting US x0 to US x2 but i suspect because you quoted the earlier [somewhat] OT post that you may have a different model, maybe a 37x0? If so, you may need to determine the PCB P/N to check the full compatibility. If the HWID of the US one is identical to a similar Asian model then the PCB P/Ns will also be the same and you can usually safely cross-flash the full fw. If there are different HWIDs, you can determine the PCB P/Ns of both the related US and Asian units as shown in this thread before you go further: [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]. Units with the same PCB but different HWID generally can be cross-flashed successfully using either original boot bin method or full fw flash [at your own risk of course]. Even units with very similar PCB P/Ns can sometimes cross-flash using the original unit's boot.bin, but results vary. If you have a US x0 it's fine to post here with more detail.

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

Hi! Just want to ask if you were able to enable the Junction View on your US unit.

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Nope, no luck. 15char.

So I tried this conversion with my Taiwan Garmin Nuvi 50 (HWID 1510 btw) to 52 and the flash works, but there are some issues which made me revert back. The Chinese keyboard does not work even though it's selected as well as the Chinese TTS files. This makes searches and the Garmin itself somewhat useless. Unless I'm missing something, please enlighten me. :)

Well, at the risk of stating the obvious, what you maybe are missing is that's precisely why i named this thread 'Convert Nuvi 40/50 (US/EU) to 42/52'. Conversion of many seemingly similar units US to Asian or Asian to US or even [sometimes] Asian to other Asian, unfortunately often results in unsatisfactory results or even downright disaster with an irretrievably bricked unit. Dead as a doornail. Deceased. No more. Never power-up again. A brick as in the true meaning of the word, a solid lump of near-nothingness. A paperweight.

Occasionally it'll all work fine though, maybe with some 'under the hood' firmware manipulation first which is not for the feint-hearted and/or unskilled [include me in latter, not former]. Using the unit's original boot.bin and HWID combined with doing copious NV clears/hard resets and [essential!] an NV backup to restore has always given me a way back though ... ;)

Sorry for the rave-on, but it's best ppl don't attempt cross-flashing US/Asian or Asian/US without understanding the potential risks and the possible usage downsides even if the flash appears successful at first.

The same [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...] helps enormously to ensure safety and give more likely satisfactory on-going usability though, just as a difference in the PCB P/Ns pretty much indicates it's useless to try.

Thanks for your report jihen, it is actually appreciated. I think you'll find flashing your TWN 50 to US 50 will result in exactly the same problems as to US 52 btw.

Fret not Neil, I understood the risks, maybe I was reckless and callous... I knew my P/N & ID didn't match and didn't expect the convert to work fully. Just curious to know if I have an option of using my GPS when I return to the US. I guess on that fact alone I decided to risk it despite of all the red flags. Thankfully I don't have a bricked unit, my backup made it all fine and dandy. Indeed, I would need a Asia 52 sw for this convert anyway.

Asian Device should work Fine in the US unconverted.

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

Fret not Neil, I understood the risks, maybe I was reckless and callous... I knew my P/N & ID didn't match and didn't expect the convert to work fully. Just curious to know if I have an option of using my GPS when I return to the US. I guess on that fact alone I decided to risk it despite of all the red flags. Thankfully I don't have a bricked unit, my backup made it all fine and dandy. Indeed, I would need a Asia 52 sw for this convert anyway.

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No worries, i'll not fret then, lol. The rant was as much or more for others as a warning. Anyway Dasil is right as usual, your TWN 50 will work fine in NA and pretty much everywhere else outside of Asia too. Maybe look at converting to Asian 52 as you said, the TWN 52 maybe is 100% compatible..

Hello.
I read the post and i have dudes.
First, i have to do full backup of my nuvi 40 eu unit. Second, hard reset. Now install nuvi 42 firmware with updater.exe and save as out.rgn. The lást, hard reset.
Its correct?
I need to érase gupdater?

If present, remove gupdate.gcd from .System. Do both a files backup and NV backup. Clear NV [preferable] or do a hard rest. Then load firmware either (i) using original boot bin & hwid as 135001000xxx.rgn [xxx is fw version] or (ii) full 42 fw as out.rgn, depending on your choice. Clear NV or reset again.

The complete instructions are in Post #1 for both methods. The unit will function identically using either conversion, the only difference being a change in HWID or not.

great work working on my australian version of the nuvi40