IMPORTANT! If you want HELP in case of a bricked Garmin device, please follow this

**Butters** · 16th November 2021, 12:56 AM

The problem it seems is that the device is dropping out of preboot before the flash is fully established, you can see in the second image under your point '3' that its details have disappeared from the window to the right of 'USB Device'. Bootlooping devices like yours can be tricky to catch and hold in preboot to get a flash established, so speed is of the essence as is timing and a bit of luck. Patience and persistence is key if the flash fails, it may take many attempts to find the right moment but you can greatly increase the chances by doing things quickly and in the right order to fluke an initiation. Once a flash is properly initiated (with data packet exchange to and from Updater) the device will hold preboot and not re-start unless the connection is physically broken. Your hack with the rubber while clever isn't really really necessary. If you hold the device in your left hand with your fingers on the back of the device and your left thumb pressed in the LH top corner of the screen it allows you to firmly control and move the device around while leaving your right hand free to connect the USB cable in a timely manner. There's a correct sequence for things to be done because the period it will stay in preboot is now extremely limited due to the bootlooping behavior. Usually 1xxx devices do have a 30 second preboot opportunity which is long compared to some other series however in your case it may only be around a couple of seconds before it re-starts and therefore interrupts preboot.

Before attempting to put the Garmin into preboot, follow this:

Load the cure RGN into Updater.exe
Leave Updater's GUI open and visible on your PC's screen with the radio button next to "USB Device" selected

Now turn your attention to the Garmin:

Ensure the device is fully OFF. Force it off if necessary by holding the power button down.
Plug a 'known-good' USB cable into a USB2 port of a Windows computer (avoid using a hub or a USB3 port or a front port of a desktop PC)
Apply pressure to the device screen and with your right hand plug the USB cable into the device's miniUSB socket (that will power it on) then move your hand quickly to the mouse while watching Updater's GUI on the PC screen
Immediately hit the 'OK' button on Updater's GUI (or just hit the Enter key of your keyboard) when you see the window to the right of 'USB Device' on the GUI populated
Move the cursor immediately to the 'Yes' button on the message about same software version and quickly click it
Keep the firm steady pressure on the screen while the flash initiates, if you don't do that it will fail for sure. Once you see 'Software Loading' or similar message on the device screen you can relax the pressure but if in doubt just hold until 'success' message is displayed by Updater

The device should now attempt to reboot and stick on the logo screen but have Mass Storage Mode enabled so you can delete the corrupt files or as a last resort properly re-format it, but only if absolutely necessary. [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

**forla** · 28th December 2021, 07:59 PM

I need help for my Drive track 71

1) I bricked my device: Drive Track 71, firm.6.40, HWID:2588.
2) Why and how the device got bricked.: I tried to patch the device for jnx with patched firm.6.30 (Drive smart 61)
3) Symptoms: what's wrong in your device?: It does not boot.It stays on black screen.
4) Does your pc sees your device ? : When i connect it it goes into preboot mode and i can see it only with Updater.exe and when i try to update the device it stops recognising the device in the middle of the process.
5) Write down if you already read or tried GarminCure3 tool - the new way to create cure firmwares for Garmin devices
How to unbrick a nüvi - step by step guide: yes i read and tried it
6) Can you reach preboot mode? If no ,have you followed this? Garmin devices preboot mode : i can reach preboot mode but the device remains on black screen and when i connect it goes into preboot mode
7) Probably no , but do you have NV backup? :No

**Butters** · 29th December 2021, 12:39 AM

@forla
Where did you find "Drive track 61" firmware version 6.30? Post a link to it please or at least say what its HWID is because i'm not aware of a device by that name.

**forla** · 29th December 2021, 07:00 AM

Sorry my mistake it's drive smart 61

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**Butters** · 29th December 2021, 11:58 AM

Yes, DS61 and DT71 both have HWID 2588 and use the same firmware. However Garmin's servers still only offer V6.30 so please state if you intentionally advanced the version number when using the patcher, or is it a new device with factory loaded V6.40? I suspect it's the latter in which case if the device has defaulted to preboot mode the main system software in region 14 (0x0E) may be corrupt or missing. As therefore it certainly is under warranty you should just return it to Garmin for exchange explaining it bricked while updating. They won't return yours, you'll get a new or refurbished 71 back and they'll send yours off for factory refurbishment without question.

**MichelDumont** · 30th December 2021, 06:00 PM

I hope to get help with my bricked 50 LMT.

1) Bricked device MODEL, Firmware version, HWID.

50 LMT, cannot access files so not sure about FW, HWID should be 2267 but must confirmed once I gain access to the files.

2) Why and how the device got bricked.

It stopped tracking suddenly while driving, since then, I only see the Garmin logo splash screen. It may be linked to the use of an SD card to restore voice command as memory was to small for that last update.

3) Symptoms: what's wrong in your device?

It always shows the Garmin logo as soon as it is under power, the power button will cycle the unit while held but has no effect otherwise, the gps stays on with splash screen on.

4) Does your pc sees your device ?

No

5) List all the procedures you already tried to unbrick it and their results and errors messages obtained.

I have tried all reset methods without success, took battery off to make sure the unit is off before attempting to connect to pc using Garmin Cure 3 and updater without success.

6) Do you have Garmin USB Drivers installed ? Garmin: USB Drivers Updates & Downloads
Yes

7) If you don't know HWID get it by Use program G7ToWin to retrieve your HWID

Can't access the files.

8) Write down if you already read or tried GarminCure3 tool - the new way to create cure firmwares for Garmin devices
How to unbrick a nüvi - step by step guide

I tried that and managed to get the "system" and after that "loading" showing but nothing happened looking at the updater, got the message "no USB device found". I also got a windows message saying "usb device unknown, usb device not installed".

9) Can you reach preboot mode? If no ,have you followed this? Garmin devices preboot mode

I tried many times putting my thumb between the G and A which seems to work one in about 20 trials, what is the exact method for this model?

10) Probably no , but do you have NV backup?

Yes, I have a backup from the device.

Thanks for your help.

11) Once you get a reply and a procedure to follow from our experts, please give an accurate reply about what you did and obtained results.

**Butters** · 30th December 2021, 10:21 PM

@MichelDumont
Please confirm that by "50 LMT" you mean that it's a Drive or DriveSmart 50, because there is also a nuvi 50 (LMT only means Lifetime Maps & Traffic). Additionally please confirm that you've removed the microSD card from the device before your attempts to attain preboot.

"System" and "Software Loading"/"Loader" on screen means the device is in preboot mode required to flash firmware as an RGN file. Modern devices are much more difficult to put into preboot and they also hold that state for much shorter time than older models, but once a flash is properly initiated and data transmission commenced they do hold that state until Updater.exe finishes.

G7ToWin only works in preboot/Garmin binary protocol mode. Seeing you have a backup of the file system, look in that for Garmin folder containing "GarminDevice.xml". Open the XML in a web browser or text reader and look for "<PartNumber>006-Bxxxx-00</PartNumber>" near the start of file info. "xxxx" is the four numerals of your device's HWID. Certainly it's 2267 for your device if it's a Drive series "50" however.

I don't have a Drive series device to hand, however if my memory is correct the spot for preboot is over the G or thereabouts. Use your left thumb rather than a finger on the screen with your fingers behind the device as you'll be more likely to find the correct spot for pressure that way and also be able to handle the device more effectively to plug the USB cable into it. Follow this:

Plug a 'known-good' USB cable directly into a REAR USB2 port of a Windows desktop PC (don't use a Mac or Linux computer and avoid a laptop/all-in-one if possible), don't use a USB3 port, front port or a hub to connect. Don't connect the device just yet.
Have the Cure firmware loaded into Updater.exe with the radio button (dot) next to "USB Device" selected, leave Updater's GUI clearly visible on the desktop screen with the mouse curser positioned over the GUI's "OK" button.
Ensure the device is fully OFF, not just in standby. Hold the power button down to force it off if necessary.
Hold the device in your left hand applying pressure with your thumb and with your right hand plug in the USB cable to the device's microUSB socket.
At that same time watch the window next to "USB Device" and move your right hand quickly to the mouse. When you see the device details appear instantly left-click the mouse (alternatively you can hit the Enter key on the PC's keyboard).
Keep firm steady pressure on the device screen until the flash completes indicated by Updater message that it was successful. Usually it's sufficient to hold the screen until after "Loading" or similar message appears on the device screen but continuing to hold is safer.
Once you've successfully loaded the Cure fw and restored Mass Storage Mode you can remove any offended files if you know what they are or just clean everything off and load your backup if it's complete and you're sure it's not also corrupted.
Finally, load original firmware as an RGN file in Updater.exe following the same procedure as above then connect to GarminExpress to update the device. Don't insert a media card until it prompts you to do so.

**MichelDumont** · 31st December 2021, 02:53 PM

My issue is that it isn't recognized by windows 7 , I have installed the Garmin drivers but I never see the window in updater.exe populated since the device never connects to the notebook. I only have a notebook for this, the other computer I have runs under windows 10 and i get an error executing updater "can't run this file". I have been using Garmin cure 3 for the procedure, I will try G7towin today and report.

Thanks for your help.

**MichelDumont** · 31st December 2021, 07:52 PM

I have made some progress: I have been able to load the update in the unit but there is no change in the behavior of the unit, still just showing splash screen. It showed "software loading" while update.exe was working and it said "the update was successful" at the end but the gps still won't connect to windows or to Garmin Express on a different computer. One thing I noticed is that when the update executes, the first progress bar that appears shows the procedure t be completed, it then starts again showing a progress that takes maybe 30 seconds to complete after which it says "The update was successful". Am I looking at a hardware issue with that gps or is there something else I can try? The software (5.90) is the correct one as this is what Garmin Express has in memory when I did the last successful update on it.

Thanks again for your help.

I was able to upload the software to the unit and there is some improvement but still won't connect to windows unless put in preboot mode where I can reflash it. If I choose "cure" when updating the unit with Garmincure3, it ends up cycling to computer connection to black screen to computer connected again. I can see the drive on windows but not the files. The drive is 4.47 GB of data with 2.54 Gb free. The preogress bar when updating through updater.exe restarts a few times and takes approx 30 seconds to complete, seems short... I have confirm that the software I am attempting to load is the right one (5.90). Many thanks for your help.

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**Butters** · 1st January 2022, 01:15 AM

[Only registered and activated users can see links. ] both run fine for me using Win10 32 bit and 64 bit and even in Win11_x64 so the problem's elsewhere for you. Forget using the Win7 Notebook and just concentrate on the Win10 Desktop. Check that your Windows settings or antivirus program isn't blocking Updater.exe running in Win10, even try temporarily disconnecting from the internet and then turn off AV protection completely while you run Updater. Ensure you have the latest version of [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] too.

You can also check that the device is connected in preboot by opening Device Manager. Use Windows Search to look for it and set "View by:" to either Large or Small Icons in Device Manager. Watch to see if "GARMIN Devices" appears in the alphabetical list of devices after you connect the device while holding the screen. You should also hear the Windows 'duh-dum' connection tone if you have sounds enabled. Keep holding the screen and time how long it it stays in the list before it disappears because that's the period your Drive/DriveSmart stays in preboot. Whether that's 5 seconds or 30 seconds (i'm thinking it's no more than 10 for Drive series) that is the MAXIMUM time you have to properly establish a flash from Updater before the device drops preboot.

Like Updater, G7ToWin also only sees Garmin devices in preboot with Garmin USB Drivers loaded to the PC.

Thread: IMPORTANT! If you want HELP in case of a bricked Garmin device, please follow this

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