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

Hello,

1) Bricked device MODEL, Firmware version, HWID.
Garmin Fenix 3, 9.60, 2050

2) Why and how the device got bricked.
I went for a run and I was at around 5-6 km into my running activity when the buttons became unresponsive... after a couple of minutes I saw that it exited the activity and also resetted the watch face to the default one. Buttons still unresponsive. I tried to long press the ON / OFF button which actually turned the watch off.

3) Symptoms: what's wrong in your device?
After turning it back again it booted to the service screen that starts with Software version, Time, Temp, Battery, ROM, RAM, Motor test, Charge state.... with backlight on... it also beeped once... it seems that it indicates time (not my time zone), watch temperature, battery voltage and percentage and when I plug it in the computer beeps but does not recognizes it as media storage. Every button is unresponsive except ON / OFF. When powering off and on again while keeping the Star button it activates the vibration test (cannot stop it without force shutdown) or the Back button (than enters the colorful squares animation diagnostic screen) but then becomes unresponsive.

4) Does your pc sees your device ?
Yes it makes that typical USB sound, in device manager is called GARMIN USB GPS. But no media storage mode.

5) List all the procedures you already tried to unbrick it and their results and errors messages obtained.
I downloaded the firmware from Garmin website using the right-click - Inspect - copy link and download.
Tried using GarminCure3 method but gives the next error: "This is a RGN file. got an exception: XRgn::DetectHWIDandSWVER(): ramloader has invalid format Processing FAILED "

Then tried the methods from "How to make a service (cure) firmware for your Garmin unit", even RGN Tool finds this interesting: "Interesting! This is an RGN within an RGN file Save section to .rgn and open it with RGN_Tool" it thicks only the first part "fw_all.rgn" no HWID or SW version...

Then I tried to modify the .RGN with the hex editor, find the GUPDATE changed RGN to XGN saved it. Reopened it with RGN_Tool now the HWID and SW version became visible... I saved as .RGN with the suggested name HWID 2050 + 01000 + SW version 960 (205001000960.RGN). Placed in the same folder as the UPDATER.EXE, which actually sees the Fenix at the USB part, but when I try to click OK to update, a window pops up "Initializing..." than an error appears "The Garmin device is not responding. Please ensure the following and try again: 1. The Garmin device's interface is set to GARMIN or Host mode. 2.The cable is connected to the correct serial port. 3.The Garmin device is turned on."

This is where I got stuck.

6) Do you have Garmin USB Drivers installed ? Garmin: USB Drivers Updates & Downloads
Yes, the Garmin USB driver up to 2.3.1.2. Listed in the GarminCure3 thread.

7) If you don't know HWID get it by Use program G7ToWin to retrieve your HWID
I know it, because I made a backup from my watch a couple of months ago, and according to the XML file is 2050.

8) Write down if you already read or tried GarminCure3 tool - the new way to create cure firmwares for Garmin devices
Yes I tried

9) Can you reach preboot mode? If no ,have you followed this? Garmin devices preboot mode
I followed the instructions, by pressing the UP button while starting it up, but then the PC gives me an error that USB not recognized, and also UPDATER.exe does not see it until I plug it back again without button presses. Device Manager sees it always as Garmin USB GPS

10) Probably no , but do you have NV backup?
What does NV mean? I made a backup of everything the watch had a couple of months ago. It has a folder REMOTESW which contains an .RGN file. Can this help somehow?

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.
The best I can!

Hello,
my Garmin 3598LM is completely dead.

Here the first needed information:

1) Bricked Device MODEL, Firmware Version, HWID. 1258

2) Why and how the device was bricked. Update to Camper 760.

3) Symptoms: What is wrong with your device? It doesn't work anymore. No picture, no sound, no more sign of life

4) Does your PC see your device? No. Neither Garmin WebUpdater, updater.exe nor the PC itself in Explorer.

5) List all procedures you have already tried to remove them and their results and error messages received. On/Off switch pressed briefly, long (20s), even longer (>1 min.). Connected to PC. Connected to 12V in the car. Connected to different adapter.

6) Have you installed Garmin USB drivers? Garmin: USB driver updates and downloads Yes, current driver is 2312

9) Can you get into preboot mode? If no, did you follow this? I reached the preboot mode of Garmin devices when updating to the Camper 760. The update then went through to the end. After that, the 3598 will no longer start and the preboot mode will no longer be reached.

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

Many thanks

Hi all,

I have a half bricked Garmin Edge 705. My symptoms are:
Unit will switch on and find satellites, will 'record' a route while it is being ridden but will not save it to the unit. It can't 'see' any maps on either the unit or the SD card. It won't automatically connect to the PC when I connect it, I have to long press the power button, then it will connect.

Due to this, I'm having issues getting into pre-boot mode (long press lap/reset when connecting the device to the PC). I've made a 'new' rgn file with GarminCure3, using 3.10 firmware (unit 'claims' it is running 3.30 firmware) but can't get it loaded as I can't get into the pre boot mode.

What's my next thing to try please?

Details are:
1) Garmin Edge 705, FW 3.30, HWID 0625
2) why and how - can't remember - it's been sat in a drawer for a long time.
3) Symptoms as initial description above
4) Yes, but not automatically. When I plug it in, it will power up and start searching for satellites. I then medium press the power button and I get the charging screen with the word GARMIN and the battery indicator. I then long press the power button and it connect to my PC and I can browse the empty file structure (formatted FAT32).
5) I've tried (via EaseUs software and Windows utilities) deleting the partition and recreating it, formatting to FAT32, tried putting GUPDATE.GCD for 3.10 into the root folder, the Garmin folder and both places on SD card. I've tried copying my folders from a good working Edge 705 (I have 2 working and this non-working one).
6) Garmin USB drivers installed, 2 other Edge 705 units and an Edge 305 connect fine.
7) HWID is 0625 (from another unit as this broken one has no folders / files present after many formats)
8) I've posted in one of the other threads already
9) Can't reach pre boot mode
10) NV backup?

Thanks in advance,
Phil

Originally Posted by kimis

Have probably similar case like some others had here with Fenix3/6

Indeed, this is likely another example of soft-bricking from which it won't be easily recoverable, as experienced with other watches. Again, it's due to the unusual firmware layout and operation - no ramboader is present in fw, rather the first section has bootloader/u-boot (fw_0505.bin) which is flashed DIRECTLY to region 5. In conventional Garmin devices, rgn5 is protected from direct flashing and is exclusively written to "onboard" by rgn12 - a virtual region flashed directly by "boot.bin" (the ramloader component of fw).

1) Bricked device MODEL, Firmware version, HWID.
MARQ Captain (American Magic) FW: was 25.85, tried all other starting 3.10, HWID 3248 (from garmindevice.xml) but FW for Captain goes as 3246

I haven't looked extensively but only found the 3246 and 3247 firmware, both V20.50. If you'd like me to make recovery files for you then please post a link to the 3248 V25.85 for me to use.

2) Why and how the device got bricked.
wrong FW flashed/uploaded, from MARQ Aviator, id 3247
now do not remember was it uploaded with updater.exe or has been stored directly over USB

I think it must have been done as an RGN using Updater.exe. Usually Garmin devices will ignore a 'foreign' GUPDATE.GCD which has been written to its internal memory. That's due to the device detecting a HWID mis-match.

5) List all the procedures you already tried to unbrick it and their results and errors messages obtained.
Have tried to upload almost all FW versions by converting gcd to rgn with RGNTool
QuickCure.rgn does not uploads over (web)updater

RGN_Tool may not handle this 'unusual' fw correctly and any extracted RGN or individual BIN files might be imperfect. Maybe gwf.exe can cope with it though: [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
kunix's QuickCure3.exe is a universal ramloader for rgn12. Your watch doesn't work that way as i explained initially above, it has rgn5 flashed directly. In any case, your watch has been bricked by a wrong fw. Cure fw, including QC3, is only useful to recover a device that can't boot because an essential file is corrupted and can't be loaded during the boot-cycle. Cure fw's sole purpose is to re-enable access to Mass Storage Mode so a bad file can be removed or the internal file system to be re-formatted in extreme cases. Simply not applicable in the case of any device bricked by a wrong fw flash.

8) Write down if you already read and tried everything in these two threads: GarminCure3 tool - the new way to create cure firmwares for Garmin devices and How to unbrick a nüvi - step by step guide
garmincure3 does not recognize gcd

A known issue because of the watch's fw composition. Regardless, GarminCure3.exe also isn't useful as explained above.

9) Can you reach preboot mode? If no ,have you followed this? Garmin devices preboot mode
It is kind in a permanent preboot mode

Yes, it's known as recovery mode in such devices and is much the same as 'preboot mode' and 'Garmin mode' in other more conventional devices. Usually recovery mode in a healthy device of similar operation is reached via a button press sequence, however usually a Garmin device that is firmware-bricked but still powers on will default to preboot/recovery mode.

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

Not applicable for your device anyway.
.............
After you've directed me to the HWID 3248 "American Magic" fw we can try some recovery methods. Or you can try yourself with an RGN file made using gfw.exe (decompile the GCD to BINs and re-compile them to an RGN). Previous users' experiences with similar fw types aren't encouraging as you're aware, but yours has a different cause of 'bricking'.... so there's still hope.

2 Brick after apply the patch for 3597 and others

Which patch for 3597?

I use a GarminCure/Updater for install a firm from scratch

Explain what have you flashed to your nuvi and how.
You must learn how to enter preboot mode to unbrick it with kunix's cure. Read with care how to and follow this post step by step [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
So patience and retry because it's your only chance to unbrick it.
No NV backup? Bad move to play with firmware without it!

Originally Posted by catymag

Which patch for 3597? ...

This one: [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

He's cross-posted and i didn't notice before i answered here: [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]. Ouch! Sorry Caty ....

@adrianpa
Try what i've suggested to flash back your original rgr140. If that doesn't work and you really can't enter preboot you have a big problem i think.