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!