Thread: Garmin Zumo 550 Formatted By Mistake

Had my Zumo 550 connected to the pc via the USB lead as well as my SDHC 4GB card reader. Made the stupid mistake of hitting format on the GPS instead of the SD card. Result is now only the Zumo logo comes up then flashes across to Zumo 550 Copyright 2012 looping forever. Now of course it will not connect to my pc via the lead or Garmin Express. Went to Garmin chat line and they suggested copying files from another 550, tried Garmin forum and then phoned Garmin UK and was told the GPS is no longer supported and there is nothing they can do. Would not send me any original firmware files for the Zumo 550 and I could purchase a new one form them at 30% off their RRP in the shop.
Now having paid out for map updates for life rather unhappy with this response from Garmin UK and having purchased a new Garmin 61LMT for the wife. Is there anybody who can tell me if it is possible to get this Zumo 550 up and running again as I am not a pc expert and did not think of downloading all the files in the unit when purchased many years ago. Have requested in my bike club if anybody has a Zumo 550 I could copy the files but I would still need to know which ones to request from them on a SD card I presume? Anybody with ways of overcoming my screw up?

Hi Butters

Not a pc whizz kid I am afraid. Electrical service engineer!
Kept trying to get into the InfoLink and could not download GarminCure3 so spent a long time trying to locate another source which was a RAR file all in Polish. Is the standard file in Polish that most users have?
Also tried to download DEM Basemap NR 5.01 but that kept spinning the logo round for ever and not getting in from the UK. I will have to get my head around the GarminCure3 and see if I can go through the stages needed for my Formatted Zumo 550. Might be able to get a biker local to me for help so I don't screw up again.Thanks for pointing me in the right direction. Let you know what happens.

Garmin UK were very polite but of course you can only get to the script IT advisors with their standard answers and buy a new Zumo 595LM or the Zumo 396LMT having pointed out earlier that I had paid for map updates for life recently.

I don't know why you're having trouble downloading any of those files because they're attached on our server. Even the basemap is in 3 RAR parts on our server too. Maybe your browser's ad blocker is interfering or you have a third-party antivirus software which is overly protective. Maybe just try QuickCure3 first, it's universal and very simple to use as it doesn't require the original device firmware at all. Being a relatively small file, i've made a folder 'pack' for you with both the correctly named RGN file and Updater.exe and uploaded in a ZIP file elsewhere so you shouldn't have any difficulty downloading it. The link to it and a 'how-to' are behind the spoiler. If it works (doesn't always) you won't need to make Cure3 firmware at all. Seeing you said you're not 'a pc whizz kid' I've been overly pedantic in the how-to to be sure you get it right.

Spoiler:

Click this for download: [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
How to use:

1. Ensure you have [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] loaded to the PC you intend to use;
2. Extract the "QCure_for_zumo_590" folder from the downloaded ZIP file to a convenient place, like the desktop where you can easily find it;
3. Open the folder and drag 179601000330.rgn file onto the Updater.exe file which will open it's Graphic User Interface window, then select the radio button next to "USB Device" on Updater's GUI, leave it visible;
4. Ensure the zumo has no media card in it and is completely OFF. You may have to hold the power button down for an extended time (10 to 30 secs) or remove the battery for a few seconds to turn it off;
5. Connect a 'known-good' USB cable to the zumo, but not to the PC just yet;
6. Put the zumo into pre-boot mode by appropriately holding the screen (probably top left corner), then maintaining pressure on the screen (easier to hold the zumo in your left hand using your left thumb on it's screen which allows your right hand to be completely free) connect the cable to a REAR USB2 port of the PC (don't use a front port or a hub or a USB3 port), that PC connection will power the zumo on into pre-boot provided you keep holding the screen firmly which might then show "Loader". Now immediately get your attention back to the GUI;
7. Keeping the firm steady pressure on the device screen, watch the window adjacent to "USB Device" on the GUI then press "OK" on updater's GUI immediately you see the zumo's details appear in the window. Keep holding the screen at least until "Software Loading" or similar appears on the zumo's screen or preferably hold until the flash finishes. Updater will report success when finished;
8. Don't disconnect the USB cable. Check that the device had now entered mass storage mode and is visible to the PC as a removable drive.
9. Use RMPrepUSB to correctly format it in FAT32, carefully ensuring the correct settings are selected as described in the post: [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]. Then create an empty Garmin folder in the root of the zumo's flash drive;
10. Disconnect the device safely and it should then boot into the normal mode but may complain about missing maps etc.;
11. Reconnect to PC and run GarminExpress to replace any available missing files and then add the basemap.

If it doesn't work then you'll need full Cure firmware made from the device's firmware which we can walk you thru so no problem there, just a bit more complicated. Don't worry, this device is fixable unless it's got a physically damaged flash which is highly unlikely.

Thanks Butters

Some of us Brits are not so hot when it comes to IT as oldies heading towards 70. Our adding machines had a crank handle not a CPU.
Changed the settings on my ESET security software and have now downloaded the file you have shown.
Will have a go later today with your instructions and see where we go from there.
Many thanks for your patience in setting up the instructions for me.
Would be nice to see Garmin not get away with selling another unit to me.

Haha! I'm north of 70 you young whippersnapper. Just hold your mouth right and it'll all work out fine. Worse comes to worst just ask your neighbor's 15yo kid to show you how to do it.

Back Butters

Started up as in instructions and the following happened:

USB Device came up with : Zumo ID 3475****** etc.

Hit the OK button.

Software Initialling Version 5.00

No update available for your product.

No update successful on my pc screen or on the Zumo screen or software loading. Did try this again in case I had left it to late releasing the button and one time the Zumo screen came up with a grey background and a black icon labelled "spot" with black vertical and horizontal lines guessing that was for setting up for finger touch calibration? So no success this time around. My son is pretty good with computers but unfortunately in the RAF and not home until Christmas. Kept the battery out all the time as this would start it up flashing between screens. Had finger on top left + button at the same time the bottom RHS power button and a finger on the screen in the RHS pressing all the time then releasing the power and + buttons. Within 2-3 seconds the Zumo ID 10 characters appeared.

Then it must be a HWID 580 zumo 5xx not a HWID 1796 device. The big giveaway is Updater's report of Version 5.00 which is latest version for zumo with HWID of 580, the other has V3.30 as latest. With 'safe-naming' of the RGN (XXXX01000xxx), Updater.exe queries the device's HWID and refuses to do the flash if the first 4 digits don't match the device's response. Not a big deal with QuickCure3 because it's universal but it can be disastrous if an unsafe-named RGN containing full foreign firmware is flashed to incompatible hardware.

The calibration screen should appear after a set time if no flash is initiated by Updater so that shows this device is probably otherwise healthy apart from a dodgy format.

So just rename the QuickCure RGN file to "058001000500.rgn" and try again. This time hopefully you'll succeed and it'll enter mass storage mode.

Put in your new QuickCure RGN file characters and bingo. Loaded up successfully and my Zumo 550 now shows up on my Windows 7 pc screen.
Have now found on the internet and loaded RMPrepUSB v.2.1.734 and opened up the window.
Now comes the fun Butters. When I can get my head around this format tool why does it not clear out the file I have just downloaded into my 550 and have to start all over again?
Sorry playing around with pc's is not my strong subject.

Back again. RMPrepUSB loaded up and 550 now correctly formatted ok showing 1.93GB on the hard disk. But the Unbrick a Nuvi shows GarminCure3 v0.1 to flash original instead of cure firmware into the unit. I had only used GarminQuickCure which was different to that shown on the Unbrick pages?
Where do we go from here?

(EDIT 1) Great stuff Butters indebted to you. The Zumo 550 now loads up all the European maps ok and runs as before having updated everything on the Garmin Express site. One little change is that it always showed a bike or car icon and now when I set it up all I get is an arrow on the map? Went in to change the settings to bike but arrow keeps appearing all the time?
New Garmin can wait a year or two now.

(EDIT 2) Hi Butters.

Indebted to you. Zumo 550 now talks to Garmin Express and loaded up all the maps again with a 4GB SD card. All seems to be functioning again apart from the icon on the screen? All I get now is the arrow icon and not my choice of car or bike? Went to settings and touched the bike icon but the map still stays on the arrow? Any ideas on this one Butters. Otherwise one very happy bunny.
Friendly reminder to not make consecutive posts, please edit your previous post if you need to add or correct info to it. Required in our [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] here. I've combined the 3 posts and done it like 'edits' for you this time.

PS: Welcome to GPS Power. Glad you've been helps here.