Colorado 300 ( partial software after failed update from 2.90 to 3.70)

**andrus** · 8th January 2020, 12:03 AM

Hello everyone.

By any chance , is there a way to revive the Unit in humanly manner without Garmin's scissors in your wallet

Lets get very start - unit was handed to me "as is" , after failed update (webupdater) - files were missing , some there some not.
Have fiddled with Garmin devices before, and got them working so far.

What i had missing (thru intensive search in google for weekend and till now)

.System Folder:
fs_image.ver
Localization.xml.
FCD folder
GPS folder

Other stuff seems like be at place.

Profiles catalog gone.

Garmin:
Garmindevice.xml (Re-appeared after Hard reset)

Anything else present.

Device is accessible in MTP mode with dial up and insert USB cable.

Reading up, Master reset/Hard reset should do trick - did it - no go.
Disk files still all same.

Afetr more reading - Used co-workers mac to flush disk with zeroes dd /dev/zero /dev/dskX
Reformatted to FAT16 as suggested - disk showing 96X Mb something free on Colorado.
Next step suggested was Hard reset once afain with clean device - Done.
all the files that were previously on disk appeared but still no go with map loading (no basemap showing up either , copied IMG files off before format).

Tried to trick webupdater to update device - added <SoftwareVersion>2.40</SoftwareVersion>
Gupdate.gcd (7.421 Mb - same as [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] file size ) pops
up in /Garmin but will not be executed. No changes in files.

Tried as well with Garmin Express , which offered me Software 0.04 installed it but no visible changes.
As well offering me Language and WW Autoroute something update.

Guy whom i got the device had never had any backupd done from unit's files.

Have managed to re-create some of system , some stuff rewritten from other units, some stuff found thru google.
In maps folder there are 2 maps - Browse map does not show them.

But still this damn map loading is missing , ok i can handle English UI no need for language which shows some weird O with apostrophe instead of Selecting any Language.

Maybe someone could help me on matter with Colorado files dump?

Andrus

**asprin624** · 8th January 2020, 01:15 PM

@andrus,

I have no idea what you did.

Why you had to do all that......???????

The best this to reset to factory default is:

Reset on Colorado
Warning: This procedure will delete information (waypoints, routes, tracks, etc) from your GPS and settings may be set back to factory defaults.
1. Power the unit OFF
2. Hold down the two Soft Keys for 2 seconds
3. While continuing to hold the 2 Soft Keys down, press and hold down the Power button for an additional 5 seconds
4. Release all buttons, and select YES to the prompt asking "if you want to clear all user data?"
This form of reset does not seem to reset all of the settings to factory defaults,
just a few of the basics like Time Zone and Language,
the remainder of the settings are still taken from your existing profile files.
Once you have completed a reset remember to
place the Colorado outside in a stationary position for 20 minutes in plain view of the sky
so that it can rebuild the almanac before using it again.
Note: Holding down both soft keys and the select button in a similar fashion seems
to do a similar reset to the Colorado.
This may be a master reset that will also reset the profiles back to the default

That is all that needed to be done.

As for the maps are they unlocked??????

Why didn't you back it up before you did a firmware update too??????

Spoiler: I use this tool for all my Garmin Units

Spoiler: Colorado firmware

Also a complete backup.
The site is in German just click on the download.

Spoiler: 300 full backup

**andrus** · 8th January 2020, 06:02 PM

Hey,

Unit arrived to me "as it was" , i did reset unit first place - with combination u suggested.
No go Reset goes thru, erases user data etc, then Pops up setup - Language 'Õ' only , and then asks Timezone and some stuff and loads screen.

I did restore .System , by hand, getting pic from here and there and directories and File names in place , over forums, wikispaces is gone, and i can not fetch data , what was stored there.

.System folder was gone from device, like it never was there.

The backup does not have the .System (Possible person who did it , did not knew about it).

Anyway, this my save my device. Reporting back as it goes.

Andrus

**Butters** · 9th January 2020, 12:26 AM

Originally Posted by andrus

........
Device is accessible in MTP mode with dial up and insert USB cable.
.......

Are you SURE it connected MTP mode? If it really does use Media Transport Mode then it will also have .System folder in it's file system. Maybe you saw it in Device Manager in preboot mode but then it's not browsable in preboot like in MSM or MTP.

Originally Posted by andrus

.......I did restore .System , by hand, getting pic from here and there and directories and File names in place , over forums, wikispaces is gone, and i can not fetch data , what was stored there.

.System folder was gone from device, like it never was there.

The backup does not have the .System (Possible person who did it , did not knew about it).........

Even if present on the device, .System cannot be seen if the device is in MTP mode. Even in MSM (Mass Storage Mode) it is a hidden folder in Windows by default unless you change that under Control Panel>File Explorer Options (or "Folder Options" in earlier Win OSs)>View.

Spoiler:

**asprin624** · 9th January 2020, 08:15 AM

Here is a tip for using any Garmin GPS.

I have been using XYplorer for yerars.

One thing great about it it show .System on any Garmin GPS with out having to do anything.

Just attach your Garmin GPS to your Laptop

Start XYplorer and you see everything on the UNIT.

Link:

Spoiler: XYplorer website

There is a free 30 version of the program and if it fits your needs you can buy it.

There are some unlock keys that you can find in the Internet to get a full working version for life.

I paid for it 3 years ago and have been using it ever since.

**andrus** · 9th January 2020, 01:23 PM

Hello,

Update is, device is bookingu now but not showing any Maps. No Basemap or any other.
Maps I used are unlocked.

How to see Files Under Linux/Mac/Windows I know, this is no vase.

AS whole .system foldeevwas not present... by Very start when I got unit.

My tõuget was - perhaps there should be present some registratsiooni file ... to show Maps?

**arvi** · 9th January 2020, 02:47 PM

colorado does not officially have a folder like .system as with many older garmin models.Your device simply has anti-piracy software.

**asprin624** · 9th January 2020, 04:07 PM

Here is the map layout

On the internal memory you can have:

gmapsupp.img

gmapbmap.img

gmapoem.img

gmapprom.img

On sd card, you can only use:

gmapsupp.img

What maps are you trying to use?

The only 2 that you can see are gmapprom.img and gmapprom.img

Where are you putting these maps???

On the SD card it should be in a folder \Garmin

Maybe try a different SD card.

Have you tried open free Garmin maps as a test???

Spoiler: Get a free test topo map here.

**andrus** · 9th January 2020, 07:45 PM

Downloaded free basemap, installed in Garmin folder, went all over again for double-check compared directories with midnight commander, to be certain everything is OK.
I did cleared up original Garmindevice.xml from any UPDATE fields.

Ran webupdate.

Now webupdate detected - Update 3.70 available and did it.

Device booted , but still no basemap or map from SD detected.

Currently:
- Can't select Map, no basemap displayed. (Just empty page with garmin cursor, does not matter if i add any map to device either \Garmin\gmapsupp.img or in to \Map\Filename.img or \gmapbmap.img)
- Can't change background on device.
- Profiles part is missing from Garmindevice.xml i suspect.
- Doing 2 button + Power reset, device resets, but on startup i still get "Language Õ" as only selection - solution i could not find to cure it with...

HWID: 661-00 (if it matters any)

What else i might be missing - ... ?
I assume some slight bit of data is missing ... Arvi, i know u have that missing part of puzzle

Listing of files on disk:

Spoiler: list