GPSMAP 78s

so, me being an engineer - i can appreciate your attention to details....

as best as i can remember:
1) issue started ~nov 2025 - if memory serves i was adding maps from garmin map install... upto then unit was acting 100% normal...
2) after map install (and I am not sure is Express was doing something same time) - the unit started acting up and would act differently with and without sd card installed... with sd card installed it would act like a gps but would only turn off/on 1x before requrie batteries pull to continue acting like a gps...
3) i am not sure if Express was trying to update firware sap time i was doing map upload when i was adding maps.
4) yes - the Indoseian firmware i found came from GMaptool
5) i tried yout adivce 5-6 times before trying the Indo software
6) Express says i am due for firmware update
7) only errors i have seen are those above
8) holding on SD card go for now - I believe you have given the best advice i have found to date. i did see your info on that and just trying to understand why garmin says cant happen when clearly a way to do it
9) since the Nov issue - unit would show as a drive and it allowed me to copy my data off it, but it would only stay as a drive for a short bit and wouldnt let me do a full copy of gps drive
10) i have since bought a 79s and for me fixing the 78 is a matter of ego - i hate to throw stuff out if any chance of salvage... for me to have sent overseas to get a guy to try it - would have been $250CAD, so since i got a replacement not much chance now of me doing that since i think i getting good advice
11) when i get to the personalized screen, i have to run updater 2x and it asks me if i want to replace same firmware. if tries but it too quick is my estimation of a firmware upgrade and then says it is complete....
12) from observing the unit, i think a big part of the problem now with Express, Webupdater or Updater fixing this is the unit wont stay connect to laptop - it 'unmounts' after a few minutes of communication with laptop when being communicated with, but will stay mounted when not being communicated with. both Express and Webupdater also recognize the unit initially until communication starts then they lose comm with unit

i do appreciate you help - for me, its a matter of know why even if not my technical area... being engineer, i love understanding why...

if you think i have missed anything just ask me...

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Originally Posted by dave mercer [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]

.....
2) after map install (and I am not sure is Express was doing something same time) - the unit started acting up and would act differently with and without sd card installed... with sd card installed it would act like a gps but would only turn off/on 1x before requrie batteries pull to continue acting like a gps...

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What's on the SD? A map/chart only or ..? ... list everything.
What did it do without the SD inserted?

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4) yes - the Indoseian firmware i found came from GMaptool
5) i tried yout adivce 5-6 times before trying the Indo software

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Dave, i need a link for that exact fw you tried to flash. Was it this one? :

Code:

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https://download.garmin.com/software/GPSMAP62S_78S_Thai_Indonesia_GCDfile__320.gcd

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Also, please say:
(i) HOW you attempted it (e.g. RGN with Updater.exe or GCD on SD Card);
(ii) if the ID fw flash started and if so whether it failed or succeeded; and
(iii) if the device behaviour changed in any way at all afterwards.

Quote:

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8) holding on SD card go for now - I believe you have given the best advice i have found to date. i did see your info on that and just trying to understand why garmin says cant happen when clearly a way to do it

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Garmin service desk drones don't know this stuff. Ask them too many questions they can't answer and they just get p!ssed off. Rumour has it they have a box of kittens beside the desk and strangle one every time someone expects them to actually help with a difficult problem. Forget trying to get any sense out of them on this mate. Just give all the things i've asked above and i'll know how to move on next.

on the SD card:
1) my custom maps - png images from georeferenced to sit on gps basemap. these were years old and work in my gpsmap 79 and always worked in my 78s
2) y tops maps from Mapinstall
3) with SD card would load my custom maps - without if my memory is right would act only as gps and no map info

indonesia info:
1) link: july 6, 2020 from [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...] for 62s/78s
2) it was from Updater - havent done anything via SD card yet
3) it went fast to 100% and then unit stopped (same as your 730 file)
4) only difference i noticed was updater said 'erasing' - when i retries your file i got same behaviour

no change in unit behaviour since i started trying your info or the indo info or now..

So you used the file I linked in P#12 as the source, the one named "GPSMAP62S_78S_Thai_Indonesia_GCDfile__320.gcd".

That fw is for SE Asian devices with HWID 1354.

What exact naming did you use for the RGN when you converted it from the GCD?

For completeness, please confirm the current HWID of the device using G7ToWin. See Method 3 here: [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...].