Reply With QuoteWelcome to GPSPower Dave. As the above is your first post here, please now go to [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] to make a formal intro as required by the forum's rules.
Now as to your problem. The device showing the "System Software Missing" message on start-up can indeed indicate a hardware issue in that it might have some physical damage to the flash chip. That's more likely to not be the case however, the overwhelming majority of instances involving that message only indicate a simple "soft-bricking" due to corrupt or missing firmware in the device's region 14 (0x0E). That part of the flash memory contains the fw_all.bin component of the firmware, which Garmin quite correctly calls the main system software.
I can help with V7.30 which is the latest fw version and soft-bricking is easily corrected by flashing a good version of the fw as you've surmised. However, that cannot be done using an SD card because the device isn't moving far enough into the boot-cycle to search for and recognise a media card. Unless it actually has flash damage, we can however use another method to re-flash it but first we need to rule out a hardware problem. If it's physically ok, it should have spontaneously defaulted to pre-boot mode due to the stalled boot cycle. Please follow this guide and report back:
- Open Device Manage on a Window PC and leave it visible to observe the alphabetic list of devices.
- Connect the device via a USB2 port using a 'known-good' data cable. Avoid using any front port of a desktop, a hub or a USB3 port. If possible use only a USB2 port connected directly to the motherboard as a preference.
- If you have system sounds enabled, you should hear the Windows Device Connection tone. Immediately "GARMIN Devices" should appear in the list.
Provided it really has defaulted to pre-boot mode indicated by it being visible in Device Manager, we should be able to fix it. If pre-boot's not attainable then it's not recoverable by software methods. Good luck. don't forget to do your intro before replying back to this post.
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Thread: GPSMAP 78s
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Today, 09:58 PM #1Junior Member
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GPSMAP 78s
I am at a loss with my GPSMAP 78s - I get Missing System Software message.... i believe its not a hardware issue but cannot find a copy of the firmware to force an update from the SD card.
Efforts working with Garmin have gotten me nowhere and for me to ship over seas is $$$$ i rather not spend on a unit that is a back up/loaner...
Anyone able to offer some help where to find formware i can force onto it as a last ditch effort? I saw a couple thread here but most of link are dead and i cant find what i need.
thx for any help.
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Today, 11:24 PM #2Garmin/GPS Systems GMod.
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