Garmin Drivesmart 55

[WipfL]

Hello
I bought a Garmin Drivesmart 55 and it has only Australia and New Zealand maps installed. I tried to move the maps from my Drivesmart 50 across, but it says "cannot unlock maps". The Garmin tech says this is not a North American device, I would have to purchase North American Maps every time I need an upgrade. Is there any way to completely wipe this unit and reload it with North American Maps?

 

[Nuvi-Nebie]

Completely wiping the Australia / New Zealand maps won't help you install North America maps, each unit is setup from new to accept either no downloadable maps from Garmin Express (this is rare), time limited updates from one area (also rare) such as North America, Europe or Australasia or lifetime maps from one area (this is normal), your unit most likely has lifetime Australia maps, this is setup by adding small files to your unit which tells download programs what downloads are available and which are not

If you purchased your unit in North America then I would say that the seller must tell you that it does not have NA maps, if you was not told this I think you should get a refund on your purchase

You won't be able to download NA maps to this unit even if you delete all current maps, you can buy NA maps from garmin and these may come with time limited or lifetime updated BUT they are not cheap

If you can't get a refund and don't want to purchase NA maps you can download free maps, see link HERE

 

[WipfL]

Thanks...at least there's some hope!

 

[WipfL]

New problem: I got into the .System folder on the garmin, added a OSM map to the map folder, now it won't boot up. I got into the boot menu, and selected to boot into USB ethernet only mode in order to take the file back out, but it still won't show up on the computer. I can hear a connection sound on the PC, but the device doesn't show up anywhere. Any tips?
Thanks

 

[Nuvi-Nebie]

Why did you open the /.system folder ?, maps are placed in the /Map folder (where forward slash is the top of the filing system), so you need to return the /.system folder and all sub directories to exactly as they were initially, any map files that are in the /.system folder are used to setup the system, they MUST NOT be changed added to or deleted from

If I have not made it clear you should not be doing anything with the /.system folder or it's sub folders

 

[WipfL]

Unfortunately, I know that now as well. If I could just get back into the GPS and remove that file, but the folders don't come up on the PC anymore. I got into the boot menu, and selected to boot into USB ethernet only mode in order to take the file back out, but it still won't show up on the computer. I can hear a connection sound on the PC, but the device doesn't show up anywhere.