Updating a Garmin nuvi Thrift Store find

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slipkid

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Hi all. You've been a lifesaver for me various times with Qs I had about my nuvi1350 which I still use.

So am wondering if you folks have any advice on something I am hoping to accomplish now.

I noticed a Garmin nuvi1350 at a local Thrift store for only $3 so I bought it as a backup, hoping it works (but assumed it would not) and to my surprise after I charged it up later it powers up and works. The previous owner did not even bother to wipe it out as far as saved favorites or their HOME location - all of which are about 2-3 hours from here which is a bit puzzling (how the heck did it end up in this Thrift shop near me??). Anyways....

This thrift store Garmin is pretty old software wise.
- the "text" software is only 4.70 (in comparison my regular nuvi is at 6.30)
- the "audio" software is only 2.70 (my regular nuvi is 3.40)
- although the "GPS" software is the same for both (4.30)
- the maps are dated as 2009 (!), as compared to my regular nuvi which I updated end of last year and are 2025
- oddly the maps in the Thrift store nuvi are described as what looks like something for Canada as "Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada" and things like that (yet I am in the USA and this one appears to work for around here?)
- "Basemap" shows as 5.00 and my regular nuvi shows that as 5.01


My questions are:
- is there an ez way to clone my existing nuvi to the Thrift store one for everything, software, maps, etc?
- and if it involves using the Garmin software on my PC to update the Thrift store one, will that screw up how it will work when I go to upgrade my regular nuvi later?

Note that I have free lifetime updates on my regular nuvi but have no idea what the Thrift store one is configured for.


Thanks for any help as usual!
 
slipkid said:
Hi all. You've been a lifesaver for me various times with Qs I had about my nuvi1350 which I still use.

So am wondering if you folks have any advice on something I am hoping to accomplish now.

I noticed a Garmin nuvi1350 at a local Thrift store for only $3 so I bought it as a backup, hoping it works (but assumed it would not) and to my surprise after I charged it up later it powers up and works. The previous owner did not even bother to wipe it out as far as saved favorites or their HOME location - all of which are about 2-3 hours from here which is a bit puzzling (how the heck did it end up in this Thrift shop near me??). Anyways....

This thrift store Garmin is pretty old software wise.
- the "text" software is only 4.70 (in comparison my regular nuvi is at 6.30)
- the "audio" softw
[...]
Click to expand...

What a great find for $3! To answer your main questions directly: no, you cannot simply clone your existing nuvi onto the thrift store one, and updating the thrift store unit through Garmin Express will not interfere with how your regular nuvi updates later.

On the cloning question, the maps and software are tied to the specific device, so you cannot just copy everything from one unit to the other. The map files are locked to the device they are licensed for, and your lifetime map subscription is registered to your regular nuvi's unit ID, not this new one. Trying to copy the map files across would almost certainly result in the thrift store unit refusing to use them or showing a licensing error.

What you can do for the thrift store unit is plug it into your PC via USB and run Garmin Express. Express will detect it as a separate device with its own ID and treat it completely independently from your regular nuvi. It will likely offer free software and firmware updates for it, and that alone will bring the text and audio software versions up to date. The GPS software version you mentioned looks current already. The map situation is trickier because the free lifetime maps are tied to your other unit. The thrift store nuvi almost certainly has no such subscription attached to it, so you would probably need to purchase a map update for that unit separately if you want current maps on it. That said, for a $3 backup unit, even just getting the software updated and running the old maps for general navigation might be perfectly acceptable.

The Canadian map reference is just because Garmin used to bundle North American maps that included both US and Canadian data with copyright notices for both governments, so that is totally normal even for a US-used device.

The short version: plug it into Garmin Express, let it do its thing for the software updates, and you will have a much more current unit without spending anything extra. Decide separately whether current maps are worth the purchase price for a backup device.

Here are some threads on this forum that may have answered your question:

These members have helped with similar questions and may be able to weigh in: LostAgain

This is an automated reply from the GPS Forums AI assistant. AI can make mistakes, so please double-check anything important.

Prefer no AI replies to your own posts? Manage your AI reply settings
 
Scout said:
What a great find for $3! To answer your main questions directly: no, you cannot simply clone your existing nuvi onto the thrift store one, and updating the thrift store unit through Garmin Express will not interfere with how your regular nuvi updates later.

On the cloning question, the maps and software are tied to the specific device, so you cannot just copy everything from one unit to the other. The map files are locked to the device they are licensed for, and your lifetime map subscription is registered to your regular nuvi's unit ID, not this new one. Trying to copy the map files across would almost certainly result in the thrift store unit refusing to use them or showing a licensing error.

What you can do for the thrift store unit is plug it into your PC via USB and run Garmin Express. Express will detect it as a separate device with its own ID and treat it completely independently from your regular nuvi. It will likely offer free software and firmware updates for it, and that alone will bring the text and audio software versions up to date. The GPS software version you mentioned looks current already. The map situation is trickier because the free lifetime maps are tied to your other unit. The thrift store nuvi almost certainly has no such subscription attached to it, so you would probably need to purchase a map update for that unit separately if you want current maps on it. That said, for a $3 backup unit, even just getting the software updated and running the old maps for general navigation might be perfectly acceptable.

The Canadian map reference is just because Garmin used to bundle North American maps that included both US and Canadian data with copyright notices for both governments, so that is totally normal even for a US-used device.

The short version: plug it into Garmin Express, let it do its thing for the software updates, and you will have a much more current unit without spending anything extra. Decide separately whether current maps are worth the purchase price for a backup device.

Here are some threads on this forum that may have answered your question:

These members have helped with similar questions and may be able to weigh in: LostAgain

This is an automated reply from the GPS Forums AI assistant. AI can make mistakes, so please double-check anything important.

Prefer no AI replies to your own posts? Manage your AI reply settings
Click to expand...

Thanks a ton Scout! Great info! I will do as you suggest, plus look through those other threads.

I was afraid to try running the Garmin program if that might screw up how it works with my main unit but now I feel much better about that not happening! Actually think I might as well update my main nuvi first anyway as a precaution, the maps are about 10 months old so....


Thanks again.
 
slipkid said:
Thanks a ton Scout! Great info! I will do as you suggest, plus look through those other threads.

I was afraid to try running the Garmin program if that might screw up how it works with my main unit but now I feel much better about that not happening! Actually think I might as well update my main nuvi first anyway as a precaution, the maps are about 10 months old so....


Thanks again.
Click to expand...

That sounds like a smart plan, updating your main unit first so you know it's all working correctly before you tackle the thrift store one. Ten months is not a huge gap but you will likely get a decent map update, and it is always nice to have things current.

When you plug the thrift store unit in afterward, Garmin Express should recognize it as a separate device and just walk you through whatever it needs. The main thing to be aware of is that the free map update it offers, if any, will be a one-time thing since that unit almost certainly does not have a lifetime maps subscription like your main one does. So you may get one update or none at all depending on the unit's purchase history. Worth checking what it says before you agree to anything, just so there are no surprises.

Good luck with it, and glad the info helped! Feel free to post back and let us know how it goes.

This is an automated reply from the GPS Forums AI assistant. AI can make mistakes, so please double-check anything important.

Prefer no AI replies to your own posts? Manage your AI reply settings
 
Scout said:
What a great find for $3! To answer your main questions directly: no, you cannot simply clone your existing nuvi onto the thrift store one, and updating the thrift store unit through Garmin Express will not interfere with how your regular nuvi updates later.

On the cloning question, the maps and software are tied to the specific device, so you cannot just copy everything from one unit to the other. The map files are locked to the device they are licensed for, and your lifetime map subscription is registered to your regular nuvi's unit ID, not this new one. Trying to copy the map files across would almost certainly result in the thrift store unit refusing to use them or showing a licensing error.

What you can do for the thrift store unit is plug it into your PC via USB and run Garmin Express. Express will detect it as a separate device with its own ID and treat it completely independently from your regular nuvi. It will likely offer free software and firmware updates for it, and that alone will bring the text and audio software versions up to date. The GPS software version you mentioned looks current already. The map situation is trickier because the free lifetime maps are tied to your other unit. The thrift store nuvi almost certainly has no such subscription attached to it, so you would probably need to purchase a map update for that unit separately if you want current maps on it. That said, for a $3 backup unit, even just getting the software updated and running the old maps for general navigation might be perfectly acceptable.

The Canadian map reference is just because Garmin used to bundle North American maps that included both US and Canadian data with copyright notices for both governments, so that is totally normal even for a US-used device.

The short version: plug it into Garmin Express, let it do its thing for the software updates, and you will have a much more current unit without spending anything extra. Decide separately whether current maps are worth the purchase price for a backup device.

Here are some threads on this forum that may have answered your question:

These members have helped with similar questions and may be able to weigh in: LostAgain

This is an automated reply from the GPS Forums AI assistant. AI can make mistakes, so please double-check anything important.

Prefer no AI replies to your own posts? Manage your AI reply settings
Click to expand...


Funny to say but I just realized that the thread you (Scout) recommended I check out is actually a thread I created MYSELF regarding a different issue with my nuvi a few years ago!!!! Hilarious!!!!
 
slipkid said:
Funny to say but I just realized that the thread you (Scout) recommended I check out is actually a thread I created MYSELF regarding a different issue with my nuvi a few years ago!!!! Hilarious!!!!
Click to expand...

Ha, that is too funny! You are literally your own best resource. Clearly you have been around long enough to build up a pretty solid knowledge base on these devices, which should serve you well getting the thrift store unit sorted out. Welcome back to your own thread, so to speak!

This is an automated reply from the GPS Forums AI assistant. AI can make mistakes, so please double-check anything important.

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