orgarcia

I just purchased two Garmin Nuvi 200. One for me and one for my wife. When I turned it on it did not have very much of my neighborhood or the city that I live in. I registered and was allowed one free update for each GPS. I updated my GPS and all works well, I had to delete all unused languages to allow for room for the update.
I then attempted to update my wifes GPS. When I rebooted her GPS I get a "cannot unlock maps". I went to the Garmin's website but they are closed for the weekend. I went to their forum and followed the process of unlocking the map by creating a "gmapprom.unl file utilizing the unlock code provided. I still get the same error after rebooting. I went to her PC and attempted to download the mapupdate. The PC shutdown during the download and now Garmin will not allow for a 2nd attempt. I would rather use only one PC and update both Garmins.
Another note, I was given two different Product Keys but I have only been prompted to enter the key once. I copied the .uni file from my GPS and replaced it with the one on hers. I still get the same error, "cannot unlock maps. I plan to copy all data on her GPS and save it on my PC. Then copy all data on my GPS and save it in another foler on my PC. Then copy my GPS into her GPS.

ninja279

Are you using Mapsource? Are the product keys the 25 digit map unlock ones? If yes to both questions open Mapsource state you want to unlock another map (I think it's in the Help pull down). Garmin maps are tied to the unit that was sold with it. I think you can unlock the same map twice fro different units.

Hope this helps.

orgarcia

I do not know what Mapsource is. I went to Garmin registered the two GPS units. and downloaded the update. WebUpdater and MapInstall. It worked with the 1st Garmin but will not work on the second unit.

orgarcia

Oh, for the second question. The Product keys are 8 digits each. I was only prompted to enter the key once with the first upgrade. The second attempt never gave me a request for the key.

Max

Weird, if you're updating maps you shouldn't have to remove languages.

If you are short on space on the GPS...

1. look on the G: or whatever drive appears as NUVI on your "My Computer" area. Go there.
2. Go into the Garmin folder and look for the largest file there (should be gmapprom.img it is usually about 1gig or more.
3. Delete that file.
4. Fire up map loader/installer or map updater software, and it will ask for the code. Once it verifies space/etc, it will push the new code onto the device.
5. Enjoy maps.

Things to note:

• The .unl file is only used for Mapsource software.
• You should have 3 applications total if you used the downloaded update.
  • The First time you run Mapsource, it runs Map Installer automatically, after that, it doesen't.
  • Mapsource WILL let you operate a locked unit on its software, but will display 'detail locked' in the lower right corner.
• Updating maps should take about 2 hours per unit, min 1 hour. If it's much faster than that, it's not updating properly.

To find mapsource and see if it has been unlocked (aka registered for use with an unlocked unit):

1. Go to your start menu and see if there is a 'Garmin' folder.
2. What is in the Garmin folder?
   1. There should be at least Mapsource, Web Updater, and Map Installer.
3. Try to launch Mapsource.
   1. If it works and does not say 'detail locked' it means your 'unl file' is most likely there and in tact.
   2. You should then be able to send maps to the properly unlocked units.

I am asking the above because on my PC it installed Mapsource and Map Installer (and WebUpdater) when I downloaded the update.

The first time I ran Mapsource, it automatically ran Map Installer and required the code. The next time I ran Mapsource, it didn't care what was connected. When I ran Map Installer with an un-updated unit, it again asked for my code. I had 2, 8 digit code - and loaded on 2 separate GPS's.



You can ipdate the units through Mapsource (the actual mapping program) via the 25 digit unlocking process and the .unl file. I'll get to that later if need be.

If you can give me some feedback on what I've rambled about above - we can probably get you running today

Max

Or what he said

Max

btw I mistook the name, it should be gmapprom.img..editing now

orgarcia

Thanks for all the detail. I will try this out and give you the results.

chuckh1958

Just happened on this thread while trying to do my first non-free map update of my Garmin Nuvi 200. I purchased the 2009 North American maps. When I tried to use the mapinstall program and selected the lower 48 US states it said there wasn't enough memory. I was over by about 25 mb even after deleting that k:\garmin\gmapprom.img file. What can I do? I want all 48 states and I don't have an SD card in the unit. Am I safe to start deleting some of the voice files in the Garmin\Voice directory (*.sum and *.vpm)? They seem like the most likely things to get rid of. I also have these files in the Garmin directory, can any of them go?

$ ls -1F
Diag/
GUPDATE.GCD
GarminDevice.xml
Help/
RemoteSW/
Text/
Vehicle/
Voice/
fs_image.ver
gmapbmap.img
gmapbmap.sum
gmapprom.sum
gpx/
nuvi_drive.ico
scrn/


If I do purchase an SD card and install the map there, will I have to choose which maps to use every time I power up the unit? That would be a nuisance.

TIA

Max

You my friend are on the right path, whack some of the .vpm files and you'll have enough room

__________________
Nothing free is good, nothing good is free.

chuckh1958

Thanks. One more question. What is that gmapprom.sum file for? The name indicates it's related to gmapprom.img, but when I generate a new map to transfer to the unit with mapsource, there is no .sum file.

ninja279

I think the gmapprom.sum file is the licence information for your unit

DO NOT DELETE IT.

You can delete all voice and language files that you will not be using.

Buy the SD card (2G are only $10.00) and all 48 states will fit on it. It will slow down your unit slightly but all 48 states will be always loaded.

chuckh1958

Thanks. I left the gmapprom.sum file alone and deleted gmapprom.img as well as all of the voice files that I didn't need. The left enough room to load the new gmapsupp.img file that was created by mapsource. It all seems to be working fine.