Garmin GPSMap 496: "Software Missing"
09-22-2009, 06:50 AM
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Garmin GPSMap 496: "Software Missing"
I had a problem with my Garmin GPSMap 496 recently. I could not find any solutions posted online, so I called Garmin. The phone tech support was very helpful, and walked me through the steps to troubleshoot and fix it. For the benefit of others, I'm posting the full description here.
Origin of the problem:
After updating to system version 4.0 in the spring of 2009, my GPSMap 496 was not as stable as I had come to expect. It would occasionally shut down without warning. If it was on external power, it would reboot itself.
After one of the unscheduled reboots, the unit gave me an error message: Terrain Database Corrupted. I rebooted manually and now the error was: Terrain Database Missing. The unit would turn on, but there was no geographic information. No state lines, no rivers, no roads, no mountains.
I went to the Garmin web site and downloaded the 4.10 version of the system software. I installed this successfully, and the unit worked for about 20 minutes. Then the same problems happened. First it rebooted unexpectedly, then it warned of a corrupt Terrain Database, then it claimed to be missing the terrain database.
I found instructions online for resetting all the user data in the unit: hold down the Quit button while powering on the unit. I did this, and again, it worked for about 20 minutes and then died.
I loaded the system software again, but this time things got worse. When powering on the unit, it just displayed:
Software Missing
At this point, the 496 seemed dead. The buttons did not work, the backlight would not come on, I could only turn the unit on or off. When it was on, it just beeped and displayed: Software Missing.
Solution:
The Garmin phone support was very helpful. They prescribed the following:
1.Boot into the software loader. Since my 496 would not boot, they recommended holding down the up arrow button while powering up the unit. This forces it into a mode that just allows updates.
2.Re-load the current version of the software. Don't use the web-updater tool, but instead download the update to your local machine and run the program from there. Be sure your USB cable is plugged into a USB port on the back of your computer, not a hub or front-mounted port.
3.If you're still having trouble, do a hard reset of the device. Hold down these 3 buttons while turning the unit on: Out, Quit, NRST. If the unit does not respond after a few minutes, release the 3 buttons and re-boot.
4.See if the 496 works now. If you are still having problems, buy and install the update for the Terrain Database that seems to be corrupted, and then repeat steps 1 – 3.
This fixed my Garmin GPSMap 496. It may also work for earlier models like the 495, 396 or 296.
Origin of the problem:
After updating to system version 4.0 in the spring of 2009, my GPSMap 496 was not as stable as I had come to expect. It would occasionally shut down without warning. If it was on external power, it would reboot itself.
After one of the unscheduled reboots, the unit gave me an error message: Terrain Database Corrupted. I rebooted manually and now the error was: Terrain Database Missing. The unit would turn on, but there was no geographic information. No state lines, no rivers, no roads, no mountains.
I went to the Garmin web site and downloaded the 4.10 version of the system software. I installed this successfully, and the unit worked for about 20 minutes. Then the same problems happened. First it rebooted unexpectedly, then it warned of a corrupt Terrain Database, then it claimed to be missing the terrain database.
I found instructions online for resetting all the user data in the unit: hold down the Quit button while powering on the unit. I did this, and again, it worked for about 20 minutes and then died.
I loaded the system software again, but this time things got worse. When powering on the unit, it just displayed:
Software Missing
At this point, the 496 seemed dead. The buttons did not work, the backlight would not come on, I could only turn the unit on or off. When it was on, it just beeped and displayed: Software Missing.
Solution:
The Garmin phone support was very helpful. They prescribed the following:
1.Boot into the software loader. Since my 496 would not boot, they recommended holding down the up arrow button while powering up the unit. This forces it into a mode that just allows updates.
2.Re-load the current version of the software. Don't use the web-updater tool, but instead download the update to your local machine and run the program from there. Be sure your USB cable is plugged into a USB port on the back of your computer, not a hub or front-mounted port.
3.If you're still having trouble, do a hard reset of the device. Hold down these 3 buttons while turning the unit on: Out, Quit, NRST. If the unit does not respond after a few minutes, release the 3 buttons and re-boot.
4.See if the 496 works now. If you are still having problems, buy and install the update for the Terrain Database that seems to be corrupted, and then repeat steps 1 – 3.
This fixed my Garmin GPSMap 496. It may also work for earlier models like the 495, 396 or 296.
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