Vista Cx Update

[+timk54]

Ok now I've done it. I downloaded the Garmin Webupdater and ran the program. All looked fine until the install of the new software was 98 % done. I heard a beep the unit shut off and the webupdater froze.

Now I can't turnon the GPSr.

Now what should I do?

timk54

[+Lasagna]

Silly question ... check your batteries? Otherwise, I'd contact Garmin support via their website. They'll usually have you send it back if it's toasted and will replace it.

[+timk54]

Silly question ... check your batteries? Otherwise, I'd contact Garmin support via their website. They'll usually have you send it back if it's toasted and will replace it.

 

The unit was connected to the PC when the update was being installed. I have checked the batteries and they are fresh. The unit won't power on. How bad is this?

timk54

[+Night Stalker]

Have you tried a hard reset? I believe that if you are unable to do that then you might as well hold a funeral for your GPS. At least on the older models it was fatal.

 

Sorry

[+timk54]

Have you tried a hard reset? I believe that if you are unable to do that then you might as well hold a funeral for your GPS. At least on the older models it was fatal.

 

Sorry

I'm not familiar with a hard reset, How do I do that?

thanks

timk54

[+Night Stalker]

It should be in your manual. I can't even remember the button combination for my 60CS. Sorry. If all else fails send it back to Garmin. They are super about taking care of their customers.

[+timk54]

It should be in your manual. I can't even remember the button combination for my 60CS. Sorry. If all else fails send it back to Garmin. They are super about taking care of their customers.

Thanks for the tips but the Vista Cx is still is dead.

I'm on hold waiting for Garmin support as I type.

My wife wanted to go geocaching on Mother's day .Guess thats out now.

Timk54

[+timk54]

Talked with Customer Support -Garmin. I'm sending the GPSR to them for repair. Should have it back in 10 days.

Am I the only one who has these unsual problems?

 

timk54

[+Red90]

Did you try the hard reset?

 

http://www.gpsinformation.org/dale/secret.htm

 

holding the "page" key down and the "click stick" down and then powering up will reset the unit

[+timk54]

Did you try the hard reset?

 

http://www.gpsinformation.org/dale/secret.htm

 

holding the "page" key down and the "click stick" down and then powering up will reset the unit

 

Yes the first thing the customer support person asked me to do was try the hard reset. Nothing. He gave me the address and an RMA # and I mailed it to Garmin an hour ago.

[kb9nvh]

Sorry for your trouble...Garmin will take care of you!!

 

 

Did you try the hard reset?

 

http://www.gpsinformation.org/dale/secret.htm

 

holding the "page" key down and the "click stick" down and then powering up will reset the unit

 

Yes the first thing the customer support person asked me to do was try the hard reset. Nothing. He gave me the address and an RMA # and I mailed it to Garmin an hour ago.

[Neo_Geo]

First, I'd like to express my condolences! That just totally sucks!

 

I think I read here one time that someone had a catastrophic incomplete update like this, and he tried initiating the update again - even though the unit didn't appear to be turning on - and miraculously the update did initiate and complete. Maybe try doing a hard reset start with the unit connected to the computer and then try to do the update. If it doesn't work, try it again in case you just actually turned the unit off...

 

Hey... it's worth a shot...

If it works, it sure beats sending it back into Garmin.

 

...I mailed it to Garmin an hour ago.

OOOOoooops... you're quick!

Edited May 10, 2006 by Neo_Geo

[+timk54]

First, I'd like to express my condolences! That just totally sucks!

 

I think I read here one time that someone had a catastrophic incomplete update like this, and he tried initiating the update again - even though the unit didn't appear to be turning on - and miraculously the update did initiate and complete. Maybe try doing a hard reset start with the unit connected to the computer and then try to do the update. If it doesn't work, try it again in case you just actually turned the unit off...

 

Hey... it's worth a shot...

If it works, it sure beats sending it back into Garmin.

 

...I mailed it to Garmin an hour ago.

OOOOoooops... you're quick!

 

I had to be quick I hate being without my GPSr. This is exactly the reason I need to buy a backup unit.

I wish I had some money laying around.

Timk54

[rafke74]

You're not the only unlucky one timk54...

Had the same problem with my Vista Cx, it went off while connected to the pc, and afterwards only worked on batteries. As soon as I connected the device to the pc again, it went off again.

Played with the settings trying to solve the problem, and put the setting on "off when external power is off" or something like that. Result: the vista cx stayed dead, now also on batteries

Send it back to the shop and they will send a new one. So we're both without our lovely receiver now, brother

[+timk54]

You're not the only unlucky one timk54...

Had the same problem with my Vista Cx, it went off while connected to the pc, and afterwards only worked on batteries. As soon as I connected the device to the pc again, it went off again.

Played with the settings trying to solve the problem, and put the setting on "off when external power is off" or something like that. Result: the vista cx stayed dead, now also on batteries

Send it back to the shop and they will send a new one. So we're both without our lovely receiver now, brother

 

I hope the replacemant unit that they send back doesn't have the same problem. I miss my GPSr so much I surfed the web last night and almost bought another one. Not a good time to do that right now.

9 more days to go.

timk54

[verdejt]

How long have you guys had your Vista Cx units. I just got mine about 3 weeks ago and haven't had any problems yet. Just curious if this sort of stuff is in store for my unit as well.

[+timk54]

How long have you guys had your Vista Cx units. I just got mine about 3 weeks ago and haven't had any problems yet. Just curious if this sort of stuff is in store for my unit as well.

 

I bought my Vista Cx two months ago. The first firmware update was 2.3. It worked just fine. When I saw the new listing for update 2.4 I downloaded the Web Updater progam from the Garmin website and ran it. as ir began downloading the update. I noticed that it said I was downloading 2.3 which I already had. but bu then it was to late to stop the process. When the install screen said 98 % the unit beeped and shut down the install froze and the unit would not respond even to the hard reset that the tech support person had me try. I got my RMA number and sent it back for replacement.

 

The frustrating thing was that I finally have figured out how to use GSAK and cachemate and my PDA.

By the time I get my GPSr back I'll have to relearn it all.

timk54

[verdejt]

I did successfully update mine to 2.3 and then had manually install 2.4 as the webupdater said my unit was up to the lastest revision. I am wondering if maybe this problem only affects a certain batch of units. Is there a way to tell when your unit was manufactured by the serial number?

[PghDragonRider]

Don't tell me this . . . stuff

 

I just manually downloaded and installed the 2.40 update because the Webupdater would not pick it up. I'm inside and my Vista CX can't get a satelite :-{)}

 

I've got to wait till tomorrorow morning to find out if I've got a problem!

Edited May 11, 2006 by PghDragonRider

[verdejt]

I did the update and couldn't pickup a satellite inside either, but I couldn't before the upgrade either. I took my unit outside and it worked fine with 2.40

[+CheshireFrog]

Don't tell me this . . . stuff

 

I just manually downloaded and installed the 2.40 update because the Webupdater would not pick it up. I'm inside and my Vista CX can't get a satelite :-{)}

 

I've got to wait till tomorrorow morning to find out if I've got a problem!

 

That's propbably not a problem. After installing the update the GPS likely doesn't know where it is any more, i.e. it doesn't have it's last fix stored any more. It will take a while tomorrow to get a good fix and then will operate like normal.

[+briansnat]

You're not the only unlucky one timk54...

Had the same problem with my Vista Cx, it went off while connected to the pc, and afterwards only worked on batteries. As soon as I connected the device to the pc again, it went off again.

Played with the settings trying to solve the problem, and put the setting on "off when external power is off" or something like that. Result: the vista cx stayed dead, now also on batteries

Send it back to the shop and they will send a new one. So we're both without our lovely receiver now, brother

 

I hope the replacemant unit that they send back doesn't have the same problem. I miss my GPSr so much I surfed the web last night and almost bought another one. Not a good time to do that right now.

9 more days to go.

timk54

 

I bet you get it back sooner than you expected. BTW when I sent my Legend back for repair I too was so antsy to get it back I bought a Vista while waiting. I received my Legend back before the Vista came.

Edited May 13, 2006 by briansnat

[+timk54]

The following is the response I got from my email to Garmin Support. It came a couple days after I sent the unit back to them for repair. The tech suggests avoiding the use of Web updater which i thought was interesting. Regardless the system seems to be working and Garmin should have my GPSr back in my hands sometime next week.

 

 

Thank you for contacting Garmin,

 

I am happy to help you with this. When you download new software the first

thing that happens is the old software is erased. If the download is

interrupted the unit will show nothing on the screen even though it is

powered on. You should be able to still download the software to the unit

but I recommend avoiding the web updater. You can work around this by

clicking on Update and Downloads/Additional Software and then choose your

unit in the list. I would also erase the file you currently have on the

computer so there is no confusion with the new download. If this does not

resolve the issue please give customer service a call at the number below,

any rep can trouble shoot this with you. If you have any additional comments

or questions, please do not hesitate to contact us via email or call our

customer service number below.

 

Have a nice day!

 

Larry Keegan

 

Product Support Specialist

GARMIN International

[+timk54]

Garmin sent a replacement Vista Cx by way of DHL delivery. No charge for the repair or the delivery. I got the unit on the ninth day after I sent the broken one back to Garmin. I believe it is not a brand new replacement. It had central time zone settings in it and some other settings that looked like it had been used before. It came loaded with the software update 2.4. It also came with a 32 mb mini SD card installed and another one taped to the delivery receipt.

I transferred a pocket query to it and it seemed to work fine. I also took it to a 3 star difficulty cache and the unit read 2 feet -I was standing next to the cache. I'm so happy to have my Vista Cx back in my hands. I intend to buy another one soon. I'm giong to stick with the same model so we (wife and son and I ) won't have to learn new controls.

Garmin proved it's committment to service to me.

timk54

[Neo_Geo]

Glad to hear you're back in the game! Hopefully there will never be another "next time" for you. But if there is, don't be so quick to ship off the unit to Garmin! looking back at the thread, it looks like you mailed it off only about an hour after posting your first message! After reading your message, I read where several other people had the same problem too, and re-flashing the unit worked. You could've been back in the game that night. One hour is simply not enough time for some of us to respond!

[+Red90]

I'm giong to stick with the same model so we (wife and son and I ) won't have to learn new controls.

Garmin proved it's committment to service to me.

timk54

 

Might as well get a Venture Cx then as you already have a spare card for it and a cable.

[+timk54]

Glad to hear you're back in the game! Hopefully there will never be another "next time" for you. But if there is, don't be so quick to ship off the unit to Garmin! looking back at the thread, it looks like you mailed it off only about an hour after posting your first message! After reading your message, I read where several other people had the same problem too, and re-flashing the unit worked. You could've been back in the game that night. One hour is simply not enough time for some of us to respond!

 

Your'e right. In hindsight I did send it back to soon. Had the Garmin phone Tech told me to reflash the unit again I might have had it working quickly but he didn't tell me to do that. I think you guys are smarter anyway. Next time I will exhaust all your tips before I make anyother move.

[+briansnat]

I believe it is not a brand new replacement. It had central time zone settings in it and some other settings that looked like it had been used before. It came loaded with the software update 2.4. It also came with a 32 mb mini SD card installed and another one taped to the delivery receipt.

 

They run the units through a bunch of tests before they are sent back Since they are located in Kansas you're going to have their local info when you get it back.

[+Lasagna]

Garmin sent a replacement Vista Cx by way of DHL delivery. No charge for the repair or the delivery. I got the unit on the ninth day after I sent the broken one back to Garmin. I believe it is not a brand new replacement. It had central time zone settings in it and some other settings that looked like it had been used before. It came loaded with the software update 2.4. It also came with a 32 mb mini SD card installed and another one taped to the delivery receipt.

I transferred a pocket query to it and it seemed to work fine. I also took it to a 3 star difficulty cache and the unit read 2 feet -I was standing next to the cache. I'm so happy to have my Vista Cx back in my hands. I intend to buy another one soon. I'm giong to stick with the same model so we (wife and son and I ) won't have to learn new controls.

Garmin proved it's committment to service to me.

timk54

 

You're right ... it's likely not a "brand new" unit, but a "refurbished new" unit. A return or a former unit that had failed and they repaired and brought back to factory spec (new faceplate/case, etc.). They'll likely do the same to your old one and pass it along to someone else who has a problem in the future.

 

When they replaced the unit, they do a bunch of testing to insure it will pickup satellites, etc. (that checkout was on the paperwork that came back with the unit). They wouldn't want to return a "broken" unit to you -- that would be a major goof.