Colorado 400t "System Softare Missing"

[+Ratsneve]

I was using the 400t base map moving through Kings Canyon and the California Central Valley to the west when the screen went dead--I'm actually located in Central Oregon. I was using USB power at the time. Upon restarting the GPS I got the (I've heard of it before believe it or not) "System Software Missing" on the Garmin startup screen. The unit then goes into weird mode where it can't even be shut off. I've removed the batteries several times. I've tried entering diagnostics. I've even tried Reset. I've even tried a second set of charged cells--NOTHING but "System Software Missing" each time I try a fresh start. Since I can't get past this startup page there is nothing more I can do that I am aware of. While I do my half-hour wait for Garmin to answer I thought I would post this. It is funny because I have been actively working other problems that the Colorado has--and now this.

Edited August 25, 2008 by Ratsneve

[+RonFisk]

I was using the 400t base map moving through Kings Canyon and the California Central Valley to the west when the screen went dead--I'm actually located in Central Oregon. I was using USB power at the time. Upon restarting the GPS I got the (I've heard of it before believe it or not) "System Software Missing" on the Garmin startup screen. The unit then goes into weird mode where it can't even be shut off. I've removed the batteries several times. I've tried entering diagnostics. I've even tried Reset. I've even tried a second set of charged cells--NOTHING but "System Software Missing" each time I try a fresh start. Since I can't get past this startup page there is nothing more I can do that I am aware of. While I do my half-hour wait for Garmin to answer I thought I would post this. It is funny because I have been actively working other problems that the Colorado has--and now this.

This has happened to me several times on one of my older 400t's. Check out the procedure given on the g-o-cachers WIKI: M12.) My Colorado seems to be corrupted, is there a way I can recover it?

http://garmincolorado.wikispaces.com/Miscellaneous

It worked fine for me.

[+Ratsneve]

This has happened to me several times on one of my older 400t's. Check out the procedure given on the g-o-cachers WIKI: M12.) My Colorado seems to be corrupted, is there a way I can recover it?

http://garmincolorado.wikispaces.com/Miscellaneous

It worked fine for me.

This would have been a nice try but it looks like luck has favored me for the moment--maybe. Garmin has agreed (at least for the moment) to a one-time upgrade to the Oregon for my now defective Colorado. I agreed to a small $40 cost difference and they agreed to email me a pre-paid shipping label. But wait...did I actually get the pre-paid label--no. So tomorrow morning I have to call them up again to find out what happened again.

 

Part of me would normally have loved to try to fix the dadgum thing but its to late in the game for that--I'm to tired of Garmin.

Edited August 26, 2008 by Ratsneve

[s20055]

You'll have to post if the Garmin Oregon is actually an improvement, or even a solution, to the problems experienced with the Colorado. I would be interested in hearing your take...especially since you have firsthand experience with the Colorado and it's associated problems.

[+Ratsneve]

You'll have to post if the Garmin Oregon is actually an improvement, or even a solution, to the problems experienced with the Colorado. I would be interested in hearing your take...especially since you have firsthand experience with the Colorado and it's associated problems.

I will for certain. I know there will be a brief learning curve giving up the R-n-R for a touchscreen but g-o-cashers gives me good reason to feel that the Oregon is a few notches up on the Colorado. We'll see.

[+flarbear]

I will for certain. I know there will be a brief learning curve giving up the R-n-R for a touchscreen but g-o-cashers gives me good reason to feel that the Oregon is a few notches up on the Colorado. We'll see.

About the only thing I found the R-n-R good for compared to my Oregon was for navigating menus while walking - it's still a little hard hitting soft buttons with no tactile feedback to really do it effectively on a touchscreen while walking.

 

The R-n-R was also good for changing map zoom levels by a large factor quickly - and same while walking. The +/- zoom buttons on the OR touchscreen are a compromise between useability and screen real estate.

[+Ratsneve]

About the only thing I found the R-n-R good for compared to my Oregon was for navigating menus while walking - it's still a little hard hitting soft buttons with no tactile feedback to really do it effectively on a touchscreen while walking.

 

The R-n-R was also good for changing map zoom levels by a large factor quickly - and same while walking. The +/- zoom buttons on the OR touchscreen are a compromise between useability and screen real estate.

Does the screen ever get real smudgy so that you are wanting to clean it off every time you look at it or does a matte finish help mask this?

 

Aside from text entries and navigating around on the screen I was pretty good handling the R-n-R. From what I've read though I shouldn't be regretting the switch.

Edited August 26, 2008 by Ratsneve

[Didjerrydo]

About the only thing I found the R-n-R good for compared to my Oregon was for navigating menus while walking - it's still a little hard hitting soft buttons with no tactile feedback to really do it effectively on a touchscreen while walking.

 

The R-n-R was also good for changing map zoom levels by a large factor quickly - and same while walking. The +/- zoom buttons on the OR touchscreen are a compromise between useability and screen real estate.

Does the screen ever get real smudgy so that you are wanting to clean it off every time you look at it or does a matte finish help mask this?

 

Aside from text entries and navigating around on the screen I was pretty good handling the R-n-R. From what I've read though I shouldn't be regretting the switch.

 

I've now owned both the Colorado and the Oregon, and believe you me, the Oregon is a sweetheart compared to the problematic Colorado! I wrestled with one issue after the other with the Colorado. Its clock wouldn't even keep time when the unit was off!

The Oregon, on the other hand, seems to have it mostly all dialed in. The only real gripe I have is its somewhat poor display visibility in certain lighting situations. You pretty much have to constantly use the unit's backlight to maintain visibility. Of course, this results is greatly reduced battery life. I'm still getting about 10 hours out of 2650 mAh NiMH AA's with compass on and 100% backlighting though.

The first thing I did with my 400t was to apply a glossy screen protector over the matte surfaced display. This actually seemed to improve the screen's visibility as well as protect it from scratches which I'm sure will happen if it's not protected in some way. It sure would have been nice if Garmin had went with the nice hard, super-clear surface such as used on the iPhone instead of the somewhat cloudy, matte flexible film, but I understand this type surface is a necessary trade-off to make it usable with gloved fingers. I believe I could have dealt with that to have improved visibility!

Overall, I've really got to hand it to the Oregon. It's a vast improvement over the Colorado. I really feel Garmin temporarly dropped the ball with it (something that they rarely ever do). Watch it fade into the sunset very quickly.

Edited August 26, 2008 by Didjerrydo

[+Redwoods Mtn Biker]

Garmin has agreed (at least for the moment) to a one-time upgrade to the Oregon for my now defective Colorado. I agreed to a small $40 cost difference and they agreed to email me a pre-paid shipping label.

 

Mmmm, I bet there are a lot of Colorado owners that would like to duplicate your experience!

[+Tequila]

My CO 300 experienced the same System Software Missing problem. I could not recover it.

 

It has now been in the Montreal Repair Depot for 35 days where they cannot repair it and don't have replacement CO's to send me.

 

Your Oregon upgrade comment is welcome news. I hope I get the same offer.

[+Ratsneve]

My CO 300 experienced the same System Software Missing problem. I could not recover it.

 

It has now been in the Montreal Repair Depot for 35 days where they cannot repair it and don't have replacement CO's to send me.

 

Your Oregon upgrade comment is welcome news. I hope I get the same offer.

I suspect that when the time is right all Colorado users should actually get the offer. Understand that this was not offered to me. I made it happen by suggesting it as a reasonable solution to me otherwise bailing from Garmin and selling the unit for whatever I could get on ebay. But I think what really clinched it for me was the "Systems Software Missing" that occurred out of the blue and maybe an overriding supervisor not being available at the right time, i.e., maybe the person at Garmin that made this deal for me got in some warm water?

 

Try to create and justify the offer. Maybe as a result of the letter writing campaign too this will end up the perfect solution for Garmin to save a lot of face and keep everyone happy?

[+flarbear]

About the only thing I found the R-n-R good for compared to my Oregon was for navigating menus while walking - it's still a little hard hitting soft buttons with no tactile feedback to really do it effectively on a touchscreen while walking.

 

The R-n-R was also good for changing map zoom levels by a large factor quickly - and same while walking. The +/- zoom buttons on the OR touchscreen are a compromise between useability and screen real estate.

Does the screen ever get real smudgy so that you are wanting to clean it off every time you look at it or does a matte finish help mask this?

 

Aside from text entries and navigating around on the screen I was pretty good handling the R-n-R. From what I've read though I shouldn't be regretting the switch.

It does get smudgy, but that doesn't affect its visibility in use. The only time I notice it is when I view it at an angle (unless I had something gunky on a finger, but I'm talking about "regular use" smudgy).

 

The touchscreen works much better than the R-n-R for all other purposes - I was just listing the "only things" I found better with the R-n-R. Note that you should check the plastic cover of your touchscreen for air gaps under it. If there is an air gap large enough then the touchscreen won't be as effective since there will be a shift in the touch spot as you press and raise your finger. I'm only pointing this out so that if you are having trouble getting the touchscreen to work well you have something to look for that might cause the problem. For $600 you'd think they'd work these kinks out in QA, but I had to return one Oregon for this very problem and the touchscreen on the replacement works much better...

[+Ratsneve]

The touchscreen works much better than the R-n-R for all other purposes - I was just listing the "only things" I found better with the R-n-R. Note that you should check the plastic cover of your touchscreen for air gaps under it. If there is an air gap large enough then the touchscreen won't be as effective since there will be a shift in the touch spot as you press and raise your finger. I'm only pointing this out so that if you are having trouble getting the touchscreen to work well you have something to look for that might cause the problem. For $600 you'd think they'd work these kinks out in QA, but I had to return one Oregon for this very problem and the touchscreen on the replacement works much better...

Holy smoke--that's a new one on the touchscreen sort of delaminating and getting an air bubble trapped underneath it. What about getting an InvisibleSHIELD for the OR--recommended or not by anyone? What about removing that shield should you need to replace it or return the unit to Garmin? Can you still do that?

[+flarbear]

The touchscreen works much better than the R-n-R for all other purposes - I was just listing the "only things" I found better with the R-n-R. Note that you should check the plastic cover of your touchscreen for air gaps under it. If there is an air gap large enough then the touchscreen won't be as effective since there will be a shift in the touch spot as you press and raise your finger. I'm only pointing this out so that if you are having trouble getting the touchscreen to work well you have something to look for that might cause the problem. For $600 you'd think they'd work these kinks out in QA, but I had to return one Oregon for this very problem and the touchscreen on the replacement works much better...

Holy smoke--that's a new one on the touchscreen sort of delaminating and getting an air bubble trapped underneath it. What about getting an InvisibleSHIELD for the OR--recommended or not by anyone? What about removing that shield should you need to replace it or return the unit to Garmin? Can you still do that?

Sigh. This is getting aware from the original CO 400t topic so I'll start a new thread about my touchscreen issues...