Cannot see SD card from computer

RobertV · Posted: Sat Sep 12, 2009 4:03 pm Post subject: Cannot see SD card from computer

I have an SD card installed on my Nuvi 660 that contains custom POI files that I originally installed by plugging the SD card directly into a drive on my computer. When I connect the GPS to my computer I cannot see the SD card even though the Nuvi sees the custom POIs when I use the unit. Could this have anything to do with the fact that I said not to ask me again to transfer new data from the SD card to the Nuvi memory? Or is there something else that I am missing?
_________________
Garmin NUVI 660 with 2010 maps, Navman 550, Garmin Etrex Vista, Garmin 775

PaulB2005 · Posted: Sat Sep 12, 2009 5:02 pm Post subject:

Does the SD card not show as an extra drive on your PC? You should have (for example) a F drive for the Nuvi internal memory and a G drive for the SD Card? You should be able to see both regardless of your POI arrangements.

Maybe try a different USB Port?

RobertV · Posted: Sat Sep 12, 2009 5:17 pm Post subject:

Only the Nuvi shows up. I would expected the SD card to show up as another drive but not the case.
_________________
Garmin NUVI 660 with 2010 maps, Navman 550, Garmin Etrex Vista, Garmin 775

dales · Posted: Sat Sep 12, 2009 6:18 pm Post subject:

On my PC, my nuvi 255 shows up as Drive E "GARMIN" .The SD card within the nuvi shows up as Drive H "Removable Disc" and I can drill down to see the contents of the SD card.

Usually I just have the SD card in a card reader. Apparently data transfers are quicker that way.

Dales.

RobertV · Posted: Sat Sep 12, 2009 10:38 pm Post subject:

Normally I do use the SD card in the computer card reader so it does not seem to be affecting its use as the POI files are showing up ok when it is plugged into the GPS. The four card slots each show up as removable drives and there would appear to be available drive letters for the SD card but perhaps there is a limit on how many can be mapped. I'll check that out in XP. Thanks for confirming that your SD card does show up as expected.
_________________
Garmin NUVI 660 with 2010 maps, Navman 550, Garmin Etrex Vista, Garmin 775

RobertV · Posted: Sat Sep 19, 2009 10:18 am Post subject:

I have not been able to find any reason why the SD card should not be seen by the PC when the card is in the Nuvi. However, I got a new card and plugged it into the Nuvi expecting to be prompted by the Nuvi to format the card. Nothing. How did you format your card?
_________________
Garmin NUVI 660 with 2010 maps, Navman 550, Garmin Etrex Vista, Garmin 775

PaulB2005 · Posted: Sat Sep 19, 2009 10:38 am Post subject:

Looks like the card reader has failed. Probably best to speak to Garmin.

dales · Posted: Mon Sep 21, 2009 8:44 pm Post subject:

To be clear, I think PaulB means the card reader within the Garmin, not your own item.

I'm pretty sure I just used my SD card straight out of the box from when I bought it, no formatting required.

Since I've started using the SD card, I have to say NO each time I switch the unit on, as it asks me every time if I want to transfer the data to the unit (and I don't want to!).

Dales.

RobertV · Posted: Mon Sep 21, 2009 10:16 pm Post subject:

I also get prompted to transfer data each time I change the content of the SD card. I suspect that the reason that I cannot see the SD card from my PC is that there is an issue with the Garmin driver. I have tried to update the driver but have not been successful and have opened an issue with Garmin. I will probably just continue to update the SD card directly from my PC even if I resolve the issue of not seeing the card when it is in the GPS. I do appreciate the responses and think that I know a bit more about what is going on as a result.
_________________
Garmin NUVI 660 with 2010 maps, Navman 550, Garmin Etrex Vista, Garmin 775

RobertV · Posted: Thu Sep 24, 2009 11:21 pm Post subject:

Thought that I would update everyone who replied to my original post. I have figured out why XP was not seeing the SD card when it was in the Nuvi. I had a networked drive mapped to drive letter N. When the Nuvi was connected to the computer XP mounted it as drive letter M. Unfortunately, XP insisted on mapping the SD card not to the next available drive letter but to the next drive letter after M. This probably would not have happened if the N drive had been assigned to a local drive rather than a networked drive. I remapped the networked drive to P and the Nuvi SD then showed up as drive letter N.

It is interesting that Garmin wanted me to send the unit back to them and pay nearly £50. I would have thought that they might have asked whether there was a networked drive assigned to the next drive letter after the Nuvi before suggesting that I send the unit back to them. I hope that this information helps someone else who may be experiencing the same problem. And thanks to everyone who did respond to my original post. The responses were definitely helpful toward my arriving at the solution.
_________________
Garmin NUVI 660 with 2010 maps, Navman 550, Garmin Etrex Vista, Garmin 775

	PocketGPS
	Web