"Cannot unlock maps"

[Tail End Charlie]

I have a Garmin Legend HCx, which, when I first got it, I put on the whole of Europe on the SD card (using Garmin's stuff). This worked well when in France etc.

About a year ago I put on UK Open Street Map onto an SD card and have been using that, with good results.

However recently I tried to put back in the Europe SD card and now get the message " cannot unlock the maps".
The SD card has a Garmin file with Gmapsupp.img on it.
What do I need to do?

[robgul]

I'm not sure this explanation will be clear ... but it may be the problem .... the Garmin map software has some sort of key or algorithm that needs to know the serial number of the Garmin device it's being used on - and I'm guessing that you set that up to start with.

Now, all the Garmin map software (at least the 4 different map CDs) that I have have the same file name  and different codes ... which means you can't load them all on the same SD card (i.e. the device can only see one defined file name when it looks at the card) ... now, if you have overwritten a Garmin map file on the SD card the software code/device code will not match.

I got around this by having 4 SD cards, one for each map ... not ideal, but it works.

Of course - that may not be the problem.....

Rob

[Tail End Charlie]

Thanks Rob, but I've used a different SD card for each, so that's not the problem.

Any other takers ??

[Feanor]

Thanks Rob, but I've used a different SD card for each, so that's not the problem.

Any other takers ??

What's the original format of the mapset?
Did you purchase it on an SD card, or did you purchase it as a mapset to be used with MapSource?

The unlocking process is different in each case.
In the case of an original supplied on an SD card, the image file is locked to that specific SD card, not any particular Garmin device.
So it can be moved from device to device.
The image file can be transferred to another SD card, but it won't unlock.

In the case of a Mapsource mapset, it needs to be unlocked in mapsource against the Device ID of your Garmin device, and then use mapsource to transfer it to your device.   THis will build a locked img file, along with a corresponding .unl file which contains the unlock code for that particular mapID and your deviceID.   Just copying the image file is not enough.   It needs the correcsponding .unl file too.

[Biggsy]

Does the Legend HCx use the same maps as the Edge 605/705?  If so, I can help you directly, Charlie.

[Biggsy]

Also, does the Legend HCx work with more than one map combined in a single Gmapsupp.img file, like the Edge 605 does?

[Tail End Charlie]

Thanks Rob, but I've used a different SD card for each, so that's not the problem.

Any other takers ??

What's the original format of the mapset?
Did you purchase it on an SD card, or did you purchase it as a mapset to be used with MapSource?

The unlocking process is different in each case.
In the case of an original supplied on an SD card, the image file is locked to that specific SD card, not any particular Garmin device.
So it can be moved from device to device.
The image file can be transferred to another SD card, but it won't unlock.

In the case of a Mapsource mapset, it needs to be unlocked in mapsource against the Device ID of your Garmin device, and then use mapsource to transfer it to your device.   THis will build a locked img file, along with a corresponding .unl file which contains the unlock code for that particular mapID and your deviceID.   Just copying the image file is not enough.   It needs the correcsponding .unl file too.

Ahh this has reminded me. I got the Garmin, loaded the maps for Europe on from the CD which worked fine. Then I had to return that unit as it developed a fault. Since receiving the new one I've used OSM. So the new unit won't have the maps unlocked.

So how do I go about doing this ??

[fuaran]

You would have to contact Garmin, and ask for another unlock code. If you got the etrex replaced under warranty they should be able to provide another code for it.
Then you can go into MapSource and use that code to unlock it.

Or it would probably be quicker to get a keygen...

[Biggsy]

Does anyone know the answer to my questions?.....

Does the Legend HCx use the same maps as the Edge 605/705?

Also, does the Legend HCx work with more than one map combined in a single Gmapsupp.img file, like the Edge 605 does?

I can do something good for Charlie if my maps are any use.

[De Sisti]

Or it would probably be quicker to get a keygen...

Where can you get one of these?

[Tail End Charlie]

Thanks everyone, I think I understand now, it must be because of the change of unit when the first became faulty, so I'll contact Garmin and ask for another unlock code.

Biggsy, very kind offer, but I don't know the answer to your question and I'll go with recontacting Garmin, thankyou very much though. 

[fuaran]

Or it would probably be quicker to get a keygen...

Where can you get one of these?

Go to the Pirate Bay, and search for something like "garmin keygen".  It seems there is one made by Jetmouse, the latest version is v1.5. I have used it without problems.

[Feanor]

If you have changed your device, then any mapsource maps will no longer work.
They are keyed to the device ID of your original device.

I don't know how Garmin respond to requests for new unlock codes for device failures.   
I'm going to guess it's a "Fuck Off And Buy The Maps Again".  ( I may be wrong, but... )

I've long since given up on being compliant on this, and have gone to the dark side.   
Google "gpsunderground", select garmin maps sub-forum, and start learning.

Be aware that garmin went through several stages of protection.
Which applies to you depends on the map version you have, and the device you use it on.

Original maps could be un-locked in mapsource using the Jetmouse 1.5 keygen.
You just input the mapset ID, your device ID, and it would generate an unlock-code which you could put into mapsource.
(Also note that Jetmouse 1.5 has a bug with certain map IDs, there is a patched version on gpsunderground.)

Later versions of mapsource went on-line to validate the keys, and so it bacame necesary to use patched versions of mapsource.

Later units use an additional protection method called GMA.
This requires further processing to remove from the .img files.

I really don't want to turn this into a warez forum, so I'm going to say no more on this matter.
gpsunderground is the place to learn more.

[frankly frankie]

Does anyone know the answer to my questions?.....

The answers are yes and yes.

[Biggsy]

Ah.

Charlie, drop me a PM if you would like me to give you a certain map collection that I know that you would be delighted with.  It needn't interfere with your attempts to sort out the situation yourself, and in fact that's a good idea to continue with anyway.  What I'm suggesting would be an extra that you could simply transfer to a memory card any time.

There may be a delay in me responding or finalising due to possible personal difficulties, but I'd get there in the end.

[frankly frankie]

If you have changed your device, then any mapsource maps will no longer work.
They are keyed to the device ID of your original device.

I don't have any direct experience of this map-locking problem - but -

what happens if you start from scratch using a different instance of Mapsource, on a different PC?

[Feanor]

Makes no difference.
Unlocking a mapsource map involves purchasing an unlock code which is generated from the mapID number, and the Device ID of the GPS handset you want to use.   This 25-digit unlock code is entered into mapsource, and the maps are now unlocked in Mapsource, and on that one specific device ( it is passed to the handset in a .unl file ).

You can re-use the un-lock code on as many installs of mapsource on as many different PCs as you like, but it is still keyed to the device ID of the original handset.
That 25-digit unlock code will not work on a different handset.

That's what the Jetmouse keygen is for.
It will generate a new 25-digit un-lock code for times like this, where you change your device, and want to transfer your maps and not purchase the whole lot again.