Garmin Zümo 660lm NA – errored internal drive

I moved from USA to Denmark with my bikes and a Garmin Zümo 660lm NA. This model has Lifetime Maps of North America. – Unfortunately Garmin EOL-ed this device in 2023. But it is still a nice device, and you can install OSM maps on it (for free) instead.

I cannot get Garmin Express to find the Zümo, I tried on Mac, I tried on Windows, I tried an older version of Garmin Express under Windows, but the Zumo is not found.

I have factory reset the Zumo, but no change.

All the maps are missing, but besides that, everything seems to work as expected. I can go through all the secret menus, and things look normal.

• GPS Forums -> Garmin Secret Menus
• hidden screens in zumo 660/665

Pushing the battery-bar on the top right, for 10 seconds gives you

SW Ver 5.10 zumo 660 V2 4Gb P1 S3_R 330Mhz

I have downloaded OSM maps of Denmark and saved it to a SD-card under /Garmin/gmapsupp.img and installed the sdcard in the Zumo, and this seems to work as expected, so now the 10-year-old navigator has a new life, on the old Continent. Information on how to do this can be found here:

• OSM Map On Garmin/Download
• OpenMapChest.org Map updates for your Garmin

What happened to the internal drive still puzzles me.

When I plug the Zumo into a Windows computer via USB, I can see the map-file as F:/Garmin/gmapsupp.img,  but I keep getting messages like E: drive are not inserted. So it seems like the internal drive is broken.

The link below describes how to bring a dead Garmin Navigator back to life:

• blog.zencoffee.org: Necromancy and the Garmin Nuvi 1390

Following the above guide adapted to the Garmin Zumo 660, we need to find the right firmware and tools.  There is info about unbricking Garmin Nuvi devices here:

• https://www.gpspower.net/garmin-gps-system.html
• https://www.gpspower.net/garmin-receivers-firmwares.html

It seems it is possible to get a fully functioning system, but I should probably leave it alone. I have the functionality I need with the OSM-maps, The system seems to be on the newest version of the firmware already, and I have no use for the North American maps before my next motorcycle trip over there, which I have no idea if/when will happen.

Links:

• www.austech.info: How to ‘Un-brick’ a Garmin device the easy way [step by step]
• www.tramsoftgmbh.ch: GARMIN Zumo 660 Firmware Upgrades
• gpspower.net: Zumo 660 Software Versions Summary
• gpspower.net: How to unbrick nüvi – step by step guide
• gpspower.net: Zumo 660 Unbricked is not working [SOLVED!]
• gpspower.net: GarminCure3 tool – the new way to create cure firmwares for Garmin devices
• List of devices with HWID
  https://www.memotech.franken.de/FileFormats/Garmin_BIN_Format.pdf
• archive.org/download/garmin_perry_archive
• Ver 5.10 Changelog
  https://www8.garmin.com/support/download_details.jsp?id=4469
• The 5.10 GCD file for the Garmin Zumo 660
  https://download.garmin.com/software/zumo660_GCDFile__510.gcd

Below you find a thread which also discusses something similar to mine at post 333:

• gpspower.net: If you want HELP in case of a bricked Garmin device, please follow this

I was preparing the answers to the questions in their instruction, so I could ask for help once I got stuck.  I was able to fix the problem without using anybody else’s time.

1. Model Garmin Zümo 660lm NA
   Firmware version 5.10
   HWID = 924
2. How did it get bricked?
   No idea, when I turned it on after moving to Denmark, the internal maps were gone.
3. Symptoms: What is wrong with your device?
   There are no maps on the Zumo, Garmin Express does not detect the Zumo
4. Does your PC see your device? No
5. List all procedures you have already tried to remove them and their results and error messages received.
   I  have installed an SD-card with OSM-maps, which I can see in the F:-drive,  Windows said: “E:\ The directory name is invalid.” So i used RMPrepUSB to format the internal drive.
   After this, I have not been able to see the Zumo from the PC
6. Have you installed Garmin USB drivers?
   yes USB Drivers version 2.3.1.2
7. HWID: 924
9. Can you reach preboot mode?

GarminCure3, preboot-mode, Updater

Start GarminCure3 and “Make Cure firmware” with the above .gcd file, result is 092401000510.rgn

• Updater.exe 092401000510.rgn, select USB, and be ready to press OK

The hard part is getting the Zumo into prebooot-mode

GpsPower.net: Garmin devices preboot mode for Zumo 660 says:

• Turn off the navigator.
• Press the LOWER left corner of the screen.
• Turn on the navigator still holding the lower left corner of the screen + power button.
• when Windows gives a sound, it signals that Windows has seen a new USB-device which is our Zumo in preboot-mode. Now press OK in Updater.exe window

If you got the timing right a new window pops up saying: Updating software..

• Now release press on screen and Power button

After I got the Zumo in cure mode I formatted the internal drive according to

• gpspower.net: How to properly format a Nuvi after using kunix’s cure

Then I did the GarminCure3 thing again, this time checkmarking the Original, and after that, I used Updater.exe to transfer the new 092401000510.rgn file to the Zumo.

Now finally the Zumo could be recognized by Garmin Express, Which is used to restore the system and maps