Tool to fix 430W/530W Terrain cards

cowman

cowman

Final Approach
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Cowman
I ran across this the other day, I had one of the terrain cards that had been bricked after a bad update. If you haven't thrown yours away there's a way to repair it, it seems to work for me as the card is recognized but apparently I can't reinstall the terrain database because I already put the current cycle on another card(yay copy protection).

https://garmin.ent.box.com/s/wd15jt5lumjrxgxtx4283y5rlp58kqxl
Right click, download, unzip to a folder.

Plug in your reader and insert card.

Run the CardRepairUtility executable you unzipped in the folder.

It should recognize the card, click Repair Datacard and let it do it's thing.

That should be it, the garmin db manager recognized it and I was able to update obstacles. However I got errors when trying to do the terrain DB... I am told this is because garmin won't let you update the same cycle to two different cards- basically a copy protection scheme. Supposedly you can call them and they can reset something so it works. *sigh*. I was thinking about getting another nav data card so I could update them at home and swap when I got to the airport.
 
Great find. Thanks for sharing
 
I have two bad terrain cards. Ran them both through this app today and then was able to update them in the Garmin manager. Great I said. Then I put them into their two 530Ws. Guess what. The cards weren’t recognized. Back on the phone to Garmin tomorrow. Sigh.
 
Cowman ! You just saved me $ 550 Canadian bucks so thank you very much for this post. There are many postings about TAWS cards being bricked by the new Garmin Database Manager and mine was added to the list yesterday. Spoke with my avionics shop and 'new card it is' which seemed ridiculous. The link and download worked perfectly and my #1 GNS430W is back online.
 
Lance F said:
I have two bad terrain cards. Ran them both through this app today and then was able to update them in the Garmin manager. Great I said. Then I put them into their two 530Ws. Guess what. The cards weren’t recognized. Back on the phone to Garmin tomorrow. Sigh.
Click to expand...
Is full formatting a part of the process?
 
cowman said:
I ran across this the other day, I had one of the terrain cards that had been bricked after a bad update. If you haven't thrown yours away there's a way to repair it, it seems to work for me as the card is recognized but apparently I can't reinstall the terrain database because I already put the current cycle on another card(yay copy protection).

https://garmin.ent.box.com/s/wd15jt5lumjrxgxtx4283y5rlp58kqxl
Right click, download, unzip to a folder.

Plug in your reader and insert card.

Run the CardRepairUtility executable you unzipped in the folder.

It should recognize the card, click Repair Datacard and let it do it's thing.

That should be it, the garmin db manager recognized it and I was able to update obstacles. However I got errors when trying to do the terrain DB... I am told this is because garmin won't let you update the same cycle to two different cards- basically a copy protection scheme. Supposedly you can call them and they can reset something so it works. *sigh*. I was thinking about getting another nav data card so I could update them at home and swap when I got to the airport.
Click to expand...
I dug out an old (what was previously unusable) terrain card and tried the tool, the card is back into rotation after reinstalling both terrain and obstacles.
 
I am having the same issue with my terrain card. I tried to install the program on mac but for some reason it won't allow me to open it even after install. Anyone else running this program on a mac? trying to resolve this before a check ride on monday :(
 
Does anyone have that tool on their computer still? Looks like Garmin removed it from that folder, trying to get a copy. Thanks!
 
I believe I can send you a copy. Send me a message with your email and I will try to send the file. It only worked on my PC and not my Mac
 
If anyone has the file I would appreciate it as well. Thanks!
 
I would also like the file, but registered to post this and don't have sufficient post history to send a private message to dvalen122 who volunteered to help if given an email address. I created a throw-away gmail address to safely post it in public, in case dvalen122 or anyone else can help me resurrect my TAWS card. josh.filters.mail at gmail dot com
 
I called Garmin support and they gave me another link. I reuploaded it in case they take it down again. The tool works fine, took me a couple of retries though. I had to call them again to reset the copy protection.



garmin.ent.box [dot] com/s/m74gxariyqhuxm6l0jm3dvn03ahdniby
mediafire [dot] com/file/wnzq3ko15yctkai/GNS_Card_Repair_Utility.zip/file
 
josh.lawless said:
I would also like the file, but registered to post this and don't have sufficient post history to send a private message to dvalen122 who volunteered to help if given an email address. I created a throw-away gmail address to safely post it in public, in case dvalen122 or anyone else can help me resurrect my TAWS card. josh.filters.mail at gmail dot com
Click to expand...
It would get me out of a real jam if anyone has the download and would PM me and then email it.
 
I used the chat support feature at Garmin today and learned that they have 430W data card repair software for both Macs and PCs. I downloaded the Mac software from the link provided by chat support, installed it, fixed my card and reloaded the software. Thanks to the earlier posters for their information.
 
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