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GPS City Q&As » Outdoor GPS » Garmin Dakota 20 Q&As

Garmin Dakota 20: Dakota 20 Powering up problems? (6 replies)

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Item

Original Question

Dakota 20 Powering up problems?

› Garmin Dakota 20

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Anne
Fitchburg MA

Original question asked on Sep 25, 2009, 6:25pm

I just got my new D20. The first order of business was to get a micro sd card and upload some maps. So I did using mapsource. These are maps I used to transfer to my etrex with no problem. Now the unit powers on for 1 or 2 seconds then goes blank. I tried removing the card and replacing the batteries.

Help!

Morgan412
Vancouver, BC

Reply #1 on Sep 27, 2009, 8:18am

I have the same problem. Plugged it into the computer, that works fine thought I would try updating the software see if it solved the problem. Unit will start to power up then after about 3 seconds crashes. I am going to return mine to the store I bought it from yesterday. Figure anything should be good for at least the first 24 hours. At the end of the software update it says something about a powering up problem in the bug fixes. I wonder if this is it?

Jordan GPS City
Calgary, AB

Reply #2 on Sep 28, 2009, 8:10am

Hello All,
Thats not good at all. Do you have maps on the internal memory of the GPS unit?
If you plug your GPS into the PC will it go into PC mode? If yes I would hunt down the Garmin image file that you uploaded and rename it so the GPS does not recognize it then reboot your machine. I wouldn't delete the file just incase you need it or it was the wrong file. The file is name *.img
What version of Topo maps are you using. Have you updated mapsource? I would update everything then try again, unit and software.
If the unit wont power up when it is plugged into the PC or when the map file is altered then you may need to get Warranty work done on the unit. Before sending the unit back give Garmin a call to see if they have any other solultions to offer you. 1-800-800-1020

botanymtbiker
Boise

Reply #3 on Oct 11, 2009, 10:49am

same issue here, a new Dakota 20 will start to power up, show Garmin logo, then shuts down. Can this be a software glich and if one uses Garmin UPdater, would this fix the problem, if software caused, or is this a hardware fatal flaw?

GPS City
Las Vegas, NV

Reply #4 on Oct 12, 2009, 8:08am

You might as well try the software update, it is what is recommended. If this doesn't work you can try and call Garmin, they may know what is wrong with the unit. Other than that I would recommend you return the unit and get a new one.

RiptydRick
Fontana, CA, USA

Reply #5 on Sep 18, 2011, 9:05am

Hey All,
My Dakota 20 would not power up today. I tried suggestions made earlier. No joy. The difference in my problem seem the only way to power down is to pull the batteries out and unplug. I have tried all of the listed ways to try and fix but all I get is the Garmin screen and nothing else. Seems that once it has power it is locked up. any other ideas?

Thanks,
Riptyd

GPS City
Calgary, AB

Reply #6 on Sep 19, 2011, 7:56am

Please contact Garmin @ 1-800-800-1020 They will be able to help you trouble shoot your unit

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