Mapsource unlock question

I had to totally delete all my Mapsource programs and reload, but I'm
having a problem that I think I've found the problem for (but would
like to know if I'm right).

I've reloaded CS 4.0 (successfully), and loaded in the updates CS 4.01
and CS 5.0. When selecting 4.0 from the drop down menu on Mapsource,
the program will load properly. After loading the two updates, I can't
get the 4.01 map set to highlight the map segments (in yellow) in order
to be selected. I'm guessing that I don't have the correct unlock code
for 4.01. When prompted, I tried using the original unlock code for
4.0, and the unlock code for the 5.0. The unlock wizard accepts both
these codes, but still won't work. Does 4.0 require it's own specific
code?

Another glitch is that 5.0 won't work either, even with it's correct
unlock code. I'm speculating that it's having a problem with 4.01 not
having it's correct code.

It's odd that I don't have the code for 4.01, as I have the unlock
codes for 4.0 and 5.0 written down at least 5 times, from the owner's
manual to inside the box. If the code is indeed lost, will Garmin be
able to retrieve it, or am I screwed?

John

BTW, due to problems with my serial port and a sudden inability to
communicate with my Garmin (which prompted the software delete and
reload), I bought a Belkin Serial to USB adapter, and it works fine.
Oddly, when trying to get Mapsource to communicate with the Garmin,
COM6 was not an option in the drop down box for Mapsource to search,
but punching in COM6 manually (which the Belkin USB adapter uses)
finally allowed my Mapsource to communicate with the Garmin. I wish I
had done this first......

John-Del wrote:

Problem solved:

After sleeping on this, I tried completely removing the 4.01 update,
and installing the City Select 5.0 update over my original City Select
4.0 hoping it didn't need any of the interim updates. It installed
normally, and is fully functional. Apparently, even properly unlocked,
5.0 won't run if any of the previous updates aren't unlocked properly.


So for future reference:

*If you install an unlock code that is correct for your particular
Garmin, but not for the particular Mapsource program or update,
Mapsource will accept it but not tell you it's incorrect.

*You can install the latest update over the base program without the
using any interim updates.

*The Belkin Serial To USB adapter does work with the Garmin V (XP Pro
and loading the driver disc), but you may have to manually type COM6 if
the option is not provided in the drop down area and Mapsource can't
"find" the gps with the USB adapter. It doesn't appear to be any
faster (even with selecting highest port speed in Device Manager), but
I can plug into my front USB ports.

I have lots of maps, from the original US RoadRecreation to City
Navigator v8. Reinstalling all the maps, and updating mapsource itself
becomes a pain when I switch computers, especially when you take into
consideration how poorly written some of the earlier mapsource
installer was. (try install a very early map product over your
existing mapsource program).

After I experimented a little, I realized that you don't really need
to "install" the map for it to work, all mapsource need is

a) the data files (*.img files)
b) the index files (img, mdx, tdb files)
c) the corresponding registry entries (that points to the data
directory, and index files)

(a), (b), and (c) corresponds to each mapsource "product". The
mapsource program itself can be independently updated (this is what
you download from the web). The unlock code you get corresponds to a
specific map "product". (city navigator v7, etc). So you need one
unlock code for v7, another for v8, etc. You can get the specific
product list via "help/about/product-info". This will show you how
many map products you have installed.

So basically the process becomes:

1) install all the map products, preferably in the order they are
released. Don't bother updating the mapsource program itself at this
point.

2) install all the unlock codes you have.

3) When you have installed all your map products, go to Garmin's site
and download the latest version of mapsource.

The way I do it, if I want to install a specific mapsource "product",
I first install it in a virtual machine (think of it as another PC),
then copy over all the data files and relevant registry settings to my
real-PC (HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Garmin\MapSource\Families\XXX or
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Garmin\MapSource\Products\XXX), and viola,
my real-PC will instantly recognize the new map data, without running
any install.

This way, I can install an ancient mapsource product (say from 1999)
without worrying about its installer messing up my current mapsource
setting. (It will).

If I need to install all the maps on a new PC, I just copy over my
entire mapsource data directory (and the mapsource program directory),
double click on two reg files (HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Garmin and
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Garmin), and that's it. No need to run the
installs all over again. (Well need to make sure the registry setting
points to the right location on the new machine...)

Raymond