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USB does not recognize Garmin Device. Error "Uknown Device"

Anonymous
2010-03-17T12:59:16+00:00

Just recently, windows 7 home premium addition has stopped detecting my garmin device. Other USB devices such as my ipod work fine. I was able to get it to detect the Garmin only a few times, it would try to install the drivers but the drivers would fail to install. The garmin was working a few weeks ago. Below is a list of everything I have already tried:

  1. Rebooting (after everything I try)
  2. Turning the computer off and leaving it unplugged overnight
  3. Completely uninstalling all drivers and software associated with the Gamin.
  4. manually installing drivers
  5. uninstalling the Unknown device and doing a search for new hardware
  6. uninstalling the Unknown device and doing a search for legacy hardware (this produces a device not functioning (Code 10) error)
  7. Reverting back to a restore point before the last windows update

Please, any help would be very appreciated. I am decently computer savvy and have always been able to fix any problems that I have. This one has had me spinning my wheels for days.

Thanks,

L

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Devices and drivers

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  1. Anonymous
    2010-03-18T03:11:40+00:00

    Hi,

    Try connecting your garmin device on another Windows 7 computer and check if it gets recognized.

    Refer this KB article to solve error code 10:

    http://support.microsoft.com/kb/943104/

    You may also post this issue in garmin forums for further assistance.

    https://forums.garmin.com/

    Regards,

    Afzal-Microsoft Support.

    Visit our Microsoft Answers Feedback Forum and let us know what you think.

    30+ people found this answer helpful.
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18 additional answers

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  1. Anonymous
    2011-03-29T18:59:18+00:00

    Same problem under Win7 X64 ultimate.

    Can install driver, Garmin recognized and showing up as device... but no Software (Trainingcenter, Sporttracks) can access this device.

    Tested Garmin and cable on other PC with Win7 x64 Home - working perfect!

    Strange thing:

    If i connect the device to the pc for ca. 2 seconds the software can acces the device!

    After these 2 seconds the garmin is not recognized anymore.

    Tried also other chipsetdrivers, an older garmin driver, older usb ports, an additional usb-hub - every time the same result

    100+ people found this answer helpful.
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  2. Anonymous
    2015-06-16T08:44:51+00:00

    It may be unrelated to the problems everyone else is having but I discovered that my Garmin loses connection when connected to the USB ports on the front of my PC, but as soon as I connect it to the USB ports on the rear, it works flawlessly.

    I suspect this to be an issue with the loading that the Garmin puts on the USB port, the extended ports don't seem to be able to handle it whereas a USB card connected to the motherboard can. I had this same issue with a Canon LiDE scanner, it solved that so I tried it on the Garmin and it fixed that problem too.

    It's worth a try.

    3 people found this answer helpful.
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  3. Anonymous
    2011-01-07T18:55:56+00:00

    Hi,

    I have the same problem with my Garmin forerunner 305. The driver loads but thr training centre keeps saying 'device not found'.

    I have downloaded new software and still no better.

    Can you help

    John

    3 people found this answer helpful.
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  4. Anonymous
    2014-05-13T15:12:24+00:00

    I've just had this same problem with a new Garmin nuvi 2597 and Windows 7 32-bit.

    I repeatedly got messages saying that the USB device was not recognized and that the installation of the USB drivers had failed, although once I did see an Installation Successful message, only for it to say failed again later. 

    Running the Garmin Express app couldn't find the device and sometimes after reconnecting the device a few times, it would appear in my devices list for a few seconds, but then disappear again.

    I don't know if this is a repeatable solution, but I appear to have solved it by going into Control Panel>Hardware and Sound>AutoPlay>Change default settings for media or devices - then I was able to see the Garmin labelled as nuvi 2597 under Devices, I changed the drop-down next to it to 'Open device to view files using Windows Explorer', then 'Save'.

    Following this I ran the Garmin Express app again (check first if there is a new version in the settings tab) and it found it straight away, it is now updating the device. I hope this helps someone as this was wasting hours of my time.

    1 person found this answer helpful.
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