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Magellan Explorist GC not Recognized ?


cherokeeflyer1

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After following all the Instructions provided by Magellan on their website my PC still won't recognize my Explorist GC ?

 

What do you mean by "still won't recognize"?

 

This is assuming you are using a Windows OS.

Do you get a pop up on the task bar saying that the PC has discovered a new device?

Does the PC try finding the drivers and then fails?

Wait about 5 minutes after connecting the GPS then click on Start, then on Computer. Do you see Magellan listed under Devices with Removal Storage?

 

What is the make, model and OS version of the PC that you are using?

 

What is the software version of your Explorist GC? As soon as you turn it on it will be displayed below Explorist GC and say something like "ver ?.?"

 

Have you tired using other USB ports on this computer?

Have you even been successful in connecting any kind of external storage device to this PC in the past (for example; USB external hard drive or UBB thumb drive)?

Have you tried connecting the GPS to any another computers and what was the result?

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Does the GPS display the Connection detected screen on the GPS with the two options; Connect to PC and Power Only?

If so are you selecting Connect to PC by highlighing the Connect to PC. It should already be highlighted in yellow and all you have to do is press down on the joystick.

Then the GPS will show a Connecting to PC screen and tell you that it is waiting to connect.

Then the GPS will show a Connected to PC screen and graphic.

Now you should be able to click on Start and Computer on your PC and the Magellan device should be listed.

 

Which step does it fail at?

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If you have downloaded the Magellan Communicator, log out of geocaching.com then back in again. That did the trick for me. It took two or three attempts I seem to remember! I think I had to select "My Primary GPS" and click on a pic of the GC. When you load your caches, select the Magellan tab....why it doesn't come up automatically, I don't know - on my PC DeLorme pops up first.

Make sure that the GC has Version 1.6 at a minimum....I think there are later versions - check Magellan's website.

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Here's what I did to get mine to work in Win8 (it works fine in W7) -- you need some knowledge or practice using virtual machine's and Linux from here on...

 

Problem: Magellan Explorist GC doesn't operate correctly in Windows 8. Sometimes it does open as a usb drive folder, sometimes not, it's in a word: "flaky."

 

Solution:

1. Started Magellan's "VantagePoint" software

2. Plug in the GC and connect. Windows will connect but the drive will keep saying "insert media" and your VantagePoint likely will not see the device. This is because I believe it is actually a serial device with a USB adapter built in and however it is written is too different from W7 to W8, it's weird sometimes it will open sometimes not. If VantagePoint DOES open it (rarely) it may do a download of latest firmware. Walk through that and chances are it won't make a difference anyway. Continue to...

3. Download the free VMWARE Player from vmware.com then download XUbuntu linux OS from xubuntu.org, download either the 32 or 64bit (I used 64)

4. Follow steps to install xubuntu in the vmware Player virtual machine software.

5. after installation is done, "play" Xubuntu, plug in your Magellan watch it magically be available as a USB drive!

6. Download your Pocket Queries from geocaching.com, unzip them from your /home/downloads xubuntu directory, click on the usb symbol for "compass" (your magellan gc), open the Geocache folder and paste them in!

 

upload your logs directly to the Geocaching site or if you are like me, you use your smartphone for doing the logs and the Magellan for the finding.

 

This is actually a LOT easier than it looks and it doesn't harm your computer because it runs inside your Windows 8 operating system. If you upgraded from Windows 7 you might be able to use your W7 disk to install it in the virtual machine instead but that takes a LOT more resources than it does to run xubuntu (takes even more than W8 does actually). Windows 8 on a modern computer running at least a Dual Core processor handles virtual machines very well thanks to the capabilities built into the new AMD and Intel CPU's.

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Hi all,

I am having the same problem.

Tried updating explorist software which instructs me to turn on machine. Done.

Plug in USB cable. Done.

Choose connect to PC. Done.

My explorist GC shows connected to PC but my computer is not showing it as a removable file and the magellan update will not proceed.

I am doing this because when I try to send caches to my GPS after going to Magellan tab. It says Magellan Communicator found. Having issues?

Please click here to install the latest PC version.

Please click here to install the latest MAC version.

No supported devices found.

When I click the button to Check Device, nothing happens.

Very frustrating as the only caches it knows about are those from two years ago when I first set it up. My Geomate updates and has newer caches but having paid for premium membership so I can get cache details on the exploritst, it's a bummer. And I know this will be hard to believe, but I don't have a smart phone!

Any ideas?

I was willing to even try the complicated instructions given for working from Linux but don't have the Vantage software.

Thanks for any help!

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I am having the exact same problem as Aliza&Eliana. I have been using my GPS for about a year now with no problems, and then a couple of months ago it just would not connect to the computer. The GPS says it is connected but the device will not show on the computer.

 

I have tried multiple computers and downloaded the lastest PC version several times but the problem still persists. I hope it is not a fault with the GPS!

 

I will be grateful for any help or advise people can give!

Edited by joingtonanddomus
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3. Download the free VMWARE Player from vmware.com then download XUbuntu linux OS from xubuntu.org, download either the 32 or 64bit (I used 64)

 

For this step you can only use the 64bit version if you have a 64bit CPU. If you are unsure if you have a 64bit or 32bit CPU then use the 32bit version because the 32bit version is compatible with both 32bit and 64bit CPUs.

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Hi all,

I was willing to even try the complicated instructions given for working from Linux but don't have the Vantage software.

Thanks for any help!

 

Where you able to get this working or are you still have problems?

 

Hi,

I have not been able to solve this problem. :cry:

Thanks for following up!

I'm pretty computer savvy, but can't figure out the problem.

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I am having the exact same problem as Aliza&Eliana. I have been using my GPS for about a year now with no problems, and then a couple of months ago it just would not connect to the computer. The GPS says it is connected but the device will not show on the computer.

 

I have tried multiple computers and downloaded the lastest PC version several times but the problem still persists. I hope it is not a fault with the GPS!

 

I will be grateful for any help or advise people can give!

 

Have you tried using a different USB cable?

 

Are all the computers you've used using the same OS or different OSes?

 

When you say that it doesn't show up on the computer where exactly are you looking? Do you see the GPS device listed under removable devices when you click on the Start menu, then on Computer.

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I am having the exact same problem as Aliza&Eliana. I have been using my GPS for about a year now with no problems, and then a couple of months ago it just would not connect to the computer. The GPS says it is connected but the device will not show on the computer.

 

I have tried multiple computers and downloaded the lastest PC version several times but the problem still persists. I hope it is not a fault with the GPS!

 

I will be grateful for any help or advise people can give!

 

Have you tried using a different USB cable?

 

Are all the computers you've used using the same OS or different OSes?

 

When you say that it doesn't show up on the computer where exactly are you looking? Do you see the GPS device listed under removable devices when you click on the Start menu, then on Computer.

 

I have tried multiple cables.

I have tried my Windows 7 (Home edition) machine and my brother's Mac (newish i-book?).

It does not show up under removable devices (though the screen of the gps itself says connected). (It did once briefly show up on my brother's machine, after multiple attempts, but we were not able to replicate that again with the same conditions.) (Edited to say, sorry I just realized I replied to a question that was not to me! But hoping it might help you figure out what's going on with my machine?)

Edited by Aliza&Eliana
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Hi all,

I was willing to even try the complicated instructions given for working from Linux but don't have the Vantage software.

Thanks for any help!

 

Where you able to get this working or are you still have problems?

 

Hi,

I have not been able to solve this problem. :cry:

Thanks for following up!

I'm pretty computer savvy, but can't figure out the problem.

 

Am I correct in assuming that you are able to transfer geocaches to the GPS using the drag and drop method and that your only issue is not being able to update the firmware?

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Hi all,

I was willing to even try the complicated instructions given for working from Linux but don't have the Vantage software.

Thanks for any help!

 

Where you able to get this working or are you still have problems?

 

Hi,

I have not been able to solve this problem. :cry:

Thanks for following up!

I'm pretty computer savvy, but can't figure out the problem.

 

Am I correct in assuming that you are able to transfer geocaches to the GPS using the drag and drop method and that your only issue is not being able to update the firmware?

 

I cannot drag and drop as my machine does not recognize the GPS as a removable device (as described accidentally on your post to joingtonanddomus.)

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Hi all,

I was willing to even try the complicated instructions given for working from Linux but don't have the Vantage software.

Thanks for any help!

 

Where you able to get this working or are you still have problems?

 

Hi,

I have not been able to solve this problem. :cry:

Thanks for following up!

I'm pretty computer savvy, but can't figure out the problem.

 

Am I correct in assuming that you are able to transfer geocaches to the GPS using the drag and drop method and that your only issue is not being able to update the firmware?

 

I cannot drag and drop as my machine does not recognize the GPS as a removable device (as described accidentally on your post to joingtonanddomus.)

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I cannot drag and drop as my machine does not recognize the GPS as a removable device (as described accidentally on your post to joingtonanddomus.)

 

Have you tried putting the GPS in to disk access mode?

 

Connect the usb cable between the GPS and your computer (with the explorist off).

 

Hold menu+up+power or menu+left+power (depending on firmware version) and the unit will start up in disk access mode. You must keep all three buttons pressed until you get a menu on the screen to get to disk access mode.

 

If you are having trouble a trick is to press menu and up or left buttons first. Then once you are sure you have both of them pressed, press and hold the power button while continuing to hold the other two buttons. Be sure to not let go until after the menu screen appears.

 

Now see if you can access your GPS from your computer.

 

 

BTW, what is the firmware version that is currently installed on your GPS?

  • Helpful 1
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I found another reason why my eXplorist GC no longer connected.

 

My GC worked great for around 1 year, then it stop communicating over USB.

 

I was at the point of getting ride of it, but I though I would open it up and check the USB connector.

 

I did find poor soldering on the connector board. Once I carefully re-soldered the connector, my GC worked perfectly.

 

Now, I did email Magellan about this, and they where thankful for the info, but also quickly mentioned that any warranty is now void since I opened it.....

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I found another reason why my eXplorist GC no longer connected.

 

My GC worked great for around 1 year, then it stop communicating over USB.

 

I was at the point of getting ride of it, but I though I would open it up and check the USB connector.

 

I did find poor soldering on the connector board. Once I carefully re-soldered the connector, my GC worked perfectly.

 

Now, I did email Magellan about this, and they where thankful for the info, but also quickly mentioned that any warranty is now void since I opened it.....

 

Surely not?

 

Had to throw that in.

 

Having the same issue................gps is not showing that it is connected to the computer.

 

The norm is to connect to the USB to the computer and GPS and then turn on the GPS and it should immediately ask if you want to connect to the computer. Mine is going through the boot up process instead of connecting. I'm wondering if others is the same? It seems like a poor solder could be the case..........if so they need a recall on these units IMO.

 

.

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I have tried to download the Magellan program on two different laptops, I have tried two USB cables, I have had remote access from Magellan & they couldn't even get it to work. I have now tried to download using my replacement 510, what is wrong with this product? Can anybody suggest a reliable easy to use GPS device? Regards Rae

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I am having the same problem also. Windows 8.1 will not recognize my explorist GC while logged into Chrome. Luckily I still have a lap top with window 7 and it works fine with that OS. I hope windows fixes this problem soon. Not really impressed with windows 8.1.

Come on, what planet are you from? :lol::-0 Sorry, but it is the software manufacturer's job to keep up with the OS, not the other way around. Everybody knew Win 8 was coming out, and were warned. It is just laziness on Magellan's part that it will not work on 8.1, not Micro$oft's. I saw where one person was writing to Micro$oft about it! Wow! Write to Donald Trump and The Pope too while you are at it, and see who answers first. :P;-)

 

When Win XP came out, many programs that ran on Win 95, 98 and ME would not work anymore. I have a wonderful set of pinball games that will no longer work on any of my computers; last one they worked on was a Win XP (32 bit).

 

As an aside, I have a Garmin Nuvi in the car which I use to guide me turn by turn; lots easier than the Explorist! It works like a champ on Win 8.1.

 

Many don't like 8.1, but remember, MANY did not like XP or 7. Many still don't like Vista, though I do not understand it, because I still have a Vista machine, and that is how I upgraded the software in my Explorist GC, and use it to load geocaches onto it! Go Vista!

 

You folks with Win 8 or 8.1 machines need to find a friend with a Win XP, Vista or (I think 7 will work) 7 machine, or go find a used one - I have seen them at Goodwill for not much - and do your Magellan work on that until Magellan gets its self in gear. Win 8 and 8.1 ain't going away.

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Idem here, with a Magellan exPlorist 610.

 

After trying many usb cables, ports I contacted Magellan support. Here's what I got from them (after few back and forth where they asked many unrelated questions).

 

{quote}

Thank you for the reply. Again, we apologize for the inconvenience, confusions, and delayed response.

 

For now, Windows 8 is not yet tested to work with your Magellan unit since it was not yet available the time Magellan released the 610. For now, please try using a lower OS like Windows 7 or Vista. Rest assured that we will forward your concern to our technicians for future product improvements.

 

I hope that I was able to address your concern for today and should you require further assistance with this or with any other unit, please feel free to reply to this message, visit our website and review our extensive Self Help Knowledgebase and FAQs under Support tab, or chat with us.

{end quote}

 

Needless to say that I returned the device back to the store.

Sad, sad, that 2 years after Windows 8 release, this is not yet supported proprely. Shame on Magellan here!

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Hi all,

I am having the same problem.

Tried updating explorist software which instructs me to turn on machine. Done.

Plug in USB cable. Done.

Choose connect to PC. Done.

My explorist GC shows connected to PC but my computer is not showing it as a removable file and the magellan update will not proceed.

I am doing this because when I try to send caches to my GPS after going to Magellan tab. It says Magellan Communicator found. Having issues?

Please click here to install the latest PC version.

Please click here to install the latest MAC version.

No supported devices found.

When I click the button to Check Device, nothing happens.

Very frustrating as the only caches it knows about are those from two years ago when I first set it up. My Geomate updates and has newer caches but having paid for premium membership so I can get cache details on the exploritst, it's a bummer. And I know this will be hard to believe, but I don't have a smart phone!

Any ideas?

I was willing to even try the complicated instructions given for working from Linux but don't have the Vantage software.

Thanks for any help!

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I found some advice on using this GPS on the Facebook group called Geocaching 101. If you're using a PC, do NOT use Internet Explorer! I had all the same error messages you describe. Once I switched to Firefox, it recognized it just find and could send caches to my GC. Hope that helps.

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Magellan needs to get their act together and fix this problem. I can't transfer any caches to my GC because the Magellan communicator doesn't recognize it. I've tried everything and nothing has fixed the problem. I currently have version 1.7 and it was working great, until I got a new computer that has windows 8. I'm getting very frustrated with this and I would appreciate it if Magellan would send out some kind of patch or at least some instruction on how to fix this.

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FIX for some of you:

 

I'm on 64 bit Windows 8. I had GC software version 1.0 on my device.

I installed version 1.7 like the website instructed me to before I installed version 2.5.

 

Well, when I did install version 1.7 my pc could no longer see my magellan gc device...

I was NOT ABLE to run the 2.5 install cause it couldn't see it... YEAH FRUSTRATING RIGHT!

 

well one suggestion worked for me. I booted the device into disk access mode and then Installer for 2.5 was then

able to see the device and UPATE the device. Once I had updated my Magellan GC device to 2.5 windows was

able to see it again normally.

 

SO thanks for the advice! Here it is again:

 

Posted 05 November 2013 - 06:52 PM

 

Have you tried putting the GPS in to disk access mode?

Connect the usb cable between the GPS and your computer (with the explorist off).

 

Hold menu+up+power or menu+left+power (depending on firmware version) and the unit will start up in disk access mode. You must keep all three buttons pressed until you get a menu on the screen to get to disk access mode.

  • Upvote 1
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I cannot drag and drop as my machine does not recognize the GPS as a removable device (as described accidentally on your post to joingtonanddomus.)

 

Have you tried putting the GPS in to disk access mode?

 

Connect the usb cable between the GPS and your computer (with the explorist off).

 

Hold menu+up+power or menu+left+power (depending on firmware version) and the unit will start up in disk access mode. You must keep all three buttons pressed until you get a menu on the screen to get to disk access mode.

 

If you are having trouble a trick is to press menu and up or left buttons first. Then once you are sure you have both of them pressed, press and hold the power button while continuing to hold the other two buttons. Be sure to not let go until after the menu screen appears.

 

Now see if you can access your GPS from your computer.

 

 

BTW, what is the firmware version that is currently installed on your GPS?

Hello,

Thanks for the advice, but still no dice. I hold the menu up and then power buttons and do get a white screen with menu options of Factory, RUN, Other, Help. (I tried a variety of the options which I can get to by pressing Menu and then the down button, but none of them does anything visible to my eye. And of course, the machine still does not show up in my computer drive list, and the Magellan Update Wizard still can't find it. I'm using windows 7 and my explorist is running 1.7, which I can't update because my computer doesn't think it's attached! Still frustrated!!

 

And yes, the USB port and cord work fine for other things including my geomate Jr. Any advice?!

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Hello,

Thanks for the advice, but still no dice. I hold the menu up and then power buttons and do get a white screen with menu options of Factory, RUN, Other, Help. (I tried a variety of the options which I can get to by pressing Menu and then the down button, but none of them does anything visible to my eye. And of course, the machine still does not show up in my computer drive list, and the Magellan Update Wizard still can't find it. I'm using windows 7 and my explorist is running 1.7, which I can't update because my computer doesn't think it's attached! Still frustrated!!

 

And yes, the USB port and cord work fine for other things including my geomate Jr. Any advice?!

 

That white screen is your disc access screen. Perform the software update while that white screen is showing. You need to do nothing further on the Explorist to complete the firmware upgrade.

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I have a Magellan GC (v 1.0) and i have the same problem.

My pc doesn't recognize the gps.

I try different wires. Nothing

I try different pc. Nothing

I try with windows 7, windows xp, windows 8. Nothing

I try with internet explorer, firefox, chrome. Nothing

I start the gps in disc access mode. Nothing.

 

How can i update the firmware if my pc doesn't recognize the gps?

 

Any suggestions?

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I just purchased a Explorist GC last week. I used it once last week and it connected up to my computer fine. I first downloaded the .loc files to easygps and then sent them to my GC. Then, I was trying to use it today and I had it plugged into my computer, but the computer doesn't recognize it. The GC says that it is connected to the computer but, when I look on my computer it isn't there. I have Windows 7 and I have version 1.7 on the Explorist. I tried putting it in disk access mode, but the computer still doesn't recognize it.

 

Any help for fixing this would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

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Hello! This is my first time using the forums. I'm having a similar problem: when I plug in my Magellan, go to the website, and click "Send to my GPS", both the "Check Device" and "Download" buttons are whited out. I know it's not to USB, because when I plug it in to my computer the file explorer opens up, so for some reason the computer recognizes it but the website doesn't. I've download and installed the Magellan communicator, both current and v.114, multiple times, on my laptop and desktop. I've tried two USBs, tried logging in and out, tried setting it to "Disc mode", nothing will work. Any suggestions? Also, what do you mean by "drag and drop"?

 

Thanks,

~Erin

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Simple answer. The Explorist GC doesn't work with Windows 10. I've tried everything; updating to version 2.15, following all the instructions on Magellan support site, trying the drag and drop method, etc. Nothing Works. Looks like I have to buy a new GPS and it won't be a Magellan

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On 3/15/2015 at 2:33 PM, Indiana Kung-fu Jones said:

FIX for some of you:

 

I'm on 64 bit Windows 8. I had GC software version 1.0 on my device.

I installed version 1.7 like the website instructed me to before I installed version 2.5.

 

Well, when I did install version 1.7 my pc could no longer see my magellan gc device...

I was NOT ABLE to run the 2.5 install cause it couldn't see it... YEAH FRUSTRATING RIGHT!

 

well one suggestion worked for me. I booted the device into disk access mode and then Installer for 2.5 was then

able to see the device and UPATE the device. Once I had updated my Magellan GC device to 2.5 windows was

able to see it again normally.

 

SO thanks for the advice! Here it is again:

 

Thank you so much for this advice. i have been fighting to get this gps working off an on for a year now and had no luck. i finally came across this post today and it worked!!! Thank you so very much Indiana Kung-Fu!!

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On 11/6/2013 at 1:52 PM, Glenn said:

 

Have you tried putting the GPS in to disk access mode?

 

Connect the usb cable between the GPS and your computer (with the explorist off).

 

Hold menu+up+power or menu+left+power (depending on firmware version) and the unit will start up in disk access mode. You must keep all three buttons pressed until you get a menu on the screen to get to disk access mode.

 

If you are having trouble a trick is to press menu and up or left buttons first. Then once you are sure you have both of them pressed, press and hold the power button while continuing to hold the other two buttons. Be sure to not let go until after the menu screen appears.

 

Now see if you can access your GPS from your computer.

 

 

BTW, what is the firmware version that is currently installed on your GPS?

 

Dearest Glenn, in the midst of tumultuous times in 2020 where were are stuck in our houses I have decided to dig up all of my geocaching gear from many moons ago. Please know your post from almost seven years ago saved my sanity tonight - thank you! 

 

Fellow GC's if anyone else is using this dinosaur of a GPS please know this fix helps with the update problem lol - I'm in disbelief but very excited!

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4 hours ago, Looni3 said:

 

Dearest Glenn, in the midst of tumultuous times in 2020 where were are stuck in our houses I have decided to dig up all of my geocaching gear from many moons ago. Please know your post from almost seven years ago saved my sanity tonight - thank you! 

 

Fellow GC's if anyone else is using this dinosaur of a GPS please know this fix helps with the update problem lol - I'm in disbelief but very excited!

 

Have to be careful about this - this is Magellan's debug access method. I got this from magellan tech Support years ago when I had questions about their database, and tech support told me about this because I convinced them I wouldn;t mess anything up.

 

Just be CAREFUL.

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I have had a similar issues running Win8 but not being able to get my .gpx files onto my explorist GC. Last week I was able to do so using disk access mode--plugged in device while off,  turned it on in disc access mode then drag & dropped the files from my PC into where all of the other .gpx files were. Seemingly no issues. This week when I try it, my computer does not recognize the device. After trying multiple  USB ports, the same cable that worked last week, a different computer running Windows 10, still no luck. I open "This PC" in file explorer and see my PC's harddrive, but I do not see any removable disk the way I did last week when I was able to move over my files. I have tried waiting several minutes and refreshing the browser multiple times. Any pointers are much appreciated. 

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