1490T Tutorial 2. Guide to deleting unnecessary files to free up space. And, notes on other files.

by Lilla (Renfro) Slater; email: lilla@centurytel.net; Released 2011-08-21 7:59 PM

This document is available here. Please assure you have the latest release. I have a Garmin nuvi 1490T (2GB internal memory). After deleting unnecessary files, I was able to install the "2012.20 Full Coverage of North America" map update to internal memory, and still have 96MB free. Initially I installed "2012.20 Lower 49 States" to internal memory, and installed Alaska, Canada, and Mexico as a supplemental map on my device's storage card using MapSource. While this approach takes a few more steps, it supplies the full map and when using the device I can't tell the difference. Contents PART I. Garmin's list of unnecessary files you can delete to free up space. Part II. More places to look for unnecessary files you can delete to free up space. Part III. Notes on other files. Part IV. Notes on installing multiple maps on 1490T. Appendix A. How to safely disconnect your device from your computer. Appendix B. How to change Windows to show or dont show hidden files. Part I & II contain my notes on deleting unnecessary files to free up space in internal memory. Part III & IV contain my notes about other files, such as which ones can be located on the storage card, and rules about moving and naming supplemental map files. My 1490T notes will (AFAIK) apply to nuvi 13xx/14xx (they use same firmware) and nuvi 1xxx, and next closely to any newer nuvi models that have a \.System folder. For older nuvi models without this folder, there are bound to be greater differences. In this case you might want to start by printing Parts I & II, and then indicating which folders match those on your unit and which do not. This should help identify what applies and what doesn't.
Tip on model differences, posted by SergZak (here) The newer nuvis beginning with the 1xxx and including 37xx series (and likely the upcoming 2xxx series) have a .System folder. The older units like the 7x0 and 7x5 series do not.

IMPORTANT. Before you begin, please assure you have a full backup of the files on your device. In the event you delete a file you need, you will then be able to retrieve it from your backup. 1490T Tutorial 1. Step-by-Step: How to make a full backup of your device.

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PART I. Garmin's list of unnecessary files you can delete to free up space. Garmin: How do I delete Voice files, Text files, Help files, Vehicle icons, and JPEG picture files from my GPS unit? Languages. Garmin's instruction advises that we can delete files for any languages we don't use. I have deleted all language files except those needed for American English, as indicated below. Notice below that the list below includes two folders (EULA and Keyboards) not on Garmin's list. o \.System\EULA (hidden folder). I deleted all folders except the one named "American_English". See Appendix B for instructions on how to view hidden files. Remember to change these settings back when you are done. o \Help folder. I deleted all folders except the one named "American_English". o \Keyboards folder. I deleted all except the file for American English (en_US.kdb). o \Text folder. I deleted all except the British English files (en_GB*.*). Since there were no American English files in the \Text folder of my 1490T, I emailed Garmin and asked if it was OK to delete the British English text files (en_GB*.*). They advised me to keep them. Below is the reply I received from Garmin:
Date: Sun 2011-05-22 From: Product.Support@garmin.com Subject: Are en_GB*.* files in the \Text folder used by American English If not, is it OK to delete these files? I have nuvi 1490T. On most devices, the American English text files are built into the units operating system by default. When other text options are selected, they override the American English text. While you can delete these text files, I would not recommend it, as it is always important to have a backup text option that you can default to in the event that there is a problem with the American English text when you do not have access to a computer to reload the information. Best Regards, Drew Bu., Software Support Specialist, Garmin International

\Voice folder. I deleted all files except English_American*.* Posted by NanaimoRick (here): The English American .vpm file is the file used if
you don't want TTS voice instructions. It's the file that lets the Nuvi say "Turn left in 500 feet". If you use American English Jack [or Jill], the Nuvi says "in 500 Feet turn left on to Main Street". IMO you should leave both American English and American English Jack [or Jill] on your Nuvi.

Other things on Garmin's list of potentially unnecessary files. o \JPEG folder. You can delete all the files in this folder. Alternatively, you can move these files to the \JPEG folder on your device's storage card. My 1490T shipped with 12 .jpg files (300KB); 3 are used in favorites for Garmin USA, Garmin Asia, Garmin Europe. The other 9 are used to demo Picture Viewer, otherwise they are not used. Picture Viewer automatically includes photos stored in both \JPEG folders (internal memory and storage card). Just for fun, I moved my JPEG files to the storage card. o \Vehicle folder. You can delete the files for any vehicles you dont use. Remember you can always retrieve the vehicles you delete from your backup. o Alternatively, you can move the vehicles you don't use to your device's storage card (\Vehicle.backup folder). This will make it easy to move a file
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back if desired. FYI, my 1490T does not find files stored in \Vehicle or \Vehicle.backup folder on the storage card. o Doing a master reset includes resetting the vehicle to the default vehicle (car_blue.srf); I'm not sure what happens if the file doesn't exist. For this reason, I recommend you keep it, in addition to any others you want to use. o I keep two vehicles (rather than just one) in internal memory because when there is only one "Change Vehicle" appears broken. With two vehicles in internal memory I can still change vehicles. Seeing the two choices reminds me that I deleted the other vechicles. o Observation: pedestrian_1pc_blue.srf and pedestrian_2pc_blue.srf stopped working, or perhaps they never worked. They are not visible in Change Vehicle. I tried again using copies of these files from another 1490T unit and they acted the same way. So, I deleted them. At this point you have done everything on Garmin list. You can stop here, or continue below.

Part II. More places to look for unnecessary files you can delete to free up space. Extra Folders. Extra folders (my term) are folders that are not there when you open the box; instead they are created only if/when needed. These folders may contain files you can delete or move to make more room in internal memory. o \GPX\Archive folder. You can delete all .gpx files in this folder, they are trip log files. A trip log provides an electronic bread crumb trail of up to 10,000 points, so you can see where you've been on the map. Clearing the Trip Log is known to reduce startup time. The Archive folder is automatically removed when you clear the Trip Log on your device (On your device, press Tools > My Data > Clear Trip Log). o \Map folder. Garmin Mapping Software (MapSource, BaseCamp, MapInstall) is used to manage (create/retrieve) supplemental maps. Garmin Mapping Software uses the \Map folder in internal memory, and the \Garmin folder on your device's storage card, and will create these folders. You can also have a \Map folder on your device's storage card; however, you must add this folder yourself. The \Map folder on the storage card will contain only the supplemental files you copy/move to it; the Mapping Software does not access this folder. o If a supplemental map folder contains a map you no longer need, you can delete the corresponding files (.img/.gma). o Garmin Mapping Software (MapSource v6.16.3) always writes a pair of files named gmapsupp.img and xxxxxxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxxxxxxxxxx.gma (where x is a number or letter) to the \Map folder in internal memory, or to the \Garmin folder on the storage card. The convention is to rename the .gma file to match the name of the .img file so that you have gmapsupp.img and gmapsupp.gma.

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To add multiple supplemental maps, you MUST rename the last map (.img/.gma), before adding the next. Otherwise, the last map will be overwritten. Map files in the \Garmin folder can be renamed to gmapsupX.img/.gma where X is a digit 1-9; for example gmapsup1.img/gmapsup1.gma. The use of meaningful file names is not supported in this folder. Map files in the \Map folder (in internal memory or on storage card) can be renamed to something meaningful. For example: AKCanMex.img and AKCanMex.gma. You can move supplemental maps between the three supplemental map folders. Doing this may necessitate renaming the files. o Garmin Mapping Software (MapSource v6.16.3) can only read the map named gmapsupp.img/.gma. Further, it can only read from the \Map folder in internal memory, or the \Garmin folder on your device's storage card. Thus, if you want to retrieve (read) a map that has been moved/renamed you must first move/copy the map (.img/.gma) to one of these two folders and then rename it. o \POI folder. POI stands for Point of Interest. This folder is added the first time you use Garmin POI Loader to load Custom POIs. POI Loader includes a box for the use to enter a name for their Custom POI file (default = POI.gpi). A typical install, will have only one Custom POI file (.gpi). Atypically (uncommon), apparently it is possible to have a 2nd map that uses a 2nd .gpi file, as reported by bluknight re nuvi 1460 here. The following notes apply to a typical install. o There should be only one file (.gpi) in this folder. You can delete it providing you no longer want to use the Custom POIs it provides. To view the Custom POIs it provides, do this (on your device): Press Where To? > Extras > Custom POIs. o POI Loader allows you to choose to use internal memory (\POI folder) or your device's storage card (\Garmin\POI folder). I suggest you choose internal memory, unless you have an atypical/uncommon install (as discussed above). If you choose the storage card, you will receive the following prompt every time you turn on your GPS, until you answer Yes. "New Extras data found on card. Would you like to install this data so that it will be available if the card is removed?" If you answer Yes, the file is copied (not moved) from the storage card to internal memory. The file is now stored in two places. You will not see this message the next time you start your device. If you answer No, the nuvi will load your Custom POIs from your storage card, but you will get this prompt again the next time you start your GPS. Conclusion, the option to use the storage card is designed for the atypical/uncommon install (discussed above). o My Custom POI file (POI_Loader_Data.gpi) is in internal memory. It is only 2.5MB and contains over 17,000 Custom POIs.

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o \Screenshot folder. You can delete all files in this folder. This folder is added the first time you use the Screen Shot capture tool.

Part III. Notes on other files. o \.System (hidden folder). The files below are updated (replaced actually) during a map update - Garmin Map Update or Garmin Lifetime Updater. gmapprom.ing - navigation map gmapprom.gma - .gma = used to authenticate the map gmapprom.unl - .unl = used to unlock the map GMAPTZ.IMG - time zone map Also, the .JCV file in \.System\JCV folder o \.System\JCV (hidden folder). The Junction View (D#######A.jcv, where # is a number). The file name can vary with the nuvi model, map update, and map region installed. A typical install, will have only one .JCV file. Atypically (uncommon), apparently it is possible to have a 2nd map that uses a 2nd Junction View (.JCV) file, as reported by bluknight re nuvi 1460 here. The following notes apply to a typical install. o You can delete this file. If your unit does not find a .jcv file, you will loose the Junction View feature. If you find you have more than one .JCV file, it should be OK to delete the older one (resource: "Two JVC files"). As always, it's good to have a backup. You can disable this file. If your unit does not find a .jcv file, you will loose the Junction View feature. To disable it, the convention is to rename it by adding .disabled to the end of the name; for example: D3178010A.JCV.disabled. Later, when you see the ".disabled" extension you will be reminded that you disabled it. Disabling a file is a useful way to make a temporary change. You can move this file to your device's storage card (\Garmin\JCV folder) and your nuvi will find it and work the same as when located in internal memory. However, if you do this, be aware that the next time you do a map update it will install the .jcv file to internal memory, and you will then have two .jcv files until you fix it. FYI, Garmin has released a large .jcv file, available as a separate download, for the 2012.20 map update. To download this file, click here. This link includes my instructions on how to use this file. o \.System\SQLite (hidden folder). You can delete the mileage file (mlg_history.db), the nuvi recreates it on start up so it's perfectly safe to delete. Deleting it can fix a known issue that causes sound/bluetooth problems. Or, try doing a Master Reset first, as this usually fixes the problem.
Resource: http://forums.gpsreview.net/viewtopic.php?t=22280 Resource: http://forums.gpsreview.net/viewtopic.php?t=20750

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o \GPX folder. current.gpx contains your favorites, saved routes, and tracks.
Garmin: How do I backup my saved addresses or Favorites on my nuvi device?
Posted by Boyd (here): Current.gpx isn't just waypoints (favorites). It also contains your tracks, your active route, and any saved routes (if your device supports them). You can open it in Mapsource or Basecamp to confirm this. If there are routes in the file, you should be able to import them. The favorites will come back in all by themselves when you place the .gpx file on the Nuvi, but you would need to re-import the routes. None of the Nuvi series can import tracklogs.

Tip1. After restoring your favorites, it is important to delete the backup file (current1.gpx, temp.gpx, or anyname.gpx) from your device. Keeping the backup file on your device causes confusion/weirdness when you edit favorites. Upon restarting you will find that favorites you deleted have reappeared, and favorites you changed now appear twice (the original entry and the one with your changes will both be there). This happens because the nuvi loads both current.gpx and current1.gpx on startup. This is discussed here. A similar confusion/weirdness happens to your saved routes when you edit them. This is discussed here. FYI, current.gpx contains routes and tracks, in addition to favorites. If you choose to keep the backup file on your device or on your device's storage card, you MUST disable it. Otherwise, regardless of location, it will be found and loaded on each startup. The recommended way to disable a file on the nuvi is to add .disabled to its name. For example: current1.gpx.disabled Tip 2. After restoring your favorites, remember to import your saved routes (assuming you use this feature). Not all units support saving routes, but the nuvi 1490T does. You need to import the routes, before you delete the backup file. To import routes do this: On your device, press Tools > My Data > Import Route(s).

Part IV. Notes on installing multiple maps on 1490T. Apparently it is possible to have a 2nd map that uses a 2nd Junction View (.JCV) file, and a 2nd Custom POI (.GPI) file, as reported by bluknight re nuvi 1460 here. If you ever want to know what map tiles are included in a map (.img), follow the steps below. o Copy the map (.img/.gma) files from the current location to the \Garmin folder on your device's storage card (or other storage card). Example 1. Primary Map. Copy gmapprom.img/.gma from the \.System folder (in internal memory) to the \Garmin folder (on your device's storage card). Example 2. Supplemental Map. Copy AkCanMex.img/.gma from the \Map folder (on your device's storage card) to the \Garmin folder (on your device's storage card). o In the \Garmin folder on your device's storage card, rename the .img/gma files you just copied here to gmapsupp.img/.gma. o Open MapSource.

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Click "Retrieve from Device" icon on the toolbar. For Device, choose your storage card. Under "What to Retrieve", assure the Map box is checked. Click Retrieve Now, look at the Maps tab. It contains a list of the name and size of each tile. Below the list is total number of tiles, and the total size. o When you are done, you can delete gmapsupp.img/.gma from your storage card. How many map tiles does the 1490T support? Posted by: StuartMW (here) I have just confirmed that the 1490T does have some kind of limit although I don't know what it is. Using Google I found various numbers (3850...4000) for the map tile limit. o o o o o I therefore recreated my various supplemental (on SD card) mapsets and can confirm that the 1490T, with 5.40 firmware, can support the following CN NA NT 2012.20 ("Lower 49 states") in the unit, 127 tiles in 1.26GB CN NA NT 2012.20 (AK, Can & Mex) on SD card, 31 tiles in 273.1MB Map product 2 on the SD card, 1794 tiles in 3.02GB Map product 3 on the SD card, 425 tiles in 198.8MB Map product 4 on the SD card, 764 tiles in 3.98GB Map product 5 on the SD card, 702 tiles in 2.68GB The total map tiles is 3,843.

Installing another Garmin Purchased Map with Lifetime Maps on your device. The following was posed by Kganshirt (here). I'm pretty sure Falagar is correct. You can only order lifetime updates for either maps that are preloaded on your device at purchase or the DVD version of a different map set that you are going to add. That means you must, first, purchase, install, unlock and register the DVD version of the Euro maps. Once they are registered in MyGarmin, you can order the lifetime updates for them. If you think you might be able to get lifetime updates for the downloaded maps or the ones that come on a microSD card, please phone Garmin first in order to be certain or you could be very disappointed.

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Appendix A. How to safely disconnect your device from your computer. In Windows, always disconnect your device from your computer by doing the steps below. Otherwise, depending upon what state things are in, you could damage your device. Click the Safely Remove Hardware and Eject Media icon in the notification area, and then click the name of your device. This is shown in figure 1 below. Wait until you receive the Safe to Remove Hardware message. See figure 2 below. Now disconnect your device from your computer.

Figure 1.

Figure 2.

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Appendix B. How to change Windows to show or dont show hidden files. The \.System folder on your device is hidden. You must show/unhide it before you create a backup; otherwise it will not be included in your backup. so you can see this folder on your device, or on a backup of your device.
Tip on model differences posted by SergZak (here) The newer nuvis beginning with the 1xxx and including 37xx series (and likely the upcoming 2xxx series) have a .System folder. The older units like the 7x0 and 7x5 series do not.

To change Windows to show hidden files, follow the steps below. See figure 1. Important: This should be done on a temporary (short term, as needed) basis only. Click Start > Control Panel > Folder Options On the View tab, choose Show hidden files, folders, and drives uncheck Hide protected operating system files (Recommended) Click Apply to save your changes. Click OK to close the window.

Figure 1.

Figure 2.

To change Windows back to dont show hidden files, follow the steps below. See figure 2. Click Start > Control Panel > Folder Options On the View tab, choose Dont show hidden files, folders, or drives check Hide protected operating system files (Recommended) Click Apply to save your changes. Click OK to close the window.
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