The purpose of this howto is to install firefox and the Garmin webupdater in crossover to register a new device and update the unit software. You need to obtain the firefox windows file from mozilla.com and the garmin webupdater from garmin.com under the menu item Support->Updates&Downloads then select the “Additional Software” link.
Before proceeding ensure your Garmin device is plugged into the computer via USB and you can see the 'GARMIN" drive either on your desktop or in the /media directory. The Garmin device should also be in “Storage” mode showing a small graphic on the screen representing a garmin device with a small cable linking to a computer.
You may also see a second device appear if your garmin device accepts a SD card and it’s plugged in.
If all is OK, proceed to the next step.
Start the “Install Windows Software Wizard” and at the first screen select the “Install unsupported software” checkbox and press next.
In the select product location select the “Other installed file” and press the browse button and browse to the location of the firefox installer file you downloaded.
There should now be new menu items added for firefox and webupdater, the firefox one can cause some issue so have found it’s best to disable some and rename some.
In the ~/bin directory as seen in the following image. Right-click and rename for example garmin_firefox.
Now to ensure your not loading the garmin_updater version of firefox from the desktop shorcut you just need to rename it.
To diable the menu entries for fireox. If you start the crossover configuration tool from the menu and then select the garmin_updater bottle. Then select configure.
What is this “firefox windows file” that I’m supposed to get from mozilla.com? I have no idea what you’re referring to. Please specify location and exact name of file. Whatever it is must be important because I can’t get these instructions to work.
You may also see a second device appear if your garmin device accepts a SD card and it’s plugged in.
If all is OK, proceed to the next step.
Start the “Install Windows Software Wizard” and at the first screen select the “Install unsupported software” checkbox and press next.
In the select product location select the “Other installed file” and press the browse button and browse to the location of the firefox installer file you downloaded.
Now I’m totally confused. What are we loading here? Firefox or something else?
Once you have selected the location of the firefox installer, press next.
Install into a new bottle in this case the example name for the bottle is garmin_updater. Create from the winxp template.
Again, I’m confused. Why are we installing Firefox? It’s already on the computer.
At this point follow the install prompts for the installation accepting the defaults.
Once firefox installtion is complete, launch the application and ensure that is is working ok (Loads the default start page)
Firefox was already installed.
You should now be able to go to the garmin website and login to “My Garmin” and register your device etc before proceeding to install the web updater.
No, this is the problem. I can’t register the device.
“You need to get the version in the windows column…”
What does that mean?
If all you’re saying is I need to have Firefox, then I have it. If you’re saying something else please be clear. I do not understand what you’re saying I need.
Thx
socref
Wait, are you saying I need to download a WINDOWS version of Firefox and install that WINDOWS version on my computer that already has Firefox (LINUX) installed? Is that it?
socref
Malcolm, I tried to install a Windows version of Firefox using Crossover. But that then killed my Linux version, including all my bookmarks. So I could not get back to this forum to follow the instructions.
Ended up deleting the Windows version of Firefox and restoring my Linux version so I could get back to here.
This is crazy. I must be doing something wrong. I cannot imagine that things are so complicated – especially creating a situation where the Windows version of Firefox take control over my Linux version.
And once it did that I could not copy my bookmarks into the Windows version since “windows” doesn’t see the ./ files where my bookmarks were, and Windows won’t accept the backslash in file names. So I could not even manually insert the bookmarks.
I am quickly getting frustrated and hoping you have a SIMPLE way to get to the solution.
Well I “brute-forced” an install of Windows version of Firefox. Then per the how-to I went to the Garmin site to register the device. But the same problem as using Linux Firefox.
The box to select the device is greyed out and cannot be clicked.
So installing Windows Firefox made no difference.
Is something missing in the instructions? I have followed them explicitly (assuming I understand them, of course), but they do not get the unit registered. And I cannot proceed past that point to try to update the maps unless the unit is registered.
Hi
Brute force? yikes! You wind up with two versions of firefox, one linux
and one windows, the end of the howto explains this, maybe I need to
move it further forward?
But by the sounds it’s not working I already have mine registered so
couldn’t test it.
Can you enter the serial number in ok?
I see the following note as well on the website;
“Before you can register your nuvi or zumo, you must take your device
outside, acquire satellites, and drive with your device.”
–
Cheers Malcolm °¿° (Linux Counter #276890)
openSUSE 11.1 (i586) Kernel 2.6.27.21-0.1-pae
up 6:42, 2 users, load average: 0.07, 0.08, 0.02
ASUS eeePC 1000HE ATOM N280 1.66GHz | GPU Mobile 945GM/GMS/GME
When I follow your instructions I end up with two incidences of FFox. However, in the process of adding the Windows version via Crossover when I click to launch my Linux version that no longer launches. Instead, I get the Windows version in both instances. All of my bookmarks and customization are gone – taken over by the Windows version of FFox.
Yes, I can enter the serial number. But I cannot enter the device type at the screen after the serial number.
And, yes, I have already driven with the unit. Done all of that.
Hi
For firefox, did you rename the shortcut in the bin directory and on
your desktop. Also did you disable the menu items as indicated? Doing
this will leave the linux menu items using the proper version, then the
others will point to the crossover version.
I’m pretty sure from memory I registered my wife’s Garmin Forerunner ok
via linux firefox… all a bit strange
–
Cheers Malcolm °¿° (Linux Counter #276890)
openSUSE 11.1 (i586) Kernel 2.6.27.21-0.1-pae
up 10:50, 1 user, load average: 0.17, 0.09, 0.11
ASUS eeePC 1000HE ATOM N280 1.66GHz | GPU Mobile 945GM/GMS/GME
No, never get a chance to do any of this. Can’t get that far along in the process. Still cannot register my GPS. I have installed firefox, I’ve installed the garmin updater, and I’ve installed the garmin communicator. None of it makes any difference. Still can’t register.
And if I can’t register I can’t move on to the other stuff (e.g., making the changes you suggest to firefox – assuming I even understood what you meant by renaming the shortcuts. What shortcuts?)
Remember: Linux for Dummies?
I’m pretty sure from memory I registered my wife’s Garmin Forerunner ok
via linux firefox… all a bit strange
Well, nothing is going right here despite your much appreciated efforts.
There must be something I am not understanding in your instructions. But if I cannot even get the unit registered and everything else depends upon getting it registered, then we’re just not making any progress.
Sorry, I’m really trying to follow your directions, but it’s just not happening.
So far using Crossover I have installed (multiple times):
Firefox Setup 3.0.8.exe – the windows installer for firefox,
InstallGarminCommunicatorPlugin_264.exe,
USBDrivers_221.exe,
WebUpdater_241.exe
Nothing has made any difference. At any stage of the installation(s) I still cannot register the unit. The Garmin website tells me I have the proper software installed but that it cannot detect my GPS.
I keep getting messages asking me to connect the GPS via USB.
I have unplugged and replugged the GPS over and over again, but the Garmin site cannot detect it, so I cannot get anywhere.
I am seeing the “Storage mode” screen you mention, and my desktop computer does see the Garmin, and I can click on it and see all the files loaded into the GPS.
But Garmin’s site can’t detect the unit.
Any other ideas? Or am I stuck with my original thought (ugh) of installing Windoze as a dualboot? Crap! I don’t want to do that, but at this point what other choice(s) do I have?
I downloaded Opera v. 9.64-1.1 using Yast2. I assume that’s no different than getting it from the opera website.
In any case, Opera made no difference. With Opera the button on Garmin’s website to select the model of GPS is greyed-out. Exactly the same as using Firefox. (By the way, I have also tried using Konqueror – also without success.)
I already have mine registered so