Installing Garmin Street Pilot III for Windows Vista
Garmin makes some really cool GPS units but I have an older Street Pilot III that I used with my Windows XP machine. I replaced the unit with a new Acer computer with Windows Vista, the Acer has an onboard serial port which I need to work with the Street Pilot III (most newer computers don't have serial ports anymore)(Yes, I know they make USB to serial adapter, but sometimes those have issues). I went to www.garmin.com and downloaded the latest map update and tried to install it on my new Vista computer. It failed to install because a previous version was not found. OK, I dig out the original box which contained the MapSource City Navigator version 5.01 and tried to install that. Vista refused to install the program so I ended up having to call Garmin's tech support 800 hotline. Yes a free 800 number for tech support - very cool!
After about a 15 minute wait a very polite lady answers the phone and listens to my problem and tells me she will have to escalate the call to software support because of Vista. A few more minutes on hold and a very polite young man answers and tells me we have to try an alternate installation because of Vista. Instead of setup.exe we have to type in setup.exe /zgarmin Sure enough it works and takes off. He tells me that the installation will ask for the 2nd CD and then display the folders on the CD, just close the window and the installation will continue. After the installation completes to go ahead and apply the update from their website. I asked where he was located and he was right here in the good old USA! (Garmin International in Olathe, KS) Garmin gets extra points for providing a toll free tech support number and for keeping their tech support right here where they understand their own products. The gentleman was very knowledgeable and even answered a few questions I had on some of their newer products. You bet I'm going to recommend Garmin GPS devices to all my friends.
11-27-2007