GPS is a topic that I have not touched because I still haven’t got one. A good GPS unit can be quite expensive and I am still waiting when I have saved enough money for it. GPS is very impressive but scary at the same time because the satellites can actually track where I am. Think about it, if the US military uses GPS to hit their target, it is surely very accurate.
I do have some experience with GPS because I borrowed from my friend a few times and managed to know how to find a location, updating the unit software and also looking for the latest maps. The menu on the GPS unit is pretty straight forward and easy to understand but the technical part such as putting more than one gmapsupp.img file on the GPS unit or even using the JetMouse keygenerator can be pretty tough and confusing to a novice user.
Anyway, since I do not have a GPS unit, I am sure I can somehow view the maps in my computer without the GPS tracking capability. I found out that MapSource, a software provided by Garmin is able to create, view and edit waypoints, routes and tracks as well as to find items, addresses and POIs.
All sounds good and I actually found a link to download the latest MapSource from Garmin’s official website. When I tried to install, I got the error message:
Previous MapSource not found! Setup will terminate.
It seems like the file that I downloaded is an update and not the full installation setup. Luckily there is a trick on how to install MapSource without having the original installation CD.
1. Download the latest MapSource from Garmin.
2. When finished downloading, if you use archiving software such as 7-Zip, WinRAR or PowerArchiver, you can right click on the file that you downloaded and extract. If you’re unsure, you can use Universal Extractor to extract the MapSource installation file.
The extracted files can also be found in the Windows Temp folder if you know how to get there because some folders in the Temp path are hidden. Run the installer and when you see the Welcome screen go to the Temp folder. Look for a folder with 7zxxx.tmp (the x’s are random characters) for a name which contains a file called MSmain.msi inside with several other files. Copy that whole folder to your chosen location.
3. Open the extracted MapSource folder . You should see a number of files and folders. Now run MSmain.msi first, wait for it to complete (there will be no windows to click on) and then run Setup.exe. Follow the instructions to complete the installation.
If you do not have any maps installed for MapSource, you might see an error window that says “MapSource could not find any installed MapSource map products. Please install one or more MapSource map products and start MapSource again”. There are some maps for MapSource that cost money and some free. If you want to take a look how MapSource works, here’s a free Australia map. Just download, install and then run MapSource. The Australia map will be automatically loaded in MapSource.
I have found a site with free maps to cover a large proportion of the world, just make sure to read the FAQ on how to install and select the map in MapSource. The website is OpenStreetMap and all you do is select your area in the dropdown boxes, click the link to go to the download page. Then download the Windows file and install it. I’ve tried a few and they seem to work.
THank u very much this is very helpful and easy
I Like is this a product
Muchas Gracias.
Tus datos fueron de mucha ayuda.
El mundo seria diferente si la gente fuera menos egoista y compartira como lo has hecho vos.
Todavia hay esperanza.
Gracias!
Thank you so much very much
Great – thanks for the very useful tip. How come Garmin make things so hard ….?
does anyone know of maybe free maps for south africa
It is a great tip, I had tried with this download before but it was necesary to follow your steps… THKS. You can get free maps from Central America in cenrut.org.
Hi Raymond,
Is there also a free map of Europe or the Neterlands?
can i get myanmar map ?
many thanx
Thanks!
Here is a free maf of Hungary:
turistautak.hu/file.php?dir=maps&file=turistautak-garmin-mapsource-setup.exe
Your fantastic dude! great blog! I was stuck with “previous mapsource not found, setup will terminate!” one!
You’re a lifesaver ^^
oh my god… thank you man ..
malfreemaps.com
K/1 FOREST COLONI CHHOTAUDEPUR DIST VADODARA
391165
Hi Raymond,
Here is for Indonesian map website:
navigasi.net/
A more simple way to install: create the Garmin folder in the Program Files and copy whatever file you want into it. Then rename that file to MapSource.exe. Presto!
Thanks a lot really! I got your post exactly at the right moment when I needed it- I was stucked with the problem and not knowing what to then …
thanks…
Thank you so much for the tip! I lost my disc so this was really helpfull.
Here is a free (and rather good) map of Iceland:
ourfootprints.de/gps/mapsource-island_e.html
Thanks
Thanks~! really useful tips!
Thank you and downloaded mapsource works perfectly
perfect !!!!!!!!!
tracksource.org.br/index.php?option=com_wrapper&view=wrapper&Itemid=52
It works great! Thanks a lot!
HI
i am getting a garmap sas error plz help
Great Tips.
I managed to install latest MapSource and Australia Map loaded to 255W for my Melbourne trip tomorrow.
Thanks a lot
You are a star…. I was struggling to install it…. thanks man
if I run MapSource i get this error:
“this application has requested the Runtime to terminate it in an unusual way.”
can anybody help me?
any one got a map for southafrica or africa??
Thanks for the help with install
Hi here is my expirience with the usage of Maps from different Regions.
I own a StreetPilot® c510 preloaded for Europe.
I updated this device with Germany + BENELUX (internal Storage) and Europe excluding Germany + BENELUX (opional SD-Card).
This configuration is proper working in Europe including address entering, FAVORITES and POIs.
For my trip to Canada last year I licensed a North America Map and loaded this Map to a second SD-Card. I replaced the EUROPE SD-Card by the NA SD-Card and loaded some Canadian POIs to the Device.
Now in EUROPE I could enter canadian Adresses and could use the FAVORITES Menue to show the Map in the Device. I could not access canadian POIs.
Arrived in CANADA I could enter canadian Adresses and could use the FAVORITES Menue to show the Map in the Device. I could also access canadian POIs. Only the EUROPEAN POIs was now not available.
Als ik bij 1 op downloaden klik wordt het bestand MapSourceUnitedStatesTOPOBasemapPatch.exe binnen gehaald. Dit kan ik niet uitpakken en op het bestand main.msi uitvoeren.
Als ik het bestand installeer dan krijg ik de melding: Previous MapSource-US Topo installation not found!
Setup will now terminate.
Ook heb ik Tracks4Australia (1.20).exe geinstalleerd.
Kunt u mij helpen?
gives error message, cannot find disc #1 and suggest that the package is corrupt error code is 2350
Sorry, at the prior comment I wrote in portuguese.
So maybe you can help me. I try to install a new version of mapsource 6.15; and always shows an error message: “error on family 200 reinstall”.
How can I fix this.
Thanks
Chen
Fui atualizar o mapsource, fiz o download na garmin, mas na isntalação da erro dizendo, reinstalar family 200.
Como corrigir este problema???
Obrigado
All the above instruction are working. I load the above australia map into the mapsource and it is woring. However when I transfer it to SD card and put it inside my garmin 205, it does not work. Can you assist?
Raymond. Thanks . The message and instruction on how to obtain and operate the mapsource was very clear.
thank you so much
really saved the Husserl from looking for the full software
thank’s buat tips penginstallan mapsource, ok banget !!!
Everybody,
Please help me to get my country map(Myanmar, Burma)for free.
euxaristo poli
De verdad que eres un genio…
Tenia varios dias tratando de instalar esta aplicacion.
Gracias
one that will be installed for nuvi 265WT
any one know if there is free map for Philippines?pls let me know.
Hoe kan ik Mapsource N-Amerika en canada downloaden zonder CD
Hi.
Tried following the instructions but every-time i try running MSMAIN.msi I get the following error message:
Source file not found:
C:\DOCUME~1\Sahara\LOCALS~1\Temp\Rar$D100.083\Disk1.cab.
Verify that the file exists and that you can access it
I tried it with MapSource 6.15.6 as well as the older version 6.13.6.
Help Please. Thank You.
Sahara
Cheers for the guide Raymond, just a FYI though – as of Mapsource v.6156 ‘main.msi’ has been renamed ‘MSMAIN.msi’
tHANKS!!!
HERE Venezuelan and some Caribbean’s island map from our GPS forum in Venezuela.
gpsyv.net/Venrut.html
Thanks a lot for the tips
thank u
Super,
Thank you, it’s work fine!!!
Thanks dude. Please organise for us the african map if possible
looking at the picture you attached.
I see that you have a lot of european maps.
I just need the french one.
My garmin nuvi 265T is already pre-loaded with North america.
Do you think I can add just the french map?
Do you know how I can hold of a french map?
thanks
Very useful tip.
Here you have a map source of southern southamerica, Patagonia included:
proyectomapear.com.ar/
It’s a spanish writen site but it has an english basic instalation tutorial. You only have to become a member and then you can start to download maps. You will have to activate your account (from your mailbox) within 24 hours from receipt confirmation message.
Raymond, nice site.
I don’t have a dedicated GPS machine either. But… recently – through eBay- I picked up a several year old Itronix 260+ rugged lappy. Good price and it has a GPS receiver built in. I’ve found a good deal of open source s/w for it as well, but I haven’t spent much time with it yet.
Is there a free Malaysia Map available?
Thank you …
yes R, yes Gali , and the gouvernement doesen’ listen to your phones cause is immoral.
Gali is a 100% correct. They do not return data so storing your positions is impossible.
Thanks for the useful info … as usual !
To add some maps, here is a link gpsmapsearch.com/
Rgds,
Bob
^^ Yep Gali is correct, Satellites have NO way of seeing where you are with a conventional GPS device, they only receive the satellite signals and do not transmit anything back to the satellites themselves.
“scary at the same time because the satellites can actually track where I am”
Raymond, that not true at all. GPS is passive possitioning system. Bassicaly, GPS sattelites sends specific signals and according them GPS client identify location over the Earth. Its one way signal like classical sattelite TV. So sattelites know anything about your position.
Bye.
As usual ray, thank you…
thanks raymond always useful tips