This will be of interest to a very narrow group. The short version is that Garmin has declined to supply 64 bit drivers for their proprietary card reader that is used for the 4xx series of their chartplotters. Unless you have a 32bit Windows OS - W7, XP, Vista - the card reader will not work with Garmin's MapSource or HomePort computer charting software. Garmin's solution is to simply buy a new chartplotter.
I fell into this situation after upgrading all of my Windows OS to either 8.1 or 10 - all 64bit.
So the only solution is to buy a dedicated W7 32bit system, create a dual-boot setup on a Windows 64 bit system, or create a virtual machine on your existing 64 bit machine.
I didn't want another dedicated machine just to talk to the Garmin card reader and there are technical reasons why you may not be able to establish a dual-boot setup on your 64bit computer, so I decided to create a virtual machine that is 32bit.
After trying Microsoft's Hyper-V software and getting nowhere, I used Oracle's Virtual Box application. This software is far from intuitive, but after a hundred hours or more, I have finally accomplished the goal of setting up a virtual machine running W7 32bit and I have the Garmin card reader operational.
Additionally with a working card reader, firmware updates to the GPS/MAP 4xx units is possible. For those of you with a 4xx unit, the latest firmware is version 3.40. I have a spare card that is programmed with this update and I will supply it to anyone who needs it.
If anyone wishes more information on Virtual Box as it applies to the Garmin application, just PM me.
I fell into this situation after upgrading all of my Windows OS to either 8.1 or 10 - all 64bit.
So the only solution is to buy a dedicated W7 32bit system, create a dual-boot setup on a Windows 64 bit system, or create a virtual machine on your existing 64 bit machine.
I didn't want another dedicated machine just to talk to the Garmin card reader and there are technical reasons why you may not be able to establish a dual-boot setup on your 64bit computer, so I decided to create a virtual machine that is 32bit.
After trying Microsoft's Hyper-V software and getting nowhere, I used Oracle's Virtual Box application. This software is far from intuitive, but after a hundred hours or more, I have finally accomplished the goal of setting up a virtual machine running W7 32bit and I have the Garmin card reader operational.
Additionally with a working card reader, firmware updates to the GPS/MAP 4xx units is possible. For those of you with a 4xx unit, the latest firmware is version 3.40. I have a spare card that is programmed with this update and I will supply it to anyone who needs it.
If anyone wishes more information on Virtual Box as it applies to the Garmin application, just PM me.
