Garmin Mobile PC: RE-ACTIVATION WARNING

YES, THIS NEEDS TO BE IN ALL CAPS. And perhaps stickied too. Just got off the phone with Garmin tech support.

I just changed computers from a Fujitsu TabletPC to a Panasonic Toughbook. Reinstalled MobilePC from the DVD. I have the product key version, not the one tied to a Garmin GPS.

Garmin does NOT have a license key deactivation system!!!! Now that I moved computers, my copy of Mobile PC is useless. They cannot issue me another product/license key. I thought by "uninstalling" Mobile PC from my old TabletPC it would send something to Garmin that puts my installation # back at 0. Nope. The tech suggested I buy another copy of Mobile PC. Uh, no. I have a perfectly legit and paid for copy of Mobile PC.

The activation key will reset 6 months from your original date of activation.

So the lesson here is, whatever computer you installed Mobile PC on, well, you're stuck with it for at least 6 months, and Garmin can't do anything about it. So don't change computers within the 6 months!

Stupid if you ask me. This makes me very wary of buying another Garmin product ever again.

Thanks for sharing this info. I suspected it was not the unwillingness of the tech support staff to reset activation for customers - tech support people know hard drives crash, etc. Now we know that the issue is related to Garmin not having a system in place to reset activation for individuals.

I wonder if Garmin will address this in the future.

I told the tech I know it's not his decision, he's only the messenger, but I asked firmly that he raise this issue with management, as this is unacceptable from a user's perspective. It's worse than Microsoft! Even Microsoft allows you to call in and have a product activated over the phone.

I can see the "features list" in the next version of Mobile PC. "We now offer a key deactivation system. This demonstrates that we listen to and care about our customers' suggestions." Again I say that Mobile PC is simply a re-hashed version of their GPS units with some hacked-on "laptop" features. I'm think I'm going to say hello to iGuidance 2009... sigh.

I wonder just how many scripts Garmin actually creates as well as Pandora boxes for us users to help open??? I wonder if speculations from Forums I read in Asia are after all, VALID in suspecting its ALL about MONEYYYYYY.... even at the expense of hometown consumers... i.e. being you poor chaps being taken for a ride from those Kansas cowboys!!!:rofl"

David, have you not tried to source GMPC 20x from Singapore? Then you may have SE Asian and Aussie + NZ maps for the same price and nearer to you?

SUCCESS!

Called Garmin UK (+44-870-8501242) or Garmin USA (1-800-800-1020). Garmin UK said absolutely they're able to do it albeit manually. Called Garmin USA to have it done. After a couple questions to make sure that I've uninstalled it on my previous laptop, he went ahead and while still on the phone, I reactivated MobilePC on my Toughbook!

Still had to spend a dollar or so calling the UK, but ultimately it worked.

I'm confused. What did calling Garmin UK change? Or was it just an uninformed tech that you talked to on your first US call?

Terry

I think it was an uninformed tech on the CANADIAN call. I was just mad and kept calling until I got an INFORMED tech! So it IS possible, depending on who you talk to. I just hope this clears it up for everyone else that reads it so they don't have to go through the same process I did.

Oops... I didn't think then... for it to be such a BIG deal.. uninstalling it which I did twice as well as uninstalling the darn FireFox ver 2 for suspecting it to be the cause of not letting me see what I expected or wanted to see... but it didn't turn out to be FF2, FF3 was just the same but by then, I had it uninstalled yet again... yes, FF3 and so was the GMPC as well.

Its back and reinstalled in the same Toshiba laptop once again. I just need to get the right Euro Maps ordered on line which is 2B honest, not the priority it now is as in getting the GMPC 20x once was...

I'm having more satisfaction with getting seductive dissuasions from my two ladies in their respective Nuvi and TT smaller shelter screens whenever I hit the roads.

Well Videonerd, tell us what u're planning next, might be interesting to catch up for a change and leave those Garmin support wherever they are sorted and stuck behind their telephone lines...

The best one I had to put up was with Taiwan Support at 09:05(Monday, local time) for business when I was rather mad... the Taipeh support lady had never heard of a Garmin Mobile PC 20x...ever...AwwwMyGawd...

"Please contact Garmin UK about it, it must be something to do with them, we can't help you, sir!"

Garmin does not know Canada even exists. The Canadian 800 number goes to the same place as the US 800 number and the techs that answer don't know you are in Canada.

Terry

Garmin Mobile PC is a new product, which has been released literally only a few weeks ago. It is quite understandable not all of the Garmin employees yet have the needed product knowledge. But in regards to Canada, hmm, that's funny, because AFAIK Canada has been around for a while already .

But the bottom line is that we now know we will not need to buy another Garmin Mobile PC for $59 if we decide to replace our old laptop with a new one, or if our hard drive failure necessitates a repair, etc.

This conclusion spells out adequately as we currently continue to involve our interests albeit (in)directly promoting its general usefulness on a wide spectrum. As it will lessen my side of the explanation, I shall add yr profound comment, which I can agree and not see a need to differ, as a link or quote in another Forum which is also addressing their now growing interests on the GMPC 20x.

This might inevitably increase membership signups but do advise if this unintentional inevitability is welcomed, approved, or preferably denied, then I shall only quote and not provide it as a link... as many Forums like yours perhaps, DO NOT wish to have links to another Forum through a default engagement in a Forum host IP.


TQ Marvin.

huh?

I think he means that instead of doing a lot of typing himself about this same subject in another forum that is also discussing this issue, he is going to just post a link to here, if that's okay with Marvin. He's asking Marvin's permission because some forums don't like their links posted to other forums.

At least I think that's what he said.

...ken...