Garmin Colorado under Parallels

J

jchabalk

Bit poster
I am a colorado user (400t) and a Mac user. I've owned a few Garmin handhelds over the last 10 years and have had to use a seperate Windows computer to manage them.

My current setup includes Parallels (Build 5608) running Windows XP for manipulating my GPS devices. I'm pretty comfortable using Parallels for USB and serial pass-through - i'm using several serial/usb GPS and radio devices under this same WinXP instance (under parallels). (only one at a time for this troubleshooting effort)

Most recently i got a new Garmin Edge 705. I've had no issues using this device on the same computer through Parallels under the same WindowsXP installation.

After using the 705 for a week i decided it wasn't the right GPS unit for what I needed to do so i exchanged it for a Garmin Colorado 400t. The 400t will not work on my Windows VM. I attach it using the Garmin USB cable and tell the Parallels VM to attach to it. The Garmin switches into mass storage mode but after about 10 seconds appears to simply power off.

I have a physically separate windows computer in another room. The colorado can connect to it just fine. Further if i don't let the parallels VM on my Mac access it and simply use it within MacOSX it works fine. As all of my maps etc are installed on the Windows VM i really need to be able to use it there. Has anyone else had a problem like this? All evidence points towards Parallels being the problem. I've verified that i'm running the latest version of everything involved:

- Garmin Colorado Firmware: v2.40
- Parallels Desktop Build: 5608
- WindowsXP SP2: All updates applied
- MacOSX: v10.5.3 (no pending updates)
- Garmin included USB Cable
- SanDisk ExtremeIII 2g SD card within the Garmin. I've verified that i have the same exact behavior with and without the SD card installed.

I've checked the support forums at Garmin (not much information at all) and am not having much luck. From everything I can gather online there aren't too many people talking about this, but there are people having the same exact problem. Reference:

http://forums.groundspeak.com/GC/index.php?showtopic=196865&pid=3526401&st=0&#entry3526401

I've also verified that my 60CSx works just fine in the same environment. For what it's worth i'm using a Mac Pro and connecting to the lower front mounted USB port

If anyone has any suggestions/workarounds etc i've definitely be interested in them. I love the unit and figure this is something that'll get fixed one way or another in due time. I do have the Garmin Mac utilities also. My bet's on this parallels problem being fixed and stable way before the Garmin Mac utilities make it to prime time.
 
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I have a physically separate windows computer in another room. The colorado can connect to it just fine. Further if i don't let the parallels VM on my Mac access it and simply use it within MacOSX it works fine.
</snip>

Hey there - I have tried that, here's the snip from the original post - no problems at all using a "native" OS, be it OSx or WindowsXP. It just doesn't work using a VM. Actually someone just responded to a thread I started at the groundspeak forums regarding this issue saying that he's having the exact same experience - he's using VMWare as opposed to Paralells but is in the same situation..

thanks for the reply!
-john
 
I have a little bit more information to add here - take it for what it is ;)

I booted up a Debian VM (v4.0) and connected the Garmin Colorado to my Mac allowing the Debian VM access to the Colorado. The data volumes of the Colorado are available in the Debian OS and the Colorado hasn't crashed yet. It's been stable for about 10 minutes.

Just another data point. Looks a little more like the problem isn't necessarily with Parallels/VMWare and more with the Windows drivers and their interaction with the Colorado, although why it works with Windows natively and fails with Windows via a VM I have no idea.
 
Yep, I have this problem too. Talking to Garmin, they told me to use the mac program Garmin Road Trip. It's a bore if you use other Windows mapping software to plan routes. You have to create the route in your windows program, save it as a GPX file, switch to OSX load up Gramin Road Trip, load the gpx file and then upload it to the GPS.

Come on Garmin / Parallels - can you get this sorted out?
 
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