F1 GTN 750 Rejecting IF Flight Plans

[jimh20]

Hi,
I suspect the answer to my problem is probably very simple but I'm at a complete loss right now.

I use IF Pro for P3D4 to make a plan from A to B, then export a .gfp file to the GTN 750.
I've been doing this faultlessly for quite some time and love the simplicity of using IF.

P3D 4.4 began to crash during every flight. My solution was simple if drastic. I restored an image of both my Windows 10 drive and my Flight Sim drive, both made on 28th Sept 2019.

Now all works perfectly but for one thing. On importing any IF flight plan into the GTN 750 it locks "unknown waypoints", and reports that its database is full.

I apologise for this appeal for help. I'm afraid my advancing years have destroyed my trouble-shooting skills.

Sincerely, Jim H.

[Steve Waite]

Hi Jim,

I suspect the GTN database has become corrupt during the P3D crashes and so it won't work even with restores.

I think your solution would be to install the GTN from scratch. You would do this by deleting the files and reinstalling the GTN completely.

The GTN database is usually stored in:

C:\ProgramData\Garmin\GTN Trainer Data\GTN

Removing the GTN with the Control Panel, Programs and Features, Uninstall. Followed by deleting the files left over. And then a fresh installation would recreate the database and reassert all the settings.

It's possible there's a shorter way to do it, but you would need to check in with the GTN support.

[Steve Waite]

Just before you check any of that out, you do have both GTN items exported? Flight plan and User Waypoint reset?

[jimh20]

Hi Steve,
Thanks for helping. Yes, I did export a .gfp file, and a User Waypoint file.

I did find that my sys_nando0 file is not in ProgramData, as IF suggests, but is in
C:\Program Files (x86)\Garmin\Trainers\Packages\GTN\data\nonvol

If you agree, I think it would be best to treat me as a small child, and start me off completely from scratch, if you can spare the time.

Thank You, Jim

[Steve Waite]

Hi Jim,

That folder is not the usual location. Is that the Flight1 GTN?

Can you list the files showing in that nonvol folder?

[Steve Waite]

In my installation I have:

C:\ProgramData\Garmin\GTN Trainer Data\GTN\GTN2nonvol\

sys_nand0
sys_nand0.IF

and four _EEPROM files

The program files folders would not normally have permission for User programs to export there or make changes. Unless the permission is set by the Garmin, or the program is run as administrator.

Also performing an IF Update after setting exports will check for permissions for exports and set them if need be.

But We are probably over thinking this as you said it all worked before the crashes and IF is unchanged.

[jimh20]

No, I can't show the files. It did contain 370k + of data, and Notepad revealed thousands of "y"s. It was protected. I say "was" as I decided I was so messed up I followed your earlier suggestion to uninstall the GTN, and delete all it's related folders. This I have now done.

This time round I will not allow the GTN nor it's Trainer, to install in Program Files.

Should I also uninstall/re-install Ideal Flight, so we can start completely afresh?

Thanks, Jim

[Steve Waite]

Never need to do anything with IF.

Always run IF Update after making changes to the system, setting exports, or logging in as another User account.

Only need to ensure the file paths are correct in the IF exports after installing your GTN.

In x86 I have:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Garmin\GTN Trainer\GTN\sys\sim\

that folder contains the programs, GTN Simulator.exe and so on, rather than changeable data.

[jimh20]

Hi again, Steve,

I'm forever grateful for your first class help.

F1 Purchase Agent downloaded and installed the GTN 750, and this time automatically installed the correct version of Garmin Trainer.
The GTN 750 is in it's correct place.
The Trainer is now in C:\Garmin, and buried therein lies Sys_Nand0, NOT within the Garmin folder in ProgramData. This time there is also a file called sys_nand0.IF which was not there before, and is the same size as sys_nand0.

Ideal Flight is as before, re-Indexed, Export paths ammended. I have planned and successfully carried out a one hour flight, so I am all good to go once again with Ideal Flight.

Gratefully Yours, Jim

[Steve Waite]

That's really good news Jim. These problems are completely baffling at times. I'm glad you got it sorted out. Good work!