PLEASE HELP! Trying to update (2) Lowrance LCX15mt's

I’ve tried just about everything. I bought a 512mb SD card did not work. Then purchased a 16mb MMC and SD card. I can’t seem to get the units to start updating once I turn on the units on. Nothing happens!?!

I downloaded the update from Lowrance’s website. Trying to go from 3.6 to 3.7 version. Please help!!! I’ve done hours of research on this website and others but not sure if maybe I’m doing something wrong? I love these units and there is nothing wrong other than I can’t get to update.

Thanks

i have 15s and 17s.
updated both cleanly.
used the 512 cards also and had to special order them.
sorry. can’t be any more help..

Stu-
Do you still have the chip that you used?

If it’s like the HDS updates the files are zipped ,you have to unzip them to get the update to work.
Stan

seeing as how I just graduated from a stone tablet and chisel,any time I have a question on my lowrance elite5 that I cant walk myself through in the menu pages,I call their tech line and ask for help,generally they will walk me through the it on the phone while I am on the water,quick,and painless.
so far in the last five years that I have owned it,they have been more than helpful to me.
now,if I could just figure out how to look at my lake map chip on my laptop during the winter and plan my once a year vacation without spending more time looking at that infernal contraption instead of studying weed lines and land contours like I used to. you know,I think my vacation goes faster because I stare at that thing instead of my surroundings while I am there, could it be? naw,surely not.

bassn7-
Yes, I am aware of zipped files. I unzipped them and copied to the cards.

iowaboy-
Units are discontinued. Lowrance will not help you with issues on these units any longer.

If I could call and have Lowrance walk me thru…I would have done that already.

well crap!! I was hoping to offer some help,and didnt realize that lowrance doesnt help on these anymore as I didnt need them this year.
anything on youtube?? I dont know if it can be done,but what about hooking your unit directly to your computer when transferring the file?? I am no guru on a computer,but is it possible that the file you are trying to transfer is corrupted and your lowrance is recognizing that and wont let it transfer??
I apologize for not having the answer you seek.

If you have A Cabelas near by, you could check with them. The owatonna, Mn one helped me with mine last year. Just brought my unit in, they hooked it up right there and were able to get it working. Some of the older guys there had them when they were brand new, or can’t from smaller mom and pop shops that actually use to fix your stuff, good luck

I do appreciate everyone’s contributions. Please keep them coming. Ideas in my noggin are turning.

Thanks

One thing to try is forcing the update to start, but finding the file through the menu. You should be able to navigate to the SD card through your menu and then find the file and kick it off. I had to do this with my HDS units because they did not auto start either.

Bruce Barnum wrote:

I love these units and there is nothing wrong other than I can’t get to update.

Not trying to be a smart a$$, but if nothing is broken why are you updating?

Francis K-
Going from Version 3.6 to 3.7 has Updates in the GPS end of unit. Unit runs faster with update. I’ve had a unit since 2006 and update then. Just purchased these two recently. One for the bow and one for back-up.

Plus, I want to run the second to last version ever made by Lakemaster for these LCX units before Hummingbird bought Lakemaster.
What I didn’t realize was the other owners never updated their units before buying them. Even so, I didn’t think it would be such a pain in the a$$ updating that its been.

Had no issues 9 years ago updating. Only I borrowed someones chip. Put it in unit when off, started up and it started updating on it own, no problem!

Where do you live? If you are close to the metro I can try to help.
Is the SD card locked by chance?

Calvin-

Bemidji.

No, SD cards are not “Locked”. MMCs don’t have a lock.

The X-15 has 2 slots, I am sure have tried both of them? Sometimes those contacts get worn down and I have seen people place a small piece of cardboard or paper underneath the chip to help create better contact.

Just throwing ideas out

Calvin-

Yes, tried both slots on both units. Ok will try that when I get boat back. Just took in today to get motor serviced.

Good idea!

Keep’em coming, I’ve beat my head against a wall on this one.

Thanks

I’ve had times when I thought the update made it onto the chip and
after trying several times to update discovered that the chip was blank.

Also make sure the update is the only item on the chip.

You also need all 3 files on the card.

LDR file

LOP file

BIN file

Dan-

Got all 3 files on chip. Brand new chips just bought. Even went back deleted files and re-copied to SD and MMC cards.

UHHGG!!! Pulling my hair out on this one!

If one file is an automatic start-up file (LDR file), why doesn’t it load?

Did you try like I suggested to force the update to run by going through the menu on your GPS?
I had to do the same thing with my HDS, it didn’t autostart.

One last thing I thought of,

Please be aware that Lowrance GPS products will only read cards that are FAT formatted. MMC cards formatted using FAT 32 or NTFS will not work with our products.

You could also try a soft reset of the unit which will not delete GPS data.

1. Power unit off
2. Press and hold the PAGES key
3. Press and hold the PWR key
4. Release both buttons when USA map appears.

Cap’Musky-
There’s no way to force start the update in the GPS Menu. I can go find the file in “Browse MMC Files”, but can only copy or delete.

Dan-
When I get my boat back from the motor getting serviced, I will try the soft reset. How does one know about the FAT 32 format? Do you need to format the card first on the unit; which I’ve tried to no avail? I did this to my 512mb SD card then copied files. Nothing happened.

FAT not FAT 32.

Bruce, you didn’t say what brand card you bought, but try a SanDisk
if you haven’t already. They have worked every time for me on LCX
& HDS models.

Randy-
I think the 512mb SD card I bought first was a SanDisk? Will check on that. Did you use a 512mb card, Randy?

dandorn-
I’ve tied everything you said to try; nothing! I just don’t think these unit are going to ever be able to update to 3.7

Bruce Barnum wrote:

Cap’Musky-
There’s no way to force start the update in the GPS Menu. I can go find the file in “Browse MMC Files”, but can only copy or delete.

I know you do not have an HDS unit so its entirely possible the capabilities are different, but what I did was highlight the file name, then hit ENTER. This kicked it off.

When I try to do that Cap’Musky, a box comes up and asks if I wants to copy or delete file?

Dang. Sucks dude. Hope you get it figured out.

Did you try reformatting card to make sure it is FAT. As mentioned above, FAT2 and NTFS will not work.

Reformat, put the update on the newly formatted card, and then try to update.

I sure did that. A FAT format. Going to try a “new” 8mb chip shortly. Been working so much lately.
Thanks jd318