How to convert Garmin's GCD format to RGN

[bahathir]

Today, I want to share with MFM members, how to convert the GCD to RGN. I hope this tutorial will be useful to us and others.

Note:
Changing/force flashing other firmware to Garmin's PND are VERY RISKY. Do it at your own risk!!!

=====
This tutorial is the howto convert Garmin's GPS software in GCD format to service firmware RGN. The service firmware is useful when we want to 'force' update the GPSr with any version or region.

Tools
1) UNP2 : tool for extracting boot and data sections from gcd
http://e-trex.info/fw/nuvi/tools/unp2.rar

2) merge105 : tool for merging the boot and data sections into a rgn file
http://e-trex.info/fw/nuvi/tools/merge105.rar

3) updater.exe : tool for sending the rgn file to GPSr. I think you already have it



Now the steps. First of all, backup your files. You can try make the rgn for your GPSr's current version, gupdate.gcd

1) Extract boot section from gupdate.gcd using unp2.exe

Code: Select all

> unp2.exe 1021 0008 GUPDATE.GCD  boot.bin

2) If everything OK, the boot.bin will be created with the filesize MUST be bigger than 0.
Example boot.bin from 765MYSG210's gupdate.gcd
boot.bin : 1146900 byte

3) Now to get the data section. This the 'hardest' part in this tutorial...

4) Use a hex editor, find this hexadecimal string. BD0200FF

5) Record/remember the location/offset of the string. Value is in hexadecimal. Example : for 765MYSG210's gupdate.gcd the offset value is 11909F

Code: Select all

> unp2.exe  11909F 02BD GUPDATE.GCD  data.bin

6) The data.bin file will be create and the filesize MUST be bigger than 0 byte.
Example :
data.bin : 14800128 bytes

7) Combine/merge both files to create the rgn file. You can use the
GUI or, directly from command line.

Code: Select all

> merge105.exe boot.bin data.bin 765SG210.rgn

Congratulation, now you have the RGN file.

Easy ?

I hope this is useful for you, and use it wisely.

References
http://e-trex.info/archives/2008091736
http://e-trex.info/archives/2008100240

Yours.
Mohammad Bahathir Hashim
bahathir@gmail.com

Bonus;
If you are a Unix or GNU/Linux user, you can try this bash shell scripts, that automate the process. Yup, the script help to convert GCD into RGN in less than 5 seconds .

Code: Select all

# rgnconvert.sh
# Simple GCD to RGN converter
# Mohammad Bahathir Hashim
# bahathir@gmail.com
# 2009 :
# Free distributable with GPL v3.
#
# You need to have wine, unp2.exe, merge105.exe and binfind
# Usage: rgnconvert.sh in.gcd out.rgn

offset=`binfind -ox -x BD0200FF $1  | head -1`
wine /path/to/unp2.exe 1021 0008 $1 boot.bin &
wine /path/to/unp2.exe $offset  02BD $1 data.bin
wine /path/to/merge105.exe boot.bin data.bin $2


Note: If you want to copy this tutorial to other websites, please keep the email address intact.


Thank you....
p/s: Moderator, if possible, put this in Library to... TQ.

[alyem]

Thanks for sharing.
I will move this topic to Library Thread..

[alyem]

I hope this is useful for you, and use it wisely.

References
http://e-trex.info/archives/2008091736
http://e-trex.info/archives/2008100240
Yours.
Mohammad Bahathir Hashim
bahathir@gmail.com

The link are not working... please check..

[zuree]

can use this method to convert 200w to 255w with JCV

[bahathir]

Thank you for the pointer.
Ok, it seem that, the articles/references are not there anymore. By the way, from my memory, the articles are small guides how to use the unp2 and merge tools, just what I posted here. Nothing much. . The link to tools are still usable.

Thank you.

[bahathir]

can use this method to convert 200w to 255w with JCV

The tutorial is the guide howto convert GCD file to RGN. You can convert the 255 GCD firmware into the RGN and FORCE flas/install to your 200W, BUT, if your PND is bricked, don't cry and disturbing others. Do it at your own risk... I already warn you...

[zuree]

can use this method to convert 200w to 255w with JCV

The tutorial is the guide howto convert GCD file to RGN. You can convert the 255 GCD firmware into the RGN and FORCE flas/install to your 200W, BUT, if your PND is bricked, don't cry and disturbing others. Do it at your own risk... I already warn you...

haha actually i don't understand how to do it. still 'sayang' my nuvi 200w

[dvpro]

RGN_Tool (developed by TurboCCC)

This program is an utility to manipulate Garmin RGN/GCD firmware files. It allows you to:

• Convert GCD firmware files to RGN format;
• Extract and save the individual firmware sections of RGN/GCD files to .bin files;
• Overwrite HWID and SW Version of RGN/GCD;
• Build an RGN file using different .bin files.

For now, it is not possible to save to GCD files.
Note: The SW Version override does not change the displayed version (text only), but the override will work.

Official disclaimers:
Do this at your own risks!
Do not flash any FW if you are getting weird errors!

http://turboccc.wikispaces.com/RGN_Tool

[Albert_Chong]

RGN_Tool (developed by TurboCCC)

This program is an utility to manipulate Garmin RGN/GCD firmware files. It allows you to:

• Convert GCD firmware files to RGN format;
• Extract and save the individual firmware sections of RGN/GCD files to .bin files;
• Overwrite HWID and SW Version of RGN/GCD;
• Build an RGN file using different .bin files.

For now, it is not possible to save to GCD files.
Note: The SW Version override does not change the displayed version (text only), but the override will work.

Official disclaimers:
Do this at your own risks!
Do not flash any FW if you are getting weird errors!

http://turboccc.wikispaces.com/RGN_Tool

RGN_tools v028 is UP. http://turboccc.wikispaces.com/RGN_Tool
now correcting the checksum, in diagnostic mode, the ROM an RAM checking will be passed now.
My friend get it done with using this tools get the RGN file and get it done convert Nuvi 3790 us firmware to SgMy firmware, and junction view and lane assist work perfert.
for my Nuvi 1300 US bought from ebay US$40, Used, also get it done convert to use Nuvi 1350 SgMy firmware, but only firmware version v2.40 work with Sgmy junction view and lane assist, v2.50 and v2.60 although get it done converted, but Junction view still no see. my another friend also get it done flashed his taiwan Nuvi 255W S4 board use latest SgMy v3.10, junction view working, if S4 board, please use original Taiwan boot loader + sgmy firmware v3.10, if not, white screen will be happened.
Just use this RGN_tools.

Official disclaimers:
Do this at your own risks!
Do not flash any FW if you are getting weird errors!

[dvpro]

Yes, creating "cocktail" (patched) RGN is a breeze now, thanks to TurboCCC.