"There was an error syncing with Garmin Express"

[Daveyraveygravey]

Not sure what has happened, but cannot upload rides from my 305 to Garmin or Strava.

Garmin Express tells me the 305 has the latest software and that it has synced "just now" but there are at least 3 rides today and yesterday that I cannot see on Garmin or Strava.

Sometimes when I plug it back in again I get a message saying "There was an error syncing with Garmin Express" but no more than that.

Trying to get on to Garmin Support is just impossible. There are so many menus and sub menus you lose patience before you find anything helpful.

I did try Windows 10 for 24 hours but uninstalled it as it messed a lot of stuff up.

If I try to upload through Garmin Connect it takes me to a page to download Garmin Express which I have already got.

I have just uninstalled and reinstalled Garmin Express, with no change.

Should I be able to see the Forerunner when it is plugged in? I can't browse to the Forerunner or my Fit files.

Two days ago, I would just switch on, connect the 305, put the kettle on and when I came back it was all uploaded. I'm going spare!

[ALawson]

Can you plug directly into a pc and then go into the file directory and copy the ride files out. You can then upload manually.

[GarryDK]

I had issues with my 810 yesterdfay, it wouldnt sync to garmin connect or strava, had to manually upload my ride.

[whatleytom]

Had this with my 810.

Fix I found that worked for me was to remove the device from Garmin Express in its settings menu, then re-register the device.

Hopefully will sync ok after that.

[Daveyraveygravey]

I've removed the device from Garmin Express, reinstalled it, no change.

I've done it all on an older pc at home, no change.

When I plug the device in, it appears in Devices and Printers as "Unspecified" (Device, I guess) as a Garmin USB GPS. I can't open this or browse to it though. I can't find .fit files on my pc anywhere either - as I understood it, part of the sync process is the files get put on your pc before upload.

I'm loath to reset the device because I've got a week's worth of rides on it.

[whatleytom]

Hmm, sounds like the device itself might be iffy. The only time I've had similar was when the USB port on my edge 500 broke, and my computer would barely recognise it.

Sounds like its either that, or a driver problem in Windows, as usually at least Windows will recognise it as a removable drive, even if Garmin Express doesn't.

All .fit files uploaded should still be on your PC though, but are often hidden in Documents & Settings in windows, depending on version.

[j00pY]

For those of you who upload via mobile, have you updated your garmin connect software on your phone. I noticed that a bug fix said that they has recently fixed an issue that was causing connection issues. I suddenly started having syncing issues in the release prior to this which could explain the comment in the release. I have updated to the latest software via the play store yesterday but have not tested automatic uploading yet.

[Daveyraveygravey]

whatleytom said:

Hmm, sounds like the device itself might be iffy. The only time I've had similar was when the USB port on my edge 500 broke, and my computer would barely recognise it.

Sounds like its either that, or a driver problem in Windows, as usually at least Windows will recognise it as a removable drive, even if Garmin Express doesn't.

All .fit files uploaded should still be on your PC though, but are often hidden in Documents & Settings in windows, depending on version.

Can you expand on this a bit more for me? I've ridden ten times this week, and twice in the morning, the unit has refused to switch on ( even though the night before it has been plugged in whilst I try to sort this out and has a full battery) and then in the evening it has switched on but with low charge. The unit is at least 3 years old so it could be past it's reliable life time

[Nighthawk]

I was having issues with Garmin connect not syncing with my Garmin a week or so ago.... theres since been an update for the software I had which seems to have cured things.

[anonymous-user]

You should be able to browse the contents of the device and copy the files manually to your desktop and then do a manual upload to Strava.

How about installing a fresh copy of Garmin Express on a different pc and see what happens?

[Daveyraveygravey]

CoinSl0t said:

You should be able to browse the contents of the device and copy the files manually to your desktop and then do a manual upload to Strava.

How about installing a fresh copy of Garmin Express on a different pc and see what happens?

Garmin Forums Garmin person says you can't browse to it, which confirms my experience but still seems odd. I have tried it on a fresh pc (but a very old one) with no Garmin history, same problem.

I've spent the morning deleting old rides one by one hoping to find a corrupt file, ended up with NOTHING on it. Went for a walk round the village which I logged, still won't sync.

I got a bit wet riding home on Monday evening - although nothing like Ridelondon last year which didn't seem to effect it - and it wouldn't power on Tuesday morning. I thought maybe it was kaput then, but it did start up on Tuesday night and seemed to work normally on the ride home. But that was the first night it wouldn't sync, and I rode 6 more times this week. I may just leave it alone for a few weeks and see if it comes back to life. Shame because I've got three weeks in Italy and would love to log my rides there.

[Daveyraveygravey]

Bloody thing's come back to life! Don't know what I did in the end. I cleared every ride down off the unit. I then fired up Garmin Training Center for the first time in 2 years and it told me there were un-downloaded rides on the unit, would I like to dl them? I did that but then couldn't see any files after 2013. I then uninstalled Garmin Express, left it overnight.
Went for a fantastic ride off road on the Downs yesterday, used the Garmin as normal, and plugged in when I got home. Garmin Traning Center showed the ride and I then reinstalled Garmin Express and bingo, files uploaded. If it had got wet, maybe the water had dried out (yesterday was bloody hot) or maybe clearing down all the files fixed it.

[anonymous-user]

Use this experience as an excuse to buy a new one

I'm a Strava nerd and have an irrational urge to record every cm that I ride.