My Garmin Forerunner 305 doesn’t power on – It’s just DEAD! The Solutions.
Monday, January 18, 2010 14:51
If you experienced the same problem as I did and your Garmin Forerunner 305 just doesn’t turn on then try one of the steps i describe below to bring it back to life. Beside not responding to any buttons the computer doesnt recognize it either when connected through the USB interface.
I’ll present you with a few solutions I found surfing the web that might work for you.
Soft Rest
- Hold down MODE + RESET for few seconds
- Press the Power button to turn on the device
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Hard Reset
(This will erase all of your data inside the device)
- Hold down MODE + RESET + POWER for few seconds
- Press the Power button to turn on the device
———————————————————————–
For me none of the above worked. So I tried it with a firmware Downgrade/Upgrade (2.9 > 2.8 > 2.9) which essentialy solved the problem. Current Firmware 2.90
(This will erase all your data inside the device)
Software Downgrade/Upgrade
- Connect your Garmin Forerunner 305 to the computer
- Press the UP arrow button and hold while doing all the other steps below
- Press MODE + RESET for a moment (the computer will recognize the device)
- Dowload the Firmware from Garmin’s website. I’ll attach some versions to this post in case Garmin doesnt provide them any more.
- Downgrade Firmware from 2.90 to 2.80. (You are still holding on that UP arrow button!)
- When the update is finished the Forerunner 305 should power on runing the Firmware 2.80.
- Let go of the UP arrow button, disconnect the device from USB, connect it again and the computer should recognize it normally
- Update the Firmware to the current version. In my case it was 2.90
- take your watch, go out and do what you most like :)
Downloads
Garmin Forerunner 305 Firmware version 2.80
Garmin Forerunner 305 Firmware version 2.90
Garmin Forerunner 305 Firmware version 2.70
emile says:
February 15th, 2010 at 14:21
I am not a proud owner of a garmin forerunner 305.I did the soft reset. ( mode+lap) I did the hard reset. (mode+power+lap). I did the software update to version 2.9.0. I have to soft reset every time before it comes on. If it comes on it does not display the route and elevation when downloaded to my PC. I have sent this unit n for repairs to Avnic Trading in SA and will see if they can back up their product. Why does Garmin sell something that so many people have the same problems with?? This unit just demotivates me from training. You try to record your toughest routes and then there is no info available afterwards.
Jesper says:
March 16th, 2010 at 00:08
Hi Until today I was extremly happy with my Garmin 305. But then for some unknown reason it just when dead. The soft reset fixed it right away so thank you for the guide above. Se you all out there on the roads.
Jack says:
March 26th, 2010 at 02:58
I’ve had my 305 for 15 months and used it for running and biking with no problems at all…until the other day. I went to turn it on, and nothing.. I thought the battery went dead so I put it in it’s craddle and hooked it up to my pc…and nothing…Hmmm. I tried soft reboot…..nothing. .. I tried hard reboot…nothing…. I E-mailed Garmin yesterday and was hoping for a reply back today…nothing. .. Then I found this page. I downloaded and reinstalled the firmware 2.8. I ended up losing some data but I have my garmin back. I think thay have the market in this field and I think thay have good producuts, but I was very disapointed when I did not get a repy back from them in 24 hours. If they do reply back I will post, if not their customer support may not be as good as their products, even though it takes someone with computer knowledge to download and install firmware. I know my wife could not do it, and the 305 would have ended up in the trash. Try the firmware downgrade/upgrade before you throw yours out. Good luck
Nik says:
March 26th, 2010 at 13:48
Thx for the comment. Yea, Please give us feedback about Garmin’s solution to this problem.
How to reset a Garmin Forerunner 305 « What the triathlon?! says:
May 30th, 2010 at 01:19
[...] Luckily I found this website before I had to turn to anything as onerous as contacting customer service or bringing the watch back to REI where I got it: http://www.activesplit.com/my-garmin-forerunner-305-doesnt-power-on-its-just-dead-solutions/ [...]
Pwg says:
June 5th, 2010 at 15:51
Soft reset worked like a charm for me.
Jackie says:
June 6th, 2010 at 13:10
Many thanks for this tip. Have had my 305 for over 2 years now & it just went dead on me today after a run. The soft reset worked perfectly – I was beginning to worry that I’d need to send it off to Garmin for repair/new battery which is what other people were suggesting so such a relief to find your advice. Thanks!
Lorelle says:
June 9th, 2010 at 00:12
Thank you… finally working after every attempt under the sun. Third time this has happened and every time I have needed a different solution. Not too happy with Garmin about this!
Cheryl says:
June 12th, 2010 at 19:04
Thank you SO much for this solution. My 305 just died on me today before a run. It wouldn’t show that it was charging and wouldn’t turn on and this is the first time that has ever happened. The soft reset did the job, thankfully, as I was worried I was going to lose all my data and have to send it off to Garmin for a new battery which is what other people were suggesting. That would not have made me a happy camper. Thanks again! :-)
Nicole says:
June 12th, 2010 at 23:06
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. I use my Garmin just about everyday for running and mountain biking. I tried to turn it on this morning for my usual run but it just wouldn’t do anything. I was so bummed! I took your advice and tried the soft reset and it worked. I’m so happy I feel like running again.
Thanks
Michael Bortman says:
June 16th, 2010 at 17:55
Another save!! Fixed my problem without new battery, sending back to Garmin, or any cuss words. Thanks.
Nik says:
June 16th, 2010 at 22:53
I’m glad to hear that this post helped so many people :)
Matt says:
June 22nd, 2010 at 14:48
Thanks a million! Did the downgrade/upgrade. Worked like a charm.
Kathleen says:
June 24th, 2010 at 14:07
A friend of mine gave me his old Forerunner 305 a few months ago. I loved it!! Everything was working great until this morning . . . it was dead . . . I was devastated. Found this site and tried the soft reset . . . . worked like a charm.
Thank you SOOOOO much for posting this information :-D
Dennis says:
July 18th, 2010 at 04:23
My garmin would not connect after a very hot and humid (sweaty) run. After waiting 24 hours, it connected just fine with no other intervention. Just thought I would offer that heat and humidity have a definite effect on these devices.
BBH says:
July 23rd, 2010 at 14:12
I was glad finding this site, but:Bad Luck – it does not work for me :-(
my computer still doesn’t recognize the device
Galadriann says:
August 11th, 2010 at 15:41
Same here … no luck with the procedure but always interesting to know…
I am sending the device back for repair…
Tks for sharing this though…
Jon says:
August 14th, 2010 at 17:29
Had the same problem. The 305 would only switch on if I did a soft reset first. Then it would not come on again. Hard reset did not work, but firmware downgrade/upgrade did the trick. Thanks a lot!
pmb says:
August 21st, 2010 at 16:24
Perfect! Solved my problem with the GF305 immediately. It suddenly died during a rainy run; and after this it would freeze in the interval-screen with a continous beep. I tried soft/hard-reset, uploading the original firmware and deleting all history to no avail. But doing the downgrade/upgrade fixed it!