Newbie Questions re recently acquired Garmin Zumo 550

[Bluto]

Newbie to Garmin Zumo 550 here (but a very long time Garmin user) and have a couple of Zumo 550 specific questions:

1/ is there a way to force the GPS into GPS mode, as opposed to mas storage mode, when plugging into PC?

2/ I would like to update the map (North America) and from research I know there's a trick to doing that, but I can't figure out if this particular Zumo has a lifetime map subscription or not.

3/ I'm assuming I need a new battery (I need to try a few of the suggested tricks first) as the current one doesn't seem to hold a charge. Any advice on a Can or US source for low-cost replacement batteries? Anyone ever hack the battery compartment to see what's in there?

4/ The max size SD card is specd at 4GB, but many of my other Garmin GPS will accept and work with much larger SD cards than the spec indicates. Anyone know if the 550 will work with an 8GB or 16GB, or ??GB, card?

Thanks for any advice.

[electro_handyman]

Newbie to Garmin Zumo 550 here (but a very long time Garmin user) and have a couple of Zumo 550 specific questions:

1/ is there a way to force the GPS into GPS mode, as opposed to mas storage mode, when plugging into PC?
Not sure I can answer this question.

2/ I would like to update the map (North America) and from research I know there's a trick to doing that, but I can't figure out if this particular Zumo has a lifetime map subscription or not.
The 550's are EOL so no new map subscriptions are being sold from Garmin. I believe that the last map released for the 550 was the 2023.1 version. As maps are locked by unit serial # getting a copy from someone else won't work either. Most likely your only option at this point will be to use OSM maps.

3/ I'm assuming I need a new battery (I need to try a few of the suggested tricks first) as the current one doesn't seem to hold a charge. Any advice on a Can or US source for low-cost replacement batteries? Anyone ever hack the battery compartment to see what's in there?
You can check with PalmDr.com as they specialize in GPS and PDA unit repairs. I personally have not replaced one yet.

4/ The max size SD card is specd at 4GB, but many of my other Garmin GPS will accept and work with much larger SD cards than the spec indicates. Anyone know if the 550 will work with an 8GB or 16GB, or ??GB, card?
I use my 550 with a 32GB card. The challenge for some is that you have to format the card as Fat32 which is NOT the native format for a card that size.

Thanks for any advice.

See my answers above in Red.

[sussamb]

4 isn't correct in that every 32Gb card I've had is FAT32.