Garmin Express v7.25.0 has been released

[Peobody]

Garmin Express v7.25.0 has been released. Release notes:

- Added the ability to install the basemap if it’s not currently installed on the device.
- Added support for displaying semantic versioning.
- Fixed an issue on the dashboard not displaying the bubble for number of updates available.
- Other minor bug fixes and improvements.

[Oop North John]

Does it still prevent the XT2 from downloading maps to the computer?

[Peobody]

There is a post on the Garmin forum reporting the Windows 11 Smart App Control is blocking the installation of GE 7.25.0. My Smart App Control is off so I can't confirm this. Could Garmin have released it with a valid certificate??? If so, it confirms that we are Garmin's beta testers.

There is just the one report so far.

[twowheelstom]

maybe it would be a good idea to copy and paste your Garmin Express v7.24.0 file first and change the name of that copied express file to something like Express_v7.24.0_ or something, than update Express 7.24 to 7.25, just incase you ever need to use 7.24 again for whatever reason

[Peobody]

Update on the Smart App Control blocking issue. The block was on the .msi the gets downloaded when you update GE. There are no reports on whether the downloaded .exe has the same issue. OP on the Garmin forum should be trying it shortly so I'll be back with any news posted there.

[Peobody]

This could be bad. Based on the post on the Garmin Forum, when the .exe is run, it creates ElevatedInstallerInstaller.msi which gets blocked by Smart App Control. Apparently, the previous version of GE gets uninstalled before this happens. It is surprising that the updater .msi didn't behave in the same way as the .msi created by the downloaded .exe.

It would be nice to have confirmation of this Smart App Control behavior but I don't want any of you to be testing it without understanding the risk.

[twowheelstom]

It would be nice to have confirmation of this Smart App Control behavior but I don't want any of you to be testing it without understanding the risk.

the Smart App Control, is that an app that you install on your phone? I never heard of that before, is that app needed for XT or XT2 owners?

[lkraus]

Smart App Control is a Windows feature. It is installed only on Windows 11, and only as part of a new install or system reset.

Smart App Control is a new app execution control feature that combines Microsoft’s app intelligence services and Windows' code integrity features to protect users from untrusted or potentially dangerous code. Smart App Control selectively allows apps and binaries to run only if they're likely to be safe. Microsoft's app intelligence services provide safety predictions for many popular apps. If the app intelligence service is unable to make a prediction, then Smart App Control will still allow an app to run if it is signed with a certificate issued by a certificate authority (CA) within the Trusted Root Program.

Malware, Potentially Unwanted Apps (PUA), and unknown, unsigned code are blocked by default.

More details at https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windo ... l/overview

To disable Smart App Control in Windows 11, go to Settings > Privacy & security > Windows Security > App & browser control > Smart App Control settings, and select "Off". Please note that disabling Smart App Control is irreversible and it can only be enabled again by resetting or reinstalling Windows.

My Windows 11 Pro was an upgrade from Win 10, it has never been reset, but I see that I have Smart Apps Control turned off. I trust the sources where I get my programs, and I keep very good backups that let me return my PC to an earlier state. Express 7.25 installed without a problem.

[twowheelstom]

Smart App Control is a Windows feature. It is installed only on Windows 11, and only as part of a new install or system reset.

thanks Ikraus, I thought smart app control is a Garmin idea, it's crappy Microsoft idea again, I had my full of fixing my new Windows 11 laptop removing that Windows 11 Safe Mode from my new laptop so I could download Google Chrome from Google site, I went thru one hell of a time finding out how to remove that dumb Microsoft Safe Mode, now Microsoft has Smart App Control on the new Software Update version 24H2? crap, I ain't updating now, I was not going to update my windows 11 till it was safe, but now I ain't doing it, next Microsoft will be forcing me to stand to pee insead of sitting, you know, for safety reasons lol I'm staying with Garmin Express 7.23 now, cause these company programmers will sonn want to tell us all how to use toilet paper. lol, sorry, I am not happy with all this control being forced on me

[twowheelstom]

maybe Microsoft and Garmin co-ordinated together to make the Garmin Express v7.25 update get coded as a safe app within Microsoft's list of safe apps, maybe, just guessing. Microsoft did the same idea with windows 11 safe mode download sites that were not on the microsoft store