'Installing' Garmin Communicator Plugin

I have a Garmin Forerunner 305 and am trying to no avail to get the 'Communicator' plugin to install on my Windows 7 PC.  The program is shown in Control Panel but whenever I try the communcator test page it tells me that the plugin is not installed.

I've tried uninstalling (As per Garmin's instructions) and re downloading the program and ensuring that the active x controls are enabled as per the Garmin website.  Can anyone a bit more techie help????

Thanks!!!

Right, there's a couple of issues I went though.
Are you using Chrome as your web browser to check it?
If so it won't work by default as it's not listed as a supported browser. However if you install the Chrome User Agent switcher
https://chrome.google.com/extensions/detail/aafciojnlamllgpkpdkbamkfgbofhgcj
you can then make chrome temporally pretend to be Internet Explorer which should make garmin connect work.

Alternatively, if you are already using internet explorer, you need to make a couple of security changes.
Click on Tools/Internet Options in IE, click on the security tab, then trusted sites, then the sites button.
Then add
https://buy.garmin.com and
https://connect.garmin.com

Save, restart IE and then try reinstalling garmin connect.

Thanks Ian, just tried that but unfortunately that's not working either.  Why oh why have Garmin still not sorted this out?!  Seem to remember having similar issues with our old laptop (XP) but succeeded in the end with that one.  Have mailed Garming but they're not replying at the mo.  Will keep you posted if they do!

Good luck!!!

Thanks!  I have eventually downloaded Firefox as recommended by Garmin as apparently Communicator plugin doesn't properly with IE!!!  It's working now though

Bit of a long shot but I had problems when I installed it but only because IE was left open and running on a second user account that was still logged on. It seemed to have installed but I got the same issue as you - when I used the test page it said it wasn't.

I switched user, closed that IE instance and then went back downloaded it again, saved it to the hard disk, closed IE and then ran the downloaded file and it worked fine.

The other thing is that despite what it says on the Garmin page it seems to work about 95% of the time with Chrome. Occasionally I have to have 2 goes at uploading a workout.. but then I think I have had the same issue with IE.

Under both IE and Chrome running the test page "http://www8.garmin.com/products/communicator/test/" shows a message

"Communicator Plugin is properly installed and up to date, version 2.9.3.0.
Garmin GPS device is detected and communicating properly:"

I've uploaded workouts from my 305 to several 3rd Party sites as well as Garmins own site on Chrome so it all seems good.

Maybe I already have "Chrome User Agent Switcher" as Ian M suggests but I haven't done that as an "add on" or changed any settings so unless it is part of the latest version of Chrome and happens automatically then I haven't had to do anything.

Good luck.

Thanks Weevil.  We have just the one user account on this laptop so it's probably not that.  Did find a very long convuluted process to go through (which didn't work!) from Garmin but eventually they just conceded that you had to use Firefox!

Is it me, or after so many problems should they not have fixed the problems with various internet browsers by now???? 

Oh well. Thought it might be a long shot :-]

You are right - IE and Chrome aren't exactly "niche products" so you would have expected them to be the first browsers Garmin would get working.

What is strange is that it seems to be so inconsistent. I am using a Dell laptop running Windows 7 and IE 8 (or Chrome 8.0.552.224)and apart from a few lockups it works for me 95% of the time. Wonder what settings I have accidentally (and fortunately) enabled !

Still - I hope that now you have Firefox installed that you don't have any more problems - I guess you only have to use Firefox to upload the data. After that you can use the others to review the data :-]

Hope you are happy with your Garmin other than the slightly flaky "communicator" software. I have had mine a few months and I love it. Recently bought the footpod so that I can use it on the enforced treadmill runs and it is fantastic.

That is really odd, I'm using a Dell laptop with Windows 7 and IE 8 too .  Technology ,don't you just love it!

I've had my 305 for about three years now and I really wouldn't be without it.  Hence my continuing attempts to get it working again!  Must look into the foot pod though, haven't tried that yet

Finally - Go to Chrome Settings, Advanced Settings, Privacy, Content Settings, Plugins and Check  "Run Automatically". This fixed it for me in Chrome. In addition to having IE set as my default Browser (will change it back to Chrome now). Hope that helps.

I think JT may have sorted the issue between the time of her last post and yours Kapil - she's had over 2 years to do so......