Database Users

Strange SD card behaviour

Whenever I soft reset the device the memory card is not picked up, or only half the directories are picked up, and I have to pop it out and back in again for it to recognise everything correctly..
I am running 1.72 and we have three imates here at my work and they all behave like this.
Sometimes the Storage Card just seems to vanish even when there was no reset and the card has to be ejected and reloaded to pick it up again! This occurs daily for me (only had the device 4 days though) and one of the other guys here says it hapens quite frequently to him too!
Is this common behaviour for the imate/xda2 ???

I had similar problems with my SD card in my XDA2 (1.66.00wwe), i took out the card and formatted it a few times in my PC and so far it dosent seem to have happened again. This problem originally occurred in my ipaq 4150 so im not sure whether it was card related or not. There's an application called Pocket Mechanic which can run tests on SD cards, might be worth running that to see if it picks up anything. If you need a copy of it you can "borrow" mine.

mmm, no problems with pocket mechanic test!
Might back up data on card and try a low level format through PocketMechanic and see if that helps, but it is strange we have multiple devices and cards here (my work) all with the same behaviour. My Card and imate are both brand new..

Might be of interest: what brand of cards are you using?
There ARE issues with SD cards, mostly related to data transferrate.
Some brands are fast (ie KingMax i read) some are very slow (ie Kingston/Toshiba i noticed)

I bought a Fujifilm 512MB SD card off ebay for a silly low price, originally blamed my problems down to that fact but it seems to be ok now.

It is a Sandisk card (256mb) so VERY slow

Not sure if it is related, but I had an issue with mine, where I could read the SD Card in my PC, but not in my XDAII, unless I pushed it very firmly down, holding it in place.
It turned out to be dirty connections on the Card. With a bit of a clean (with a Screwdriver), everything works again!
Ian

FYI - a pencil eraser is the best thing to use to clean contacts on PC boards, memory cards, etc. It is only mildly abrasive but does a great job of removing grime, etc.
HTH

Browsenow - excellent idea. In fact it comes close to my blue-tack inventions. Well done!

Jupiter - Thanks! I have adapted pencil erasers to another problem for which your solution was BluTack . . . the missing external aerial cover. I found a pencil eraser that was the same diameter as the aerial (antenna for those of us in the US) connector hole, chopped it off and inserted it. It has the added benefit of being firm and slightly longer than the hole, so it provides stability when the device is laying on the desk.
Oh well . . . I guess I need to find something more interesting to fill my days . . . like making my imate work as a TV remote so I don't have to wrench the actual remote from the Mrs. :wink:

Are you trying to say that the rubber solution is better than the blue-tack solution! I vouchsafed you the honour of saying that it came close. Dont throw that back at me. !
Blue-Tack is better because
1. Its sticky
2. Its blue
3. You can use it to stick things
4. In an emergency you can take it out of the XDA and stick a note to the fridge
5. In the event of being bored you can make a baby teddy with it
What can rubber do apart from rub. :roll:
It was a 'good' idea but lets keep it at that

First of all, you did not say it was a 'good' idea - in fact you said it was an 'excellent' idea. As for BluTack . . . if you use it too many times it will be neither blue nor sticky!
As for the eraser, it is better because -
1. It is firm
2. It is NOT blue
3. It can erase things
4. In an emergency you can . . . um, you can . . . :?
5. In the event of being bored you can use it to CARVE a baby teddy - well a really tiny one!
Ha! Long live the eraser 8)

Now your just being silly!
Where are my blue-tack buddies when I need them?

They have all abandoned you and are out searching for various sizes, shapes and colors (colours?) of ERASERS!
They should start their search here: http://www.staples.com/Catalog/Browse/Sku.asp?PageType=1&Sku=507053

Fitting an Oyster Card inside my Vario II?

Right, I got my Vario II a couple of days ago. Its great, but I was wondering something - could I cut to fit my Oyster card to sit underneath the battery cover? Anyone tried this? Does anyone know how much I can trim off of the card? Would be great to just get the phone out to swipe with!
Cheers
Chris

I can't even fit a spare 1Gb MicroSD under it without the cover bulging, so I doubt an Oyster card would fit without some major mod's. You can't trim much (if any) off it, the RF coils are pretty much all the way around the edges of the card. Great idea though!

I just put my Oyster card next to the SD spacer(don't have a Micro SD card yet) and they are about the same thickness. I thought it might be the case with the coils, which is pretty annoying as the card really isn't far off fitting in. Any ideas if there are any pics showing a kinda 'xray' of the Oyster?

haha, you copying the Japanese on this? They too have the equivalent of Oyster cards (Suica, much more advanced with online usage if you have a card reader attached to your computer) which can be integrated into their mobiles. In fact, I do wonder if the technology of the 2 systems are teh same
I'm sure there must be a way to cut up the oyster card so that only the data bit remains? Anyone got a spare fiver to dissect an oyster card?

Oyster is a standard Mifare card.
Although I've not seen "inside" the oyster - a mifare card has a coil slightly larger than the size of a 50p in the centre - with the chip either inside or outside of the coil.
N

Right fellows I have tried to search nearly an hour to find-out what’s & where the chip is inside the Oyster but no joy, finally I have tried one another card to just give it a try and I am sadly declaring that it is NOT possible at all to sandwich the oyster card between the battery & its cover (I have tried on my XDA-IIi -- Alpine), even though I have tried to press the cover so hard that the sliding latches could break in a split second. Check the pictures.
Sidd

So why would you want to take out your highly desirable phone in a crowded tube station?
Do you need the insurance money?
Maybe you could attach credit cards to a lanyard, hang them from the phone and have your PIN number tattooed to your forehead.

Anyway I am carrying my oyster in the card slot of my XDA-IIi's leather pouch and touching the pouch on the scanner every day, works fine for me.
I think this is more secure from the prying eyes and for the scratch protection of the device.
Sidd

i would say yes, with some modification. check out this link if you are still interested. I plan to do this for my Hero in the coming weeks
http://www.skeptobot.com/2008/05/time-lapse-vid-of-dissolving-oyster.html

MicroSD card slot

Hi
I took out the dummy SD card in the slot by the usual methods of gently pushing and it pops out, I then inserted (the correct way round) my new 2Gb card which sounded to click in place correctly although it is now stuck and doesnt pop out the same way the dummy one did (I did not apply any hard pressure). I presume this isnt how its supposed to work and the mechanism has faulted, has anyone else had this problem?
--------
Vario II

luppy said:
Hi
I took out the dummy SD card in the slot by the usual methods of gently pushing and it pops out, I then inserted (the correct way round) my new 2Gb card which sounded to click in place correctly although it is now stuck and doesnt pop out the same way the dummy one did (I did not apply any hard pressure). I presume this isnt how its supposed to work and the mechanism has faulted, has anyone else had this problem?
--------
Vario II
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
did you insert the microSD with contacts upside?

I had a similar problem when I first inserted a brand new A-Data 2GB MicroSD. But I've managed to take it back finally, gently pushing and popping it in and out. Then I've found superfluous plastic on the card, removed it, and since then there are no problems. So don't worry about the slot itself until you're sure it is broken

I am having the same problem. I am sure it is in there correctly, as I can access it. However, I can't get it OUT. HELP!!

jeffreyj900 said:
I am having the same problem. I am sure it is in there correctly, as I can access it. However, I can't get it OUT. HELP!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you put it the card in upside down it goes in crooked. If you force it you risk breaking the card.
If you push the card in all the way it clicks gently as it slips in then is retained. If you push the card gently with your fingernail it should go in slightly then pop out.
If you push it in and it goes in by a mm or so but doesn't pop out then something is holding it back. You can try with some needles or safety pins either side to try and ease the card out....
Good Luck. Scary when you've invested so much into these things when they break

HI,
I had / have the same problem with my new mda vario II. If you look under the battery next to the slot is a small white piece of plastic in a runner. If you gently push that outwards towards the edge of the phone the card will eject. Use a pin or a paper clip.
Could some explain where the excess plastic on the card is so i can fix my card.
Also i am using a Sandisk card if that make anydiff.
Dave

dmj1973 said:
HI,
I had / have the same problem with my new mda vario II. If you look under the battery next to the slot is a small white piece of plastic in a runner. If you gently push that outwards towards the edge of the phone the card will eject. Use a pin or a paper clip.
Could some explain where the excess plastic on the card is so i can fix my card.
Also i am using a Sandisk card if that make anydiff.
Dave
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Dave,
You are a VERY SMART man! I really appreciate that. Mine is a 2gb SanDisk as well. I have a Cingular 8525. I had it in the correct way, and was able to use the card just fine. It bothered me that I could not get it out though. I really appreciate the response! Oh... I removed the made in Tiawan sticker on the back of the card to see if that would help. It did not, but did expose some copper looking stuff like at the end of the card. No big deal
Jeff

Dead SanDisk.
I also had the problem of a stuck 2Gb Sandisk card in a Vario II.
The card was displaying the same problems described in Legolas's card fix thread, (files disappearing or innaccessable) so I was going to check it on my PC.
Unfortunately, in the process of gently persuading it to come out, I appear to have completely killed it! (Unrecognisable in phone, PC or camera.)
I'm going to try painting the contacts on the card with silver paint in case they're not making contact, but I don't fancy digging inside the phone to bend the contacts there.
Any thoughts anyone?
In the meantime I'll wait and see if the 4Gb card is compatible with the Hermes before I order a replacement.

Is this a problem with Sandisk cards, I wonder? Had no problems at all with a 1Gb Kinston card... pop in a new Sandisk 2Gb, and sticks. Didn't shave off any plastic though, just caught hold of the groove on the edge with a fingernail and pulled on it enough to seat it into the proper 'inserted' position.
After inserting it in the slot a few times, it seems to click into place as it should
@dmj1973: Have you updated the Wiki with the info on ejecting a stuck card? Would be useful to have it there, if it isn't already

dmj1973 said:
HI,
I had / have the same problem with my new mda vario II. If you look under the battery next to the slot is a small white piece of plastic in a runner. If you gently push that outwards towards the edge of the phone the card will eject. Use a pin or a paper clip.
Could some explain where the excess plastic on the card is so i can fix my card.
Also i am using a Sandisk card if that make anydiff.
Dave
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Excellent solution.
I've got a 2 gb SanDisk in a Vodafone 1605 with no insertion/removal problems.
(hee, in past life got quite adept at dismantling my iPaq 5555 to get stuck adapters out)
GG

Hi guys,
Just a quick update. I had a further look at my card. I also removed the "made in Taiwan" sticker. My card ejects and inserts fine now.
Your right about the "contacts" being exposed, though i suspect this won't matter too much as they are covered again once they are inserted into the phone.
I don't believe this to be a problem only with sandisk cards but i may be wrong.
Dave

it seems that im a lucky dog because i have never got this problem with my softbank device and kingmax 1g tfcard.
anyhow thx the info upstairs

dmj1973 you saved my day!
today my transcent 16gb microsd arrived. i took the (kind of useless) 128mb out of my acer m900, and suddenly i wasnt able to get either of my micro sd's back into the device! it always jammed half way in ... drove me ****ing crazy thinking my new pda already broke :/ wasted the half day beeing mad until i found this thread! i red until "battery" ... then instantly removed the cover/battery etc, and my cards no longer jammed! -can get them in&out gently again thx 2 you!
seaser

Mini-sd slot broke

Today I removed my minisd card and put it back in shortly after, but something went horribly wrong
Somehow I broke the thing that holds the card in position so now it wont stick in.. so I tried to make it stuck in with a paper which works but it doesn't get recognized then, I guess the mechanism which holds the card always turns on a switch thats tells my wizard to start reading the card
Does anyone got any idea to fix it, cause this sux big time (I bought the phone a few months ago for €200), I cant find my receipt but ill try to get a copy of the shop .
Im so pissed right now

Nobody knows, the warranty is overdue
Could I open the phone and maybe fix it myself?
I got the service manual but not the tools, anyone ever seen the inside of the phone, would it even be possible to fix it?

bump ...

similar problem
Hi there
i had a similar problem - had to buy another htc 8125 and unfortunately it came with a broken slot for the minisd card. At first i thought i wasn't pressing the card enough for the thing to click and hold it. Then i realised it was broken. As far as i could see from the little opening there was a white slider which is pushed down by the wider side of the minisd card. It has a spring behind it and somehow it has to click in down position and hold the card.
i tried to push it down with a very very small screwdriver and understand the way it worked. With my bad luck i pushed a little harder and broke that white slider. It just broke in the middle and one part stayed down and the other was pushed up by the spring. It broke exactly at the place where it was pushed by the memory card. So my card was not jumping anymore out - it just stayed in but was not recognised by the phone.
I didn't know what else to do so i found some instructions on how to open the phone and went for it with the hope to reach the memory card slot an hopefully fix it. HTC has taken good care of the stupid slot. It is soldered to the motherboard and nothing much could be done. There are 4 points that hold it but i didn't go that far to unsolder it (didn't know how many springs and other parts would jump out of it). Anyways - what i noticed was the following:
there are two small "plates" at the bottom of the slot. Wheny ou isnert the card they touch and i think this is what makes the slot active and knowing that there is a card in it. I had some dirt betwen them and that was preventing them from making a contact. After i removed that small piece of dirt and inserted the card it worked like a charm. It stays so tight in there now that i hardly can get it out - which is not that bad because i can always use the usb cable to transfer whatever i want.
I think i still have those manuals for opening the phone, so if you decide to go this far and can't find them i can send you an email.
Hope i was of any help

There's no need to open or disassemble the phone to repair the slot,just apply a thin layer of any adhesive tape around it but make sure you do not cover the connectors and insert the card firmly in the slot.
Cheers !

But well even if I push it in it doesnt get detected(I added a piece of paper to hold it in but it didnt detect it still).
I think ill buy a torx screwdriver and open it.

I'll still advise you to check the mini sd in some other phone,if it still doesn't get detected than get a new one or it may need to be reformatted.Opening up the phone might lead onto more problems.
Cheers !

zabardast_1 said:
I'll still advise you to check the mini sd in some other phone,if it still doesn't get detected than get a new one or it may need to be reformatted.Opening up the phone might lead onto more problems.
Cheers !
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I got a 2gb minisd and a 512mb minisd both dont work so im sure its the phones fault , they have always worked fine.

SD reader busted

OK now its time for a 2 case problem involving the SD reader
1st:
The card stopped staying in one day so i had to start proping it up with a peice of paper acting as a wedge
2nd:
2 weeks later(yesterday) i removed the SD card and put some new music on it for on the the move, When i put the sdcard back into my device it jammed so i puled it out hoping the locking mechanism started working again. I turns out i some how managed to bend a pin inside the reader X'( I decided earlier today to dismantle my device and look into fixing my device and found the pins had snapped and jammed inside my devices reader.
I thought about trying to solder a bodge contact on to it but thought to seek advice here. would it be easier to have it repaired? or to see about buying an vario with a busted screen and swaping my devices screen with the busted one?
You guys have any other ideas feel free to help as im in a real big pickle cos i love using my vario(wizard, htc) as my mp3 player and all around studio when im not at my PC...
PLEASE HELP !!!!!!!
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE :'(

scottymacMDA said:
OK now its time for a 2 case problem involving the SD reader
1st:
The card stopped staying in one day so i had to start proping it up with a peice of paper acting as a wedge
2nd:
2 weeks later(yesterday) i removed the SD card and put some new music on it for on the the move, When i put the sdcard back into my device it jammed so i puled it out hoping the locking mechanism started working again. I turns out i some how managed to bend a pin inside the reader X'( I decided earlier today to dismantle my device and look into fixing my device and found the pins had snapped and jammed inside my devices reader.
I thought about trying to solder a bodge contact on to it but thought to seek advice here. would it be easier to have it repaired? or to see about buying an vario with a busted screen and swaping my devices screen with the busted one?
You guys have any other ideas feel free to help as im in a real big pickle cos i love using my vario(wizard, htc) as my mp3 player and all around studio when im not at my PC...
PLEASE HELP !!!!!!!
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE :'(
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think you should first estimate total cost on both reparing and geting a busted screen WIzard and then think for which you should go i say if Busted Screen Wizard is cheaper go for it else try getting it repaired. I hope i helped. TC