Is there some way to do this via WM5? Or is there a utility that you need to do it? Is there a freeware app out there that can do this?
My storage card freaked out a little and now isn't showing files that are on there, although it is reporting that the disk space is being used.
I don't have a link on me at the moment, but look around the forum for a program called Storage Tools. It should let you format the card as you wish.
I use my laptop to format the storage card.
spb pocket plus has a format function for the file explorer to allow formatting within the device, otherwise, i have a card reader and use the laptop to format, or my other laptop has a built in memory card reader that can format it.
i think also resco explorer can format the card also, i can check if you havent resolved this yet.
If you have some time read this article.
http://pocketpcmag.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=17921
Cheers
storagetools
That utility did the trick. Thank you.
Experiment a little with your format parameters.
I found that FAT32, 4kb cluster and no Backup fat is the best settings for my specific needs and Sandisk highspeed card.
Lower clustersizes reduce slack (lost space) but increases memory needs and write time. No golden rule here.
Also take a look at this info from msdn: FAT File System Registry Settings
I use a 0x10026 for the flags in the FATFS key.
Cheers
Related
Hello,
I have 3 items on my plate and I'd appreciate any feedback regarding them:
1) i'm using a 512 mb card; i was having some difficulty because the memory of the card would only go up to around 300. at first i thought there was a problem with the card itself so i had to constantly erase the contents to make mp3s, files, pics, mpegs, etc fit. then i stumbled upon the pc command for formatting disks; there were 3 options to format the sd card: FAT, NTFS and FAT32. when i used fat32; the behavior was the same and the memory usage would only go up to 300 max. when using ntfs; my xda2 refused to recognie the card (it wouldn't show up in the explorer app). when i formatted using FAT, everything was great. i can now use the sd card to it's limits and am no longer restricted to the 300-mb trouble i was having.
question: what's the difference in the 3 formats? obviously using FAT was the best thing to do, but what's with the other formats?
2) i was having some problems with loading up mpegs in the sd card. i created folders (example: mp3s, movies, pics, etc). naturally i placed the mpeg files in the "movies" folder; when i used pocket tv to play them the files were not recognized. when i used pocket mvp video came out but a sign kept flashing "error in audio". when i loaded the mpeg files straight to the sd card (no folders assigned), pocket tv and pocket mvp played them perfectly.
question: anyone else experiencing this and if yes what's the story? the mp3 files are in a folder and i don't stumble into any issues with those items.
3) anyone know of a good vcd-ripper program where i can extract clips or create my own small mpeg files? i'd like to extract some of the more memorable scenes in some movies...rather than waste space by seeing scenes which bore me.
cheers mates
robson
Some hints
Hi,
i also have a 512 meg sd card for my XDA 1, without any problems.
Try to format the card using the storagetools freeware:
http://www.pocketpccity.com/software/pocketpc/StorageTools-2002-4-5-ce-pocketpc.html
I also have mp3's and mpeg's on this card. Make sure that you use the latest version of activesync to tranfer the files to the sd card or use a sd card adapter (i use a pcmcia adapter).
here is how to produce your own media files for the ppc:
http://www.mathiaspohl.de/mda
There are 2 sections, 1st is about "How to create DIVx files" for the PPC, the second one is "How to create media files" (i.e. wmv) for this.
regards, Koponet
Not too impressed with storagetools.
It only detected my XDA-IIs 14MB of ROM and not my 512MB SD card.
maybe you should try ....
format SD card within external SD reader attached to notebook, using some desktop application ... or try using
http://www.cnetx.com/Format/download.asp
and verify SD media for errors ...
regards, monika
Robson said:
question: what's the difference in the 3 formats? obviously using FAT was the best thing to do, but what's with the other formats?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
FAT (File Allocation Table), FAT32 and NTFS (NT File System) are file systems originally made for disk partitions. FAT (also called FAT16) was the original file system used in DOS and has a partition size limit of 2 GB. FAT32, an extended variant of FAT16, was introduced first in Windows 95 OSR2 and increased the partition size limit to 2 terabytes. NTFS, a totally different file system, was introduced in Windows NT. Unlike the FAT file systems, NTFS has security and transaction rollback features. Random access to a huge file is also more efficient in NTFS. Moreover, while the file size limit on FAT32 is 4 GB, a file on NTFS can grow up to 16 exabytes (16 billion gigabytes).
question to JARGON please
today I have tested sandisk 512MB SD card ....
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I have 512MB SD card and am allowed to fill it up to the full limit of roughly 484MB and not 512MB, ok .. it is a matter of formatting plus a consequence of the fact that 1MB equals 1024kB but I am curious about the other thing .... I remember old times back with IPAQ + PCMCIA sleeve with inserted flash card 1280MB of sandisk - the size written on the back of the card WAS EXACTLY matching what PPC2002 was showing .... 1280MB
to me it seems like either different "disk geometry" or disk format - can anyone explain it to me pls
regards,
monika
An SD card uses a portion of its memory for its security data. That's why you can't use the entire capacity of the SD card. That's also the reason why an MMC, which doesn't have the SD card's security features, has more available memory than an SD card with the same total capacity.
uuups, you are right ...
according to Sandisk SD card manual
http://www.sandisk.com/oem_sd_memorycard.html
user can access only 940,864 bytes plus 10,240 secure area (which are not accessed by user) ... what a rip-off on 512MB card format .. upppps :wink:
regards,
monika
i have ridata pro 1GB SD Card 66x that is broken, the problem is it can only store 28mb after 28mb it will say that the card is not working properly. can this be fix?
IF you have a card reader/writer, then format it on Windows XP or whatever OS, then go to command prompt and type:
CHKDSK I: /R
(I: is the drive letter of your SD card reader/writer)
The /R option will check the disk for physical errors & replace bad clusters with hidden files, so the device will avoid reading/writing to these corrupted clusters (skipping).
Im glad that there is still a possible solution for my 1GB but why not using pocket pc to format SD? like resco explorer it has a sd format option.
yes you can, but formatting your SD card on Windows make it possible for the File System to locate bad sectors in the SD & mark them in the FAT allocation table as hidden files, so your PPC OS won't get stuck while accessing the bad areas on your SD!
I recommend the Windows format.
Thanks! ill do that! hope it works..
It shall work; because it works with hard drives!
They both have the same storage techniques (clusters, sectors, FAT allocation table, ... ) 8)
i believe there is an app called MMC medic.. maybe it can help you somehow and retrieve some lost files..
Hi guys
My 2GB Mini SD card is not working. I have a Trinity - Orange SPV M700, I wonder if anyone could tell me how to I fromat it and which FAT system to use?
Sorry if this is a stupid question, but I did try to use File explorer and looked everywhere in the Settings section.
I am thinking, maybe I need to use my card reader in the computer or do I have to buy a 3rd party program to do this?
Any idea
Thanks
Using the cardreader in your computer is fine. Use the FAT format, not FAT32.
lts said:
Using the cardreader in your computer is fine. Use the FAT format, not FAT32.
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Click to collapse
Why not FAT32? I've been using a 4gb miniSD fromatted in FAT32 for months without a problem.
If You don't have a card reader or an adaptor for the Micro-SD You can do it via wm5 storage. FAT32 should be better than FAT.
I also had problem with SD card (2Gb). Then I used one program for formating Panasonic SDformatter an now I don't have problems anymore.
Link: http://panasonic.jp/support/global/cs/sd/download/sd_formatter.html
Try with this program.
By
As you may know, the SD specifications are not open but must be licensed and are protected by NDA's. Therefore I pesonally can't say for sure whether or not FAT32 is within the SDA 1.0/1.1 standard, but I would guess that it's not.
It's true that using FAT32 seems to work with most cards and controllers in the PPC world, but apart from eliminating the 512 files limit, I don't really see any advantage over FAT.
FAT32 is not a 'high performance' filesystem, so in terms of read/write speed it doesn't give you anything compared to FAT.
If you use a 4GB non compliant card, then of course you must use FAT32, since FAT only allows for 2GB.
So in short, unless you can't live with the 512 limit, I don't see that FAT32 will give you anything over FAT, and when you use FAT, you are sure to be within the standard.
lts said:
...but apart from eliminating the 512 files limit, I don't really see any advantage over FAT...
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Click to collapse
Thanx for nice info, if that's true, FAT32 is the only option user may have when formating card, this limit is a way to small !
banesi said:
Thanx for nice info, if that's true, FAT32 is the only option user may have when formating card, this limit is a way to small !
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Please note that 512 is not the limit of the total number of files that can be stored on the card, it is the max. number of entries in the root directory.
The max. number of files that can be stored on a FAT filesystem is 65517.
thank you for clarification, is there a way I can already check in what format my card is formated?
banesi said:
thank you for clarification, is there a way I can already check in what format my card is formated?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If it hasn't been reformatted since it left the factory, then I think it's safe to assume that it's FAT formatted.
If you want to check, then put it in a card reader and look at its properties (assuming your PC is running Windows).
i'm using Windows XP, but in my computer my pda is listed as a windows mobile phone and if right click the storage card, there's no option to format it...what should i do ?
thanks
Although mem check shows mSD card capacity, some applications/programs cannot access the card for saving!?!
How do you format the card within the unit?
t4hir said:
Although mem check shows mSD card capacity, some applications/programs cannot access the card for saving!?!
How do you format the card within the unit?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You could use something like:
http://www.pocketgear.com/software_detail.asp?associateid=373&id=12178
However, I always use a card reader and my PC to do a format.
Also does the card need formatting? Some applications need you to set up directories on the card in order for them to save there. Others by default save to Main memory and need a registry change or a third party app to make tye change.
If file explorer finds the card and you can use active sync to place files on the card vis AS Explorer function then the card is formatted ok.
(And if you knew all that I apologise!)
Mike
Hi All,
Just wondering if there was a way of formatting the SD card completely from within WM ? Or do i simply just delete all files thats on the card?
I also read somewhere about some registry tweaks to improve performance on the SD Card - There was a benchmarking utility to run to see if it would make any difference also in the post. I have searched around everywhere but cant find it. Can someone help?
Regards,
Craig
There is a way to format the card using WM - whether it helps any is debateable.. (I never noticed any improvement).
But how I did it was this:
1. Put the card into your laptop/desktop
2. Start--> Run-->"compmgmt.msc" (or "dskmgmt.msc")
3. Go to disk management, delete the partition on the SD card
4. then insert it into the phone.
The phone will ask you whether you want to format it, click yes and it's done
But, using dskmgmt.msc and creating a FAT32 partition is the same thing..
p.s. deleting the files != formatting the card.
pp.s. don't know how to trigger the format from within WM. There may be some utilities (saw some on Handango regarding defrag on your SD card) which can do this - never saw the benefit of defrag also..because the speed of the card is not high enough to the point at which defrag would help.
pocket mechanics does that