MiniSD: Fat or Fat32 - P3600 General

I want to format my miniSD card and I can choose FAT or FAT32.
What is the difference between them and what is beter to use for the trinity?
Thanx a lo!
John

jjplayground said:
I want to format my miniSD card and I can choose FAT or FAT32.
What is the difference between them and what is beter to use for the trinity?
Thanx a lo!
John
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't know the technical aspects, but personally I found FAT32 to be more reliable (and quicker).

The primary reason for creating the FAT32 system was to alleviate the 2GB limitation of the FAT system (or rather FAT16 as it is).
In addition to this, FAT32 does not have a Root Directory Region as FAT has, and therefore it does not have the (in practice) 512 limit for entries in the root directory.
Also FAT32 allows for more files to be stored on the system than FAT, in practice 268,435,437 vs. 65,517.
For a SD card I don't really see any reason that FAT32 should be superior to FAT, unless you run into the 512 or 65,517 limits.
There should be no difference in neither performance nor reliability between the two.

hi.
how about the choice of cluster syze when formating? is this important? in what way?

Related

XDAIIi and Best SD Card Format Setup

I don't know if anyone is interested but I have done extensive testing on my XDAIIi with my Kingston Elite Pro 512MB SD Card.
Using Spb Benchmark
http://www.spbsoftwarehouse.com/products/benchmark/?en
and softwinter's storage tools
http://www.softwinter.com/storagetools.html
I have tried formatting my SD Card withmany various differnt set-ups.
I.e. differnt cluster sizes, FAT 16 and FAT 32, back-up FAT or not.
And by using the 'storage card' benchmark option on SPB Benchmark I have found that my Kingston Elte Pro card functions best and fastest by formatting it like this...
FAT16
512 byte Sector Size
64KB Cluster Size
Backup FAT - NO.
Hope this helps some people, maybe other people can try with their makes of storage card and post their results.
The next 'best' format was with..
FAT32
512 byte Sector Size
32KB Cluster Size
Backup FAT - NO
Also another observation I made was if you format the card using the first set up but have
Backup FAT - YES
There is a significant decrease in speed operation.
As I said above I format my cards in my XDAIIi or through my laptops media card reader.
Hope this helps!!
Happy testing 8)
Cheers,
lydiachris

How to format the Mini SD card

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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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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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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Click to collapse
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?
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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

Partitions in wm?

Hello everybody,
Does wm support partitions?
So can I split up my 8 gb sd card into two partitions of 4?
Or does wm not support this?
Thanks!
Hope you don't mind me asking, but what for ?
E.g.
Partition one:
Haret > Android
Partition two:
Multimedia stuff + wm
or
Partiton one:
Multimedia
Partition 2
Program files and stuff
There is no need as both Andriod and WM6.x can see Fat/Fat32, which I presume your SD card is formatted.
If you want to separate your media from any programs you want to install on the sd card just use a different folder.
Plugging your SD card into you TP2 is the same as plugging it into your desktop / laptop whatever the OS.
Would you partition a SD card that was plugged into your desktop ?
If you want to partition the SD, try it and let us know... however i think that it will appear as 2 storage cards in explorer.
I will give it a try
It is possible but not usable...
I also searched around on the internet and it works
But I am back at one sd card since I find folders easier than 2 storage cards.
rick94 said:
E.g.
Partition one:
Haret > Android
Partition two:
Multimedia stuff + wm
or
Partiton one:
Multimedia
Partition 2
Program files and stuff
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know exactly where you're comin' from, man. After I get a 16GB class 6 microSDHC, I intend to partition ~8.5GB as NTFS ('cause I'd like the the max capacity to hold a full DVD DL disk) to handle larger file transfers btwn desk/laptops. And, I'd still have a whoppin' ~7.5GB to be used by the tele as FAT32...'just haven't made that microSDHC purchase yet, but I'd imagine it to be plausible.
kain144000 said:
I know exactly where you're comin' from, man. After I get a 16GB class 6 microSDHC, I intend to partition ~8.5GB as NTFS ('cause I'd like the the max capacity to hold a full DVD DL disk) to handle larger file transfers btwn desk/laptops. And, I'd still have a whoppin' ~7.5GB to be used by the tele as FAT32...'just haven't made that microSDHC purchase yet, but I'd imagine it to be plausible.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
WM doesn't work with NTFS
It used to..
dik23 said:
WM doesn't work with NTFS
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I remember some time ago on Aximsite or another older related site reading how to format NTFS and use a Compact Flash card on Windows Mobile. I did it on my Axim and Ipaq at the time, and kind of remember it working.
dik23 said:
WM doesn't work with NTFS
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Click to collapse
I know. However, if there're two partitions, NTFS @ ~8.5GB and FAT32 @ ~7.5GB, then I'd imagine that Windows would see the storage card as two drives, while Windows Mobile would see the 16GB, storage card as ~7.5GB. Anyone, please, do correct me if I'm wrong in my assumption.
This has made me wonder, too. Why does WM refer to "Storage Card 1" occasionally when inserting/unplugging memory cards...? It kinda implies that there is room for multiple cards at the same time...????
Chris
i partitioned my 16 gig hard drive and installed linksys on one partition so i can plug into my computer and dual boot from my phone...
i dont really see a reason to create multiple partitions to have the same function as folders (ie seperating media from doc, ext...)
kain144000 said:
I know exactly where you're comin' from, man. After I get a 16GB class 6 microSDHC, I intend to partition ~8.5GB as NTFS ('cause I'd like the the max capacity to hold a full DVD DL disk) to handle larger file transfers btwn desk/laptops. And, I'd still have a whoppin' ~7.5GB to be used by the tele as FAT32...'just haven't made that microSDHC purchase yet, but I'd imagine it to be plausible.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You would not gain anything by formatting NTFS other than the ability to set NTFS permissions in Windows. A movie can be stored on a FAT/FAT32 partition with no ill affect on usability. Also, when you purchase any type of storage, the actual formatted size is usually smaller than the advertised size. So if you buy a 16GB card, you will most likely end up with around 15GB max of usable space. I would not plan on having 7.5GB of free space after creating a 8.5GB partition.
htcfan78 said:
You would not gain anything by formatting NTFS other than the ability to set NTFS permissions in Windows...I would not plan on having 7.5GB of free space after creating a 8.5GB partition.
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No, you'd also be able to support files larger than 2GB. And, I know it wouldn't be 7.5GB, that's why I'd said about (~). Prob more like 6.8GB, or so.
dik23 said:
WM doesn't work with NTFS
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Click to collapse
I know NTFS doesn't work on Windows Mobile. However, I would assume that if you were to make two partitions, one NTFS, and the other FAT32, the Windows Mobile device would show the FAT32 partition, while a Windows dsktp would show the microSDHC as two partitions, NTFS and FAT32. I've ordered a 16GB microSDHC Class 6, and I'll post my results after I receive, partition and format the card.
Okay. So've received my 16GB microSDHC Class 6, and have partitioned and formatted with Paragon Partition Manager Pro v9.0, and have...
Partition 1 - microSDHC N, 8.61GB NTFS
Partition 2 - microSDHC, 6.24GB FAT32
The device sees the FAT32 partition, as intended. Windows (Vista), however, shows only the 1st partition (NTFS) of the microSD, even when using the device in Disk Drive USB mode. Disk Management sees the FAT32 partition, but no matter what options I select, I'm met with
Code:
An unexpected error has occurred. Check the System Event Log for more information on the error...
At this point, I just need Windows to allow me to give the partition a drive letter. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
in the start search bar type computer managment then go to storage/disk management select the disk and then right click and change letter.
thats supposed to let you change the letter i have to deal with this alot at work with all the network drives and my externals
hope this helps
shigeo said:
...change letter...thats supposed to let you change the letter
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I'd tried this believing that Windows only needed to assign a drive letter, but to no avail. :\

[Q] Any way to flash the microSD to FAT16?

Ok, I need to format a microSD card to FAT16. Everyone online asks for reasoning for why this needs to be done: I need to flash the BIOS on my EEEPC 1000HE to resolve a Windows 7 install, but for whatever reason at bootup the BIOS only enables flashing from FAT16 storage. All of my machines run Windows 7, and Windows 7 inexplicably removes FAT16 formatting altogether; it is not even possible with third-party programs.
Does anyone know of any utilities that can reliably format the microSDHC card to FAT16? I have tried SKTools' format but it only seems to do FAT32, even though the option for FAT16 is there it ignores it and does FAT32. The Format Storage card also only does FAT32 with no options.
Is there any hardware limitation, either in the HD2 or microSDHC card, that would prevent me from formatting to FAT16? Windows Mobile and the HD2 are my only hope for right now until I get ahold of an XP machine.
EDIT: I understand FAT16 limits volumes to 4GB.. I am wondering if this is the problem.
friend'scatdied said:
EDIT: I understand FAT16 limits volumes to 4GB.. I am wondering if this is the problem.
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Click to collapse
i would think so, yes. You can probably try some of teh advanced partitioning programs to create only a 4gb partition, but i would guess its still hit and miss, and im not sure if its even possible on removeable media, , probably far easier to get hold of a 2gb card or smaller. (Irony is i have a pile, i mean PILE of 126,256 and 512 meg cards right here, there must be about 60, from a place i used to work.)

[Q] 4Go data.img and FAT32

Sorry for this question, but :
How to use a 4Go data.img with a FAT32 formated card ?
FAT32 is the only way to use memorycard , did I use NTFS ?
Because when I want to copy data.img on my memorycard, Windows don't want make it !
( I'm using a 16 Go memorycard )
Quoted from the Wiki re: FAT32:
The maximum possible size for a file on a FAT32 volume is 4 GiB minus 1 byte (2^32−1 bytes). Video applications, large databases, and some other software easily exceed this limit. Larger files require another formatting type such as NTFS.
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Basically, it can't be done with exactly 4Gb (or GiB, or Go, however your country names it). <4Gb is fine.
Thx !
Merci.

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