Hello to everyone.
I just received a Kingston 16Gb Class4 MicroSDHC Card. The card according to Kingston's specs is preformatted in FAT32 format. I checked the card and saw that although it was totally empty, when I made a right click and chose properties, it showed as "Used Space: 32768 bytes (32kb)".
I can assume that those 32kb are related to the cluster size. Am I right? Do I have to reformat the card (to the same or to another format type e.g. FAT) and change that cluster size in an other most efficient size or shall i leave it as it is?
The preselection of FAT32 format with a cluster size of 32kb (if I have understood correctly what represents that 32kb in Used Space) is the most efficient one selection?
Thanks in advance.
John
Leave it as it is. ALL file systems, even after a format, use a very very small portion. It's normal.
Thanks for answering
Best Regards,
John
Related
Hi,
I'm considering upgrading my 1GB sd card to either a 2GB or a 4GB card.
My question is will the MDA PRO recognize these sizes and are there any brands that one might need to avoid
KR,
BTC500
betatesterc500 said:
Hi,
I'm considering upgrading my 1GB sd card to either a 2GB or a 4GB card.
My question is will the MDA PRO recognize these sizes and are there any brands that one might need to avoid
KR,
BTC500
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've had a reply on wwwPocketinfo.nl :
http://www.europe.htc.com/support/faq.html?id=29
For info on maximum card sizes for HTC brands.
Also on another site I found the following:
Source: (http://www.pocketpc-live.com/partition-sd-cards.html)
Partition SD cards PDF Print E-mail
A Pocket pc live supporter has submitted an another intresting tutorial.
Introduction
Transcend and several other manufacturers make 4GB SD cards these days. They're great if you use your HTC device as MP3 player or Camera, as they offer enough space for thousands of songs and pictures.
My device, the HTC Universal, handles them just fine. However some applications, most notably the Camera application, don't like it.
Why some apps don't like it
The main problem here is the way in which they calculate the free space.
the processor is 32-bit, which means it can handle numbers ranging from 0 to 2^32. 4GB is exactly 2^32 bytes, so that shouldn't be the problem.
The problem is that applications sometimes handle the number as signed, which means that it differentiates between negative and positive numbers.
With signed numbers, the last bit is actually used as the sign (positive or negative), and the new range stretches from -2^31 (-2GB) to 2^31 (2GB).
Up to 2^31, the unsigned numbers and signed numbers are the same, but after that the last bit is set in unsigned numbers, which means that if treated as signed it will be seen as a negative number.
So if you have more than 2GB free, and the application mistreats the number of bytes free as being signed, the application actually thinks you have less than 0 bytes free
How to fix this?
There are several ways to fix this. The most simple one would be to have a simple dummy file so you always have less than 2GB free. This works for the camera application, but any miscoded application taking a look at the actual size of the disk will still screw up
The other solution is partitioning your SD-card. This means that you actually split the SD-card up into several virtual SD-cards of smaller sizes. So one SD-card of 4GB could be seen as four of 1GB (my set up).
This way you still have 4GB of storage, but applications will not get confused as it's split up into several chunks.
WARNING
Before you start remember to back up the current data on your SD-Card. the procedure will completely erase your SD-card. You might be able to retain the data by using partitionmagic's resize partition features, but you'd have to test yourself.
Also I'd like to mention that although I tested this procedure myself, I can't garantuee it will work for you. If it renders your SD-card useless, I can not be held responsible.
My set-up
This tutorial was written using:
- T-Mobile MDA Pro (HTC Universal)
- Windows XP SP2 MCE (equivilant to Pro)
- Transcend 150x 4GB SD-Card
It might work with a different set-up, but I can't garantuee anything
Requirements
- Windows Mobile 5
- WM5Storage (do not use CardExport2, you need the ability to turn off "Removable Class"!)
- Big SD-Card
Let's get started
Just follow the following steps
* First, make a backup of your SD-card! the following procedure will erase it!
* Next, install WM5Storage. The latest version can be found here.
Just copy the .cab file to your device, and execute it from the file explorer. Just make sure you install on the main memory, as the SD-card becomes inaccessible during the procedure
* Start WM5Storage. On my device, WM5Storage did not put anything in the start menu or the today screen, so I had to launch it through the file-explorer. You can find it at My Device\Program Files\WM5Storage\.
* Be sure to untick both "Read-Only" and "Removable Class". Optionally you can set it to light a LED on read/write, but that's not neccesarry for this procedure.
* Disconnect your device from your computer.
* Insert the SD-Card if you haven't done so already
* Hit "Activate" (bottom, right)
* Re-connect your device to your computer.
* From now on all steps are done from the PC
* Wait until windows has recognized all "new hardware", and you have new a new hard-drive listed in "My Computer".
* Open the control panel (Start -> Control Panel)
* Go to either Performance and Maintenance -> Administrative Tools (category view) or directly to Administrative Tools (Classic View)
* Double-Click Computer Management
* Go to Computer Management (Local) -> Storage -> Disk Management (might take a little while to find all drives)
* In the bottom view, find the disk that has your SD-card in it (You can find out by looking at the contents through "My Computer", or by seeing which disk is added once you plug in your WM device)
* Right click the partition (white block ), and choose for Delete Partition
* In the just created "Unallocated" space, right click, and choose for New Partition
* In the wizard:
* choose for a Primary Partition
* For size, enter 1024MB (or if there is no more remaining, just the remainder). Ofcourse you can also choose your own size
* Assign any drive-letter you want (or none if you only want it to be accessible on the WM Device).
* Format the partition as Filesystem FAT32, Allocation unit size Default, and pick any volume label you want (You will only see the volume label on the PC, on the WM Device it will just be "Storage Card X". Also tick "Perform a quick format"
* Wait until the bottom line in the new partition reads "Healthy" (wait for it to format basically )
* Create as much partitions as you'd like (just resume from right-clicking and picking New partition)
* You're done partitioning! If you want, you can fill the contents of the SD-Card now before you deactivate WM5Storage
* Disconnect the device from the computer
* Next few steps on the Device
* Click "Deactivate" (same place as "Activate" was before )
* Close WM5Storage
* You're all done! have fun with the multiple storage cards you have now
4GB is no problem
crazybat2000 said:
4GB is no problem
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What brand and type are you using ?
Or can any brand or type be used? I am considering a TRansend Ultra Performance 150X Secure Digital of 4 GB.
Does the 150X make any difference compared to 133X
betatesterc500 said:
What brand and type are you using ?
Or can any brand or type be used? I am considering a TRansend Ultra Performance 150X Secure Digital of 4 GB.
Does the 150X make any difference compared to 133X
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I use the Kingmax 150X SD Card of 2GB,but i know the 4GB work good,some one has used it.
yes, choose Transend are right ,it's better than kingmax
i think there is no difference between 133X and 150X when it used on the PDA.
I´ve been trying to copy large files, as movies or maps databases to my mini sd and they are all getting corrupted.
Has anyone experienced this issue already? Do you think that it might be a problem with the phont or with the memory stick?
Thanks
Cesar
i remember that long ago i had a similar problem. Then, i formatted the mini sd card on the pc with FAT32 and it is working fine since then.
Are you copying direct to the card in a card reader, or using ActiveSync?
AS has always had a tendency to corrupt large files, and is limited to USB1 transfer rates. Originally the file size limit was about 14MB but I think AS4.0 is capable of a bit more
Anything more than 30MB would be best transferred with a card reader. If you already have corrupt files, I'd suggest copying what you have to the PC, then as suggested above, do a reformat (as long as the card is no larger than 2GB); MiniSD Cards larger than 2GB (as opposed to SDHC, which works in WM6) need special formatting, as the cluster size is modified.
Thanks for the tips. I´ve been using ActiveSync, but i´m going to buy a card reader.
I was thinking that it was a problem with my phone and i´m really glad to know that it´s normal!
Thanks
NeilM said:
Are you copying direct to the card in a card reader, or using ActiveSync?
AS has always had a tendency to corrupt large files, and is limited to USB1 transfer rates. Originally the file size limit was about 14MB but I think AS4.0 is capable of a bit more
Anything more than 30MB would be best transferred with a card reader. If you already have corrupt files, I'd suggest copying what you have to the PC, then as suggested above, do a reformat (as long as the card is no larger than 2GB); MiniSD Cards larger than 2GB (as opposed to SDHC, which works in WM6) need special formatting, as the cluster size is modified.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm upgrading my Advantage to a 4GB Mini SDHC card from a 2GB MiniSD card. I'd like to format both cards so that each is "fresh". Is it possible to do this in the Advantage, or do these cards need to be formatted from the PC?
Thanks,
Ron
don't format with the PC. Use pocket mechanics professional or sktools.
For the mini, make sure your setting is
- do not backup FAT table
- cluster size set at 32k
- Fat 16
For miniSDHC, make sure the option is
- do not backup FAT table
- cluster size set at 32k
- Fat 32
That will give you the best read/write performance.
eaglesteve said:
don't format with the PC. Use pocket mechanics professional or sktools.
For the mini, make sure your setting is
- do not backup FAT table
- cluster size set at 32k
- Fat 16
For miniSDHC, make sure the option is
- do not backup FAT table
- cluster size set at 32k
- Fat 32
That will give you the best read/write performance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the info. But I need to purchase another utility to be able to do this? I've already purchased MemMaid which I like a lot, but there doesn't seem to be any card formatting options. Or is it that Mini SD cards don't really *require* formatting?
Rambler358 said:
Thanks for the info. But I need to purchase another utility to be able to do this? I've already purchased MemMaid which I like a lot, but there doesn't seem to be any card formatting options. Or is it that Mini SD cards don't really *require* formatting?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
have you tried the trial version of sktools?
When the card is first delivered to you, they're already formatted. However, once in a while they get corrupted. That's when you may need to do this again. If you find the system freeze constantly or if you have missing files, chances are you have a lost clustered or chains. Sometimes I can recover them with pocket mechanics professional. At other times I prefer to start clean again by reformatting, just like we sometimes do with the microdrive.
eaglesteve said:
don't format with the PC. Use pocket mechanics professional or sktools.
For the mini, make sure your setting is
- do not backup FAT table
- cluster size set at 32k
- Fat 16
For miniSDHC, make sure the option is
- do not backup FAT table
- cluster size set at 32k
- Fat 32
That will give you the best read/write performance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am interested to know why you do not recommend formatting with the PC. And, why the difference in File Allocation Tables between the 2 cards?
Rick76 said:
I am interested to know why you do not recommend formatting with the PC. And, why the difference in File Allocation Tables between the 2 cards?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The last time I formatted with PC, my system kept hanging and the SKtool performance test rating plummetted to as low as 20 kb/s.
One of the key differences between normal SD(including miniSD and microSD) and SDHC (including miniSDHC and microSDHC) is the FAT thingy. It's just the way things work.
Hi all,
Just received my 8gb Sandisk MicroSD card (Class 4).
What File System and Cluster Size do I use best for optimal performance?
Or are there any other options I should consider?
Many thanks in advance.
Use FAT32 (like you have a choice -- FAT16 won't go over 2GB). Cluster size depends on the size of your files. You may want to use an application such as Pocket Mechanic to get performance data to help in your optimization.
Hi all
I've an HTC HD2 with a 16 Gb memory card included. I have 8Gb of free space in my storage card but when I switch on the camera it gives me the possibility to take ONLY 164 photos. If i switch the storage option to the Internal storage tha number changes in 153. With the same free space, in my Omnia HD (8 Mpixel) the number was greater and I think it should be this way. What's wrong?
Thank you for your replyes
Not sure whats going on there as I have a 16Gb card with about the same free space and mine says 7442...
does the card have a 16gb partition on it? maybe all of the space hasnt been used? is it fat32 partition? etc etc.
Hi...yes it has a 16Gb partition and it's FAT32. I'll try to format again both from my PC and PPC and let's see what happens.
Whats the phone stating the available space is on the card from the settings page?
The phone gives me 8Gb as free disk space. Now I'm backing up all my memory and then I'll format with windows 7. Maybe this will solve. Is better formatting from the PC or the PPC? I think it's the same but I want to be sure
thanks
No way...I formatted from both PPC an PC but no results. I tried to start the camera with tha card empty and it says 4074. It seems like the phone manages only half of the SD. I looked with resco Explorer, windows mobile Explorer and the option of WM6.5 and all of them show me 15.8 Gb of free disk space. I don't know what to do. I need some help ...
Thanks
What camera settings have you got set? Defaults from factory?
Have you been tweaking reg settings?
I have all the default settings except for a registry setting for finest resolution at 5 Mpixel (similar to 8 Mpixel) taken from a post here in xda. Even supposing in a 8 Mpixel resolution 164 photos in 8 Gb of disk space is not the correct number.
Hi guys. I solved the problem installing the HTC Patch released today. Now my available photos are 11600!!!!!!!.