formatting mmc

[tfc]

can anyone please tell me how to format mmc card for xda...there's 3 options in win xp ...fat32....fat...ntfs....i cant format it from the xda , keep getting error code 31.....an error occurred while formatting the storage card folder...........thanks

[cruisin-thru]

Try formatting to Fat or Fat 32, however if the xda wont format it there may be a problem, make sure the "lock" switch is in the off position. I have had a problem with sd cards before, what I did was a sd backup from the xda, it then seemed to work ok, just deleted the backup and it worked ever after.

[tfc]

theres no lock switch on the mmc card...i've tried storage tools and flash format...the card must be buggered

[ntabikha]

i have a different problem, but im sure its connected to the formatting somehow! my card only fills up HALF way!
there is 40% more room availble, all scans prooves this, yet i cant add anything to it, im thinking, its the way its formated, was there a 'directory' limit to how many files that can exist in root?
and wasnt it related to the type of formatting? so my question is...
which format/cluster/ect... is best to fully use a 256 card? and 512/1G.?

[Robson]

Hello,

I actually started a topic last week concerning the same thing. i'm copying bits and pieces of it here; it also helps address your concern about which format to use and the sd card limitations. the first point below address which format you should use for the sd card; in this case use FAT. by the way, i use an sd-card reader (usb plugged) to format the card; it shows up as "removable disk e" in my laptop's window's explorer.

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? i don't really know but obviously using FAT format was the best thing to do, but what's with the other formats?

2 cents worth.
cheers mates
robson

[tfc]

thanks Robson...but i have sent to back for a replacement....i tried it in my reader but the pc could not see the sd card...so i went out and bought a 128mb card while i wait for the new one to come....had no problems with the 128 worked straight away

[monika69]

one more thing to add, I do have 256MB SD card on my XDA I and WM2003, ver 4.0.21

I can use my 256MB card to the full limit, the card has been formatted with CnetX format utility (www.cnetx.com) with FAT16 and FAT32 and apart from the fact that content has been missing from time to time, so I had to re-load the files ... when I locked the card, everything is fine now

regards,
monika

[monika69]

I am allowed to fill it up to the full limit of roughly 484MB

I am curious about the other thing .... buying 512MB SD card for its prce it's almost a rip-off and you get only 484MB in return, 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