I got a PQI 2GB Mini SD card yesterday and popped it, with its SD adapter, into my Axim x30. Nothing registered at first, so after about ten seconds I soft resetted and voila, 1.8+GB (1900+MB) shows up. I copy two files over and run them- everything looks good.
I also try the card in my Casio Exilim camera. All looks good as well- I can take 800+ pictures at its highest resolution and end up capturing three shots. I pop the card back in my Axim and can view the pictures fine. ...now here comes the bad part.
I proceed to test this card in a PC since I ideally want to transfer files back and forth. I first test out this card in a Toshiba laptop that has a built-in SD card reader. For whatever reason, it recognizes a card has been inserted, but I can't do anything with it (no storage space detected, RAW format). I try to use Toshiba's own memory card formatting utility, but it ends up having an error with a corresponding hexadecimal error #. I also try to select the format option through Windows & right clicking, but the format prompt never shows up. I then use a USB SD memory card reader on a desktop PC, but Windows does not recognize that a card is even in the reader. Ditto when I try the card + USB reader on the original laptop.
I'm getting a teensy bit desperate now; of course, I have never used (nor needed to use until now) a PPC card formatting utility, so I decide to use my camera to try and format the card instead. I do so successfully...but the available memory seems to now be
cut in half (400+ pictures can be taken)! My Axim unfortunately confirms this (950+MB available).
Feeling a teensy bit pissed of now, I decide to try my hand at a PPC utility for formatting. I just tried formatting the card, with a Storage Tools trial, in both FAT 16 and FAT 32. Neither one magically restored the missing GB, nor did they allow my desktop to recognize the card existed. Incidentally, scanning the card with Storage Tools says that nothing is wrong.
Did I somehow screw up the card when I first popped it in my Axim? Or is the card just of bad quality (and I'm having reaaaally bad luck)? I really can't understand why two devices that aren't PCs can use this card fine apparently, while two supposedly more advanced computers can't make heads from tails.
If all else fails, I guess I will end up returning this... or if I feel particularly adventurous, exchanging it.
Short version in review:
-2GB miniSD card was recognized fine in my x30 and in a camera
-Card was not recognized by two different SD readers, by two different computers
-Formatted the card in the camera; lost a GB of space
-Formatted the card w/ Storage Tools on x30; doesn't change anything
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