2GB SD card compatibility

[jaykumar99]

I just bought a 2gb SD card and can't get my X5 to recognize it. Anyone else have a similar problem?

nope no such problem...did u check if it was the card itself? try it on a card reader??? i heard of problems wit CF card but never SD....what type is it?

[jmr39]

I just bought a 2gb SD card and can't get my X5 to recognize it. Anyone else have a similar problem?

I have a similar (but not identical problem). My 2gb SD card gets recognized, but I can't access anything but the first 1gb of space. Any attempt to write to the area above 2gb results in a write error. I can use a card reader to read/write above the 1gb boundary, but once the card is plugged into my Axim, every file that appears over the 1gb mark disappears.

This seems to be everyone's experience. There's an archive thread that covered this topic a while ago:

http://www.aximsite.com/boards/archi...p/t-76064.html

Lots of people posited theories of how to get around the problems. I tested many of them, and tried some strategies of my own. Here are my results (all failures)

1) Formatting strategies: Some people suggested that reformatting the card with FAT32 or FAT16 formatting might solve the problem. Neither formatting scheme mattered.

2) Partitioning strategies: Some people suggested that the card should be partitioned into 2 1gb partitions to solve the problem, and others complained that it is impossible to partition an SD Card.

I couldn't figure out a way to partition my SD Card in Windows. However, it was straightforward to use my Linux machine to repartition the card. But it didn't make any difference. My Axim could access any number of partitions on my card as long as they occurred below the 1gb boundary. Any partition that started above (or even near) the boundary was invisible. It did not matter if I created 2 primary partitions, or 1 primary partition and one extended partition containing a logical drive. All partitions failed above the 1gb boundary.

These results suggest a source for the problem. Software tends to be ignorant of the physical placement of a drive partition; programs usually address partition sectors logically. If there were some kind of software limitation on the size of drive that could be addressed (ie the memory location that holds the disk address is too small to contain an address over 1gb), partitioning the drive should have helped.

Since partitioning didn't help, the 1gb boundary is a probably a property of the Axim's card reading hardware (or low-level firmware). The device just can't see anything higher than 1gb. This hypothesis is further reinforced by the fact that the Axim X5 can read 2GB CompactFlash cards.

In short, we're probably never going to be able to use the top 1gb of our 2gb SD Cards. I'm going to try to find someone who might be willing to trade my 2gb card for 2 1gb cards...

[jaykumar99]

Thank you all for the responses. I went to a 1GB now and still can't be read....it's a SanDisk card. I have a Memorex 64MB that has no problem in the X5. Is it limited by the miniscule internal memory (16mb). Is there anyway to upgrade the Axim X5 operating system. From other threads on this forum...looks like Dell never provided upgrades but there has to be some techie out there that's figured out a workaround. my goal is to make my X5 a GPS device and am having a tough time getting out of the starting blocks.

[Gusterferson]

Wow, it seems I'm living the same problem. I put 1 gig SD in mine, and the card is now buggered. Can't format it or get it to hold files. Maybe it was wrecked right out of the box, however SanDisk reports problems of this nature with Dell Axims. Like you my 64 MB card works beautifuly, too bad it only holds an hours worth of music.

I'm running mobile 2003, it makes no difference.

[wiseand]

I manage a fleet of 100 X5s. I use a 1GB RIDATA card in all of them to carry a lot of data including planogram graphics for shelf layouts AND our proprietory application writes to the card each time a function or call is completed. Not had one problem in 6 months. They are a 150X write speed. I do not know if they make a 2GB.

[backdam]

i just received my 1gb sandisk sd card and its not working either. i wish if i knew about this post before

[wiseand]

Looks like they make a 2GB SD card

http://www.ridata.com/asia_en/product_fm_4.htm

I am in Australia and paid $AU100 for my 1GB cards

[spauldio]

I've been running a Kingston 1GB SD card for a couple of months now. Never had any problems. Does the card work in a card reader or other devices after you've tried it in your axim?

[wiseand]

I have used quite a number of different brand cards including Kingston but only 128MB and 256MB and only in CF format. I found the Kingston cards to be excellent but did not have the write speed of the RIDATA PRO. I elected to go SD because more devices are being developed with SD slots than CF now. The RIDATA PRO people espouse a lifetime warranty but I have not had to test it yet.

[wiseand]

I forgot to say they also work with my card readers. I delete files, add media files etc from my laptop usually directly with the X5 but regularly from a card reader.

I was in China a few weeks ago in Shen Zen and bought a cheap 2GB SD card branded Sandisk. Took some photos, put it into a card reader, only showed 1GB in size. Thought I was just scammed in size by the seller. Could not get photos off, card corrupted, reformatted it and then the laptop would not recognise it. Threw it in the bin.

Also bought a couple of 8GB USB sticks Had Sony Vaio brand (see them selling them "as is" on ebay now) ABSOLUTE JUNK.
I think they are just cheap copies. Chinamen at their best

[mdblanke03]

I am using a Lexar 1GB sd card and a SanDisk 1GB CF card with no problems.