Soft reset clears SD card

giladgam · 08-11-03, 11:22 PM

After using an iPaq 3635 for almost 2 years with no problems, I gave it to my wife and got a basic Axim a few weeks ago, and had nothing but trouble since...

The most annoying issue, which I have been completely unable to figure out, is the fact that the SD card (128MB Lexar card, not Sandisk) is completely erased every time I sof reset the machine. Unfortunately I also have loads of trouble getting the Dell Wireless CF card to work, so I have to reset quite often., so I end up losing all the apps I installed on the SD card. I was wondering if this is something specific to my Axim or is this a known problem.

System specs:
Axim Basic
WM2003
128MB Lexar SD card
Dell 1180 CF WiFi card.

Any advice will be appreciated.

Howard2k · 08-12-03, 12:51 AM

Bizarre!!! Where is the card made? what information is on the back of the card?

Do you have another card you can try?

giladgam · 08-12-03, 01:27 AM

The card was made in Taiwan, and unfortunately I don't have another one I can try right now, I'll try to borrow one from a coworker and see if it works the same way.

08-12-03, 02:12 AM

If possible see if you can borrow a Japanese made SD card...

If not, get in touch with LexarMedia via their website and tell them you're got an Axim with a Taiwan made SD card - if all goes well they'll replace it with a Japanese made card....

Lexar are aware there are problems with SD cards that have codes (on the back) starting with AR...

giladgam · 08-12-03, 03:11 AM

The card is AK0303LQ, which is listed as having problems when it is sold under other brand names - Sandisk and PNY are listed but not Lexar. I sent them an email asking it to be replaced. Thanks for your assistance.

Gilad.

08-12-03, 03:23 AM

Lexar have been using Sandisk-supplied cards since the start of the year due to worldwide 128mb & 256mb card shortages. They have now switched back to their Japanese supplier..

Your AK0303LQ card is the same whichever brand it's labelled... I am in the process to rehash the table so it's code / brand as well as brand / code...

08-12-03, 07:13 AM

I've seen this before. Your SD card is probably formatted as FAT16 which seem to be unstable under resets. Try using a prog like StorageTools and reformat the card to FAT32. I think you'll find it'll be much more stable.

Chris...

Howard2k · 08-12-03, 09:18 AM

I've never heard of FAT16 being unstable?

08-12-03, 09:28 AM

I have been told (by Lexar, Simpletech & Sandisk) not to format SD cards as FAT32 as it makes them imcompatable with other devices.

If you're not using the card with other devices (cameras, MP3 players, etc) then it shouldn't make a difference..

BUT - if you rang up Lexar and told them your SD card was FAT32 formatted they will tell you to reformat back to FAT16 (as the card is supplied by them )...

Personally I couldn't prove that FAT32 makes a difference, but I've only checked that against 30-odd SD cards...

08-12-03, 09:44 PM

Well, I can only post my personal experience...and that is...

When I first got my Sandisk SD's they were FAT16...standard. If I reset my Ax I could no longer access the cards. Others had posted that FAT32 provided stability during resets and it appears to be correct. I can reset anytime now that they are all FAT32 and I have no problems.

As for compatibility with other devices, that could be an issue. I do not have any other devices that use SD cards so it's no problem with me.

As for what the manufacturers say...who cares? They're the ones selling crappy cards made in Taiwan and then point fingers at the device manufacturers like it's all Dell's/HP's/etc fault.

After my inital setup of my cards I've had no problems, except what seems to be an issue of SD space not being released properly after deleting a file... which is fixed by a "supposedly-shouldn't-be-needed" defrag.

Go with what is proven to work...

Chris...