Please Help! Magicstor 2.2GB Microdrive problem!

smeg36 · 10-16-03, 07:37 PM

Ok, here is the deal. My Magicstor 2.2GB microdrive came today. I was so excited. I opened it up, and popped it into my Axim. I heard the drive start up, but my Axim froze! After about 10 sec., the drive stopped spinning, and I could use my Ax again. However, I can't find my microdrive anywhere. I looked under Start/Settings/System/Memory/StorageCard, but all I can find is the Built in Storage, and my SD card. I checked under File Explorer, and it isn't there either.

So then I tried it in my laptop with the pcmcia to CF adaptor. It showed up fine, no problems. It was formatted as FAT. So I reformatted it as FAT32. I even put a movie on it. It works fine in my computer. Then I put it in my Axim again, and the same thing happened. It started up, froze for 10 sec. or so while the drive was running, then doesn't find it. I have tried soft resetting it with the drive in, and with it out. Nothing. Any suggestions? Thanks for any help.

smeg36 · 10-16-03, 07:52 PM

Also, I know the CF slot does work because I used it for my GPS unit earlier today.

smeg36 · 10-16-03, 10:20 PM

Ok, weird situation. I have no idea why, but it only works on PPC2002, and not on WM2003. I sure am glad I made a backup of 2002 when I ugraded to 2003!

TheAce · 10-17-03, 04:19 AM

If you still want to use PPC2003, you could send an email and/or phone the company/store that you got it from, and ask about the "new" version that works under PPC2003 ;)

smeg36 · 10-17-03, 10:12 AM

Thanks for the input. So are there actually two different 2.2GB drives made my magicstor, and one works with 2003?

TheAce · 10-18-03, 05:16 AM

Erm, you misunderstood me. I dont actually know if there are two different models (or same model with different firmware), I just said that your best shot would be to e-mail the manufacturer or shop that you got it from, and see if this is indeed the case......

smeg36 · 10-18-03, 01:37 PM

For some reason, I don't know why, they don't work on the Ax with 2003. The company is working on a patch to get them working. We will just have to wait and see. Thanks for your help.

suemccartin · 10-31-03, 11:44 AM

I've seen a couple of articles that say that Dell's "implementation" of pc2003 is less than desireable and is causing some of the compatibility issues, it's not the os itself, it's the way Dell programmed their firmware----which means to me that they should have some responsibility for curing this problem. My two cents anyhow.

helas3ohd · 11-04-03, 05:47 PM

I also bought the Magicstor drive and have the same problem with my Axim X5 with WM2003. Unfortunately I do not have PPC2002 backed up.. =( what do I do? I don't know where to get PPC2002 and I don't think Dell has any patches available yet. If anybody has any ideas, please help. Thanks!

smeg36 · 11-04-03, 05:50 PM

Write to Magicstor. I have heard they are working on something, and the more people that write them, the faster they will work on it. Or your other option is to return it and get something else. Sorry for you bad luck.

suemccartin · 11-12-03, 12:06 PM

I wrote to magicstor they wrote back and said they don't know when the drive will work under pc2003, sounds like they might be having trouble finding the problem. I'd like one of those too, especially now that they're so cheap but I'm not going to buy it and then get stuck if they can't fix the issue.

Much safer to find another way to get more storage like a pcmcia card drive and a cf to pcmcia adapter, twice as much storage (5 gig) for around the same money and if you shop careful you can get the kingston product, with the usb pc card reader, for about 20 bucks less than the magicstor costs on ebay.

smeg36 · 11-12-03, 01:21 PM

I actually got my Kingston PCMCIA 5GB hard drive off ebay for $110, so you can get them even cheaper than that. I found I just didn't use it as much as I wanted though because of the difficulty of carrying it around, and I was worried about it getting damaged outside of the Axim.

It is a good think I ended up selling it for $200 on ebay (there are a lot of people who will buy the same product for a lot more if it is listed well), so I could cover the cost of the Magicstor. Another good thing is that I had 2002 backed up before I upgraded to 2003. Now my drive actually works, because I went back to 2002, until there is a patch for 2003.

I think it actually only doesn't work on Axims running 2003. I went to Ciruit City a couple weeks ago, and it worked great in the HP 2215 running 2003.

suemccartin · 11-12-03, 03:09 PM

I've read several articles that expressed concerns with Dell's particular version of 2003. If that's truly the case then Dell needs to be involved in fixing the issue. I've posted in the "tell dell" area and on their forum about this but I haven't gotten any official replies that I know about.

Outc@st · 11-29-03, 01:13 PM

HI,

Just thought I would add, just moved from an Ipaq to the Axim x5 and tried a working IBM microdrive 500mb, which I used for Mp3's in a CF sleeve. As soon as it was inserted into the X5 it stops working and locks the X5, and looking at the microdrive on the Pc, find all files trashed.

Hmmm.

syncrodave · 12-05-03, 04:45 PM

Well, I wish I would have read this before I shelled out the money for the microdrive. I upgraded my axim to 2003 and now I can't find my image for 2002 to change back. Anybody know how I can get another image?