i use my axim x 5 with 128mb cf card and 256 sd card and i never had a problem.today when i tried to launch an application from the cf card i was prompted to format the card and i lost all the information stored on it. i tried later to reinstall the files to the cf card and the process starts and then stops with a message on my Pc (cant convert file. A device attached to the system is not functioning). i also noticed that when i removed the cf the axim was alot faster. My questions are:

1- does the card needs reformatting again and how?or is it completely useless.

2- how to create backup files from the card and where to keep them?sorry i might be thick here but i really dont know

help will be much appreciated

The best way to manage storage cards is to get a card reader that attaches to your computers USB port.

Then you can use the cards as if they were drives, format, delete files and run scandisk on them. Then of course you can copy file to your hard drive for backup purposes

Axim 400
WM03
512 CF
256 SD
Dell Trumobile wireless CF
Pretec CF modem
Netgear wireless access point
Cable Modem
Motorola MPX 200 mobile phone

I used win xp & card read.
I had the same problem with my sd card till I formated w/ windows to fat32 and the card has been working great since.
Just make sure that you have whats on the card backedup some where eles just in case...
To backup the card use activesync and click on the explore buttion and go to the card and copy what on the card to a floder on your harddrive.
I you want a USB card reader, you can find 8 in 1 reader for less than $20 they are a good thing to have if you use any kind of mem card.

Just get a reader and do the following:
Copy all stuff from card and put it on computer (use reader or else it will take forever)
Do what ever it wants-Defrag, etc
Copy stuff back.
Da End