Registered: Apr 2001
Location: Atlanta, GA
Posts: 708

MemPlugCF | CardReader | WindowsXP

I just recently did two things. The first, I traded my MemPlugSM for a MemPlugCF and CardReader. The second, I upgraded to WindowsXP.

When installing XP, I chose to go with NTFS instead of FAT32, as this prevented me from having to partition my drive. After the install, I got the CardReader working and it seems to work fine.

Now enters the problem. Everything is recognized on my CF Card, both in the Visor and in the CardReader. However, if I attempt to create a directory on the Card using the CardReader, it can no longer be used in the MemPlug. I can delete the directory and everything is fine again.

I can also create the directory on the Visor using PiMover and then put the card in the CardReader. At this point, I can transfer files to the new directory and they will work fine on the MemPlug.

Could the problem be XP is using NTFS instead of FAT? If so, does anyone know a way to write to media and force it to use FAT?

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Registered: Jan 2001
Location: Misplaced Canuck in Charleston SC
Posts: 257

Right click on the drive you want to format and bring up the Format panel. On my XP, I have an option to select the file system (FAT32 or FAT). My drive is still a FAT32 partition (upgrade from WinME...haven't gotten around to changing to NTFS yet), so you mght not get a choice. Worth a look though.

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Registered: Apr 2001
Location: Atlanta, GA
Posts: 708

Well, in WindowsXP properties, the CF Card shows up as FAT. I am just wondering if that means everytime XP can properly write directories to it, since XP is in NTFS.

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In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. JOHN 14:2

Registered: Jul 2000
Location:
Posts: 3034

quote:

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Originally posted by GSR13
Well, in WindowsXP properties, the CF Card shows up as FAT. I am just wondering if that means everytime XP can properly write directories to it, since XP is in NTFS.

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Registered: Feb 2000
Location:
Posts: 70

Directories must be created on the visor...

One of the things that has been floating around the Memplug group on Yahoo (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/memplug/ ) is that the directory structure must be established in PiMover PRIOR to placing the media in the card reader. In BETA testing the MemPlug SM I found that this was the case not only in 2k, but also in 98 and ME. It still holds true in XP.

Here is the quick and easy way to get things done. The default location that VFS aware applications (including 3rd party launchers like LauncherIII and SilverScreen 2.x) will look for files is \palm\launcher. Create this directory structure in PiMover (d), and copy a file from RAM into the directory before removing the card. For some reason files written into the directory by the PiMover application force the card and the directory to maintain the FAT12 file system, but if this step is skipped the card takes on the FAT16 file system that removable media larger than 2MB is assigned by windows.

From there, place the card in your card reader and start filling it up!

For more detailed tutorials see the unofficial guide at LaunchPlug

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