Registered: Oct 2001
Location: New Orleans, LA, formerly of New York, NY
Posts: 13

My new MemPlug - do I need to format the memory, and if so, how do I do that?

I purchased the MemPlug for CF two days ago, along with 64mb of CF memory. I then tried to use PiBackup, and was told the card was not formatted. I have tried to format the card using PiPreferences with both the quick and the full options, but both have failed multiple times.

I have downloaded and installed CF updater v1.64 as well as PiVFS Mgr v05, but the formatting still fails. I am at a loss what to do next. Anyone have any suggestions? I emailed PI yesterday, but have not yet heard back from them.

Registered: Nov 2001
Location:
Posts: 33

What brand is the CF Card. Believe it or not the Statement "a CF card is a CF card" is not true with this technology. Some CF cards have a slightly different format and/or voltage requirements. I have found that off brands like Butterfly (that can be found on ebay) sometimes do not work with the memplug. I have 5 compact flash cards that I originally used for my Digital camera. Two of them do not work with the memplug. I keep getting the same fail message you get. Both of these cards are made by the Butterfly Group Inc.

Reply with what brand CF Card you have and size and any info you have about it and I'll see what I can dig up for you.

Registered: Oct 2001
Location: New Orleans, LA, formerly of New York, NY
Posts: 13

memorex

Registered: Feb 2000
Location:
Posts: 264

paz,
I had the same problem even though I tried two different brands of CF cards. I ended up downloading the 1.62 software and all works fine now.

Registered: Nov 2001
Location:
Posts: 33

Hey Paz,
Did you get your email back from Memplug yet? I had emailed them too about 2 of my CF Cards not working in the memplug. I did get a response and here it is:

quote:

---

MemPlug is not compatible with 2 brands Memorex and Simple Tech. This incompability applies to the new design of MemPlug CF (serial end with B or C). The older design has more incompabilities. Please let me know the brands of cf cards you have. Sorry we do not have any solution to solve the incompability problem.

---

Registered: Oct 2001
Location: New Orleans, LA, formerly of New York, NY
Posts: 13

Hey everyone, thanks for the help. I did finally hear from PI, and as you suggested, the brand of CF was the issue. their recommendation was to use Lexar or SanDisk, and once I exchanged the Memorex for 64mb of Lexar memory, everything seems to be working fine. Now if I could only figure out how to use Pi direct, all would be well. Any suggestions as to which apps are best for being run off the card? Does anyone use the Handspring Photo Album on the card? what about Vindigo? Avantgo? or ePocrates? (my four largest ones).

Registered: Nov 2001
Location:
Posts: 33

PiDirect

PiDirect isn't the simplest software to use or their just isn't good Documentation and I am a Computer and Network Technician.
In the little instruction booklet that came with your Memplug, there's like ONE WHOLE PAGE ( with only about 6 lines of text) that tells you how to use pidirect. unless you bought the full version you have to do directly as the instructions say for making the paths. Your visor will not recognize any other path. If you do like I did and try to make you own paths (ie /palm/games instead of /palm/pidirect/) and put data in it. Your visor will not see it. At least this is what happened to me. It's there, You just can't see it unless you open pi mover. I think I am going to get the full version of PiDirect, but for $50 for the memplug it should have been included in my opinion. Hope this helps and for a list of compatible programs.... You'll need adobe acrobat reader and go to url:
http://www.memplug.com/Prodinfo/PiMount/AppList.pdf
I would try to post the list here but it's rather long.

Registered: Oct 2001
Location: New Orleans, LA, formerly of New York, NY
Posts: 13

So all I had to do was read the directions and the FAQ to get it to work. Seems silly that they don't just load it to the pidirect subdirectory automatically, but perhaps they are trying to get newbies to belive that you have to upgrade.

Once I figured out that trick, all seems to work well.

OK, new tangent - I uploaded an avi file with the g movie maker software provided, and i hear the audio, but don't see the video. I filled in the serial number info, so i no longer get the limit of 20 seconds, but I suspect there is an upgrade, either to g movie maker of to quicktime that I need to download. Any suggestions?

Registered: Nov 2001
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 4

CP Module Brands?

Earlier in this thread the brands SanDisk and Lexar were mentioned as known good, and Memorex and Simple Tech known bad.
Anyone with experience using other brands successfully, such as Mr. Flash?

Registered: Nov 2001
Location:
Posts: 33

I haven't used Mr Flash before but I have used HP, Hitachi and Toshiba and they all have worked in my memplug. I to have been considering buying Mr. Flash. There are some pretty good deals for new ones on ebay. I do honestly believe they will work. I know the seller on ebay offers a refund if his CF cards are not compatible with your device.... so go ahead and give it a try.

Registered: Aug 2000
Location: New Braunfels, TX
Posts: 10

Crucial CF?

Has anyone tried a 64MB Crucial CF card in a Flashplus? I've been to both Memplug and Flashplus yahoo groups and can't find any comments related to Crucial.

Registered: Aug 2000
Location:
Posts: 137

For those of you considering a Memplug CF or have one already, here is the list on the Memplug site for compatible CF cards. Definitely need to check this out before making purchases:

http://www.memplug.com/CFList.htm

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Registered: Nov 2001
Location:
Posts: 33

Hey chungmike,
Thanks a lot. You won't believe how much this helps me. I can't believe that I never saw this as often as I have been to the site. I have been looking a lot for a compatibility list. THANKS!
I wish that it was a little more complete, but I will take that up with them.