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SD FAT16 read/write format trouble — Parallax Forums

SD FAT16 read/write format trouble

Rob7Rob7 Posts: 275
edited 2007-06-27 02:09 in Propeller 1
I am having trouble formating my sd cards. My labtop, Sony vio VNG-FS940 will only give me two format options, FAT, FAT32.
It will also not let me change it.
Does anybody know how I can change the format structure ?
I tried the Sony chat tech support, and they notified me that I could not format my cards in FAT16.
Any help would be helpful or stearing me in the right direction would help.
Thanks all for a great forum and everboby's support.

Rob7

Comments

  • mirrormirror Posts: 322
    edited 2007-06-26 03:23
    I have something similar. I used the FAT option, and it appears to be FAT16. I think FAT12 is only really useable on much smaller devices - eg floppy disks. Try it and see.

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    It's not all that hard to count the number of grains of sand on the beach. The hardest part is making a start - after that it just takes time.·· Mirror - 15 May 2007
  • Paul BakerPaul Baker Posts: 6,351
    edited 2007-06-26 03:31
    There are only 3 types of FAT: FAT12, FAT16 and FAT32. FAT12 is very archaic and is never used anymore (was used for floppies, but those are obsolete). So FAT is FAT16, remember this day and age most tech support of large companies is farmed out to undertrained foreigners, so thier advice isn't always the most sage.

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    Paul Baker
    Propeller Applications Engineer

    Parallax, Inc.
  • Rob7Rob7 Posts: 275
    edited 2007-06-26 03:48
    Thanks for the information. I will try it.
    I will complete wireing the SDcard and give it a spin.
    Thanks again guy's !

    Rob7
  • Paul BakerPaul Baker Posts: 6,351
    edited 2007-06-26 03:51
    Anytime

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    Paul Baker
    Propeller Applications Engineer

    Parallax, Inc.
  • rokickirokicki Posts: 1,000
    edited 2007-06-26 05:17
    The key variable here is the sector size. I recommend using 32 kilobyte sectors no matter what your SD
    card size is. This will always give you FAT16 unless your card is larger than 2GB (and fsrw only supports
    up to 2GB cards) or smaller than 256MB (and there aren't too many of those around anymore). If you
    look at the README you'll see a table of sector sizes.

    You should always specify the sector size rather than let Windows pick it for you, because if you give
    Windows a chance to do something wrong, frequently it will.

    Let me know of any troubles. Thanks Paul for the quick response.
  • simonlsimonl Posts: 866
    edited 2007-06-26 09:00
    You could format the SD card from a DOS window:

    FORMAT X: /fs:fat /a:1024

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    Cheers,

    Simon
    www.norfolkhelicopterclub.co.uk
    You'll always have as many take-offs as landings, the trick is to be sure you can take-off again ;-)
    BTW: I type as I'm thinking, so please don't take any offense at my writing style smile.gif
  • Shane De CataniaShane De Catania Posts: 67
    edited 2007-06-26 13:58
    Hi Rob7,

    I've used a program called "swissknife" to format an external derive in FAT16 - it worked well for me...
    www.compuapps.com/download/Swissknife/swissknife.htm

    I should say that this program may not be suitable for "farmed out undertrained foreigners" as some training and common sense may be required to use it. That's only a wild generalisation though wink.gif

    Cheers,
    Shane.
  • Graham StablerGraham Stabler Posts: 2,510
    edited 2007-06-26 15:07
    I don't think it is the foreigners who are farmed out [noparse]:)[/noparse]
  • Rob7Rob7 Posts: 275
    edited 2007-06-27 01:33
    SwissKnife looks great.
    Thanks, Shane.
    I will give it a spin.

    Rob7
  • QuattroRS4QuattroRS4 Posts: 916
    edited 2007-06-27 02:09
    Graham Stabler said...
    I don't think it is the foreigners who are farmed out [noparse]:)[/noparse]

    LOL - Looks like good advice given here from many nationalities !!!.....

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    'Necessity is the mother of invention'
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