PCMCIA Compact Flash

[mindprober]

I know this subject has been discussed many times but I could not find any info specific to my question.

I learned much about what you can and cannot do with such an adapter so I will spare you those details.

I believe I have a simple incompatibility but want to be sure.

I am using the attached PCMCIA CF adapter (seems to be a popular choice, I see it everywhere) and would like to use a TRANSCEND 4GB CF card with it. This card works fine inside the A1200 but refuses to mount using the adapter.

I have two other CF cards that do work in the adapter. One is 128MB and the other is 2GB. Both were formatted FAT16 using a Windows PC. I have the latest cfd archive (1.32) and fat95 (3.18) installed.

When I first tried working the the adapter, I was trying to mount the CF as an AmigaOS FFS volume but did not find any discussion on this and came to the conclusion that it is not supported since HDToolbox does not see the adapter as a hard drive. I then learned that the fat95 method works fine and has the advantage of accessibility directly from a Windows/Mac computer. The disadvantage seems to be the storage capacity of the CF card. If I recall correctly, FAT16 supports a maximum of 2GB. But then I discovered two things: 1) my Windows box will still format the 4GB card as FAT16 and 2) fat95 claims to support FAT32 as well as FAT16. Even when I reformatted the card as FAT32, it still did not mount.

So, is this particular card just not compatible or is there something else I should check?

If not compatible, can someone list known compatible CF cards 4GB and larger that will work with this adapter & fat95? The primary storage in my A1200 needs to be backed up and this is the most efficient method I have right now without opening up the A1200 and removing the card. I do not want to be limited to the 2GB working card I have now though. It will require too many swaps.

[mindprober]

Meaning *any* CF card or a 4GB Transcend like mine?

I've had ZERO luck in ever getting one to mount as well properly. If this gets figured out I will be very interested myself in the solution.

[mindprober]

Sorry if my post was not clear. I'm not trying to mount an Amiga FFS volume any longer. I just want it to work using the fat95 file system.

It works with two different CF cards but not this 4GB transcend one.

I wanted to be sure there isn't something else I need to check, and also curious if others have had success with 4GB cards or larger with fat95.

[mindprober]

Yeah, as I mentioned, I am using that. I could not get the two cards working without it.  

I use the driver that is located here:  http://aminet.net/package/disk/misc/cfd

I'm using a 1GB IBM MicroDrive and it works great.  It's even hot swappable.

[mindprober]

Thanks for the replies everyone. I will look into getting a SanDisk brand.

[mindprober]

That's a bummer. I was at least able to get a couple of them working. I forget who makes the 128MB one but the 2GB is PNY brand. I got these used with other equipment so my next purchase will be a new SanDisk.

Any CF card on any adapter in my 1200 PCMCIA slot, using BetterWB with the latest fat95 as well.

[mindprober]

I did. It failed.  

Have you tried formatting CF0: from the Amiga? That should overcome any oddities with the formatting process on the PC. If the Amiga can't even detect the card ("no disk in device CF0:") then it's probably an incompatibility with that particular (brand of) card.