PCMCIA Flash Card Reader issues

[NovaCoder]

Hi,

Tried to use my new card reader to transfer some files yesterday and come up empty.

I got it from Amigakit -> http://amigakit.leamancomputing.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=440&osCsid=ed33a06c8d180a2dd805f333570f4795

Although they include detailed instructions, I’m still too stupid to work it out (never even touched an Amiga before).

My first attempt was to install the software from disk which went ok, then restarted and was hoping to see a new icon which represented the flash card (a compatible 1GB).  This didn’t happen just the same old HD partition icons.  I can see that the install program put a new driver in sys/devs/dosdrivers and when you click on the icon it comes up with the message ‘CF0’ already mounted but still no icon on the desktop and I couldn’t navigate to it in the console either…mounted obviously doesn’t mean what I thought it meant in PC speak.  I had the same kind of issues with the PCMCIA CDROM I brought, couldn’t get that working either.

Anyway I decided to try the ‘non-hd’ approach and just booted with the install disk in the drive.  The install program warned me that some accelerator cards can block the PCMCIA port if they are over 4 mb so stopped the install and turned the power off before taking my 8mb memory expansion card out just to be sure.  I then booted with the install disk in and this time it looked more hopefully with the flash card appearing as a new icon on the desktop, clicking on the icon seemed to work ok with the flash cards size correctly displayed in the window header…...progress.  :-?

I then took the flash card out, stuck it into my PC and copied some ADF’s on to it before putting it back in the 1200.  Unfortunately the Amiga couldn’t see the new files (I tried opening and shutting the window down) so I don’t know what’s going on. :getmad:

I was hoping to just be able to copy files from the PC in this way….am I missing something?

I’m running WB 3.1 on a 1200.

[Phantom]

Did you formatted it on your peecee with FAT or FAT32?

If you use the PCMCIA there is a limitation of the expandable 8MB RAM. I think it's written somewhere there in the leaflet or during the installation, I don't remember.

[NovaCoder]

Phantom wrote:
Did you formatted it on your peecee with FAT or FAT32?

Nope.

I was thinking it might be something like that but the ADF's transfered fine on the PC running windowsXP so I assumed it was pre-formatted?  Do you have to format it a certain way to get the amiga to understand it?

[Phantom]

Format your CF on the peecee using FAT and then try again on the Amiga.

I've heard that not all CF cards work with the PCMCIA adapter. Mine is a SanDisk 2GB Ultra II and works perfectly.

[davideo]

Phantom wrote:
Did you formatted it on your peecee with FAT or FAT32?

If you use the PCMCIA there is a limitation of the expandable 8MB RAM. I think it's written somewhere there in the leaflet or during the installation, I don't remember.

As Phantom said 'you need to format it on the PC as FAT whatever' The Amiga won't care as long as it's formatted that way.

I also read on others messages about the 4MB memory limit but what I don't understand is that my memory card has 64MB in it and the PCMIA still works  :-)

I guess it must also depend on the type of memory card fitted.

Dave G  8-)

[Phantom]

@ davideo

There is no problem if you have a memory module on the accelerator (I have 32MB also on my Blizzard). I think the problem is a specific hardware that is only 8MB expansion card, not an accelerator.

Look this:

http://www.buy.elbox.com/cgibin/shop?info=610E1208

[davideo]

@Phantom

Yes I guess you're right.

I believe mine is an accelerator also a Blizzard if I remember rightly   :-o

Dave G  8-)

[Phantom]

What??? You don't remember??? :crazy:  :crazy:

[NovaCoder]

So if I open a command prompt on XP and do:

FORMAT E: /FS:FAT32

That should fix the issue (an Amiga can read FAT32 ok?)

Still doesn't expain why the HD install doesn't work, I suppose I could re-run the install now that I've removed my 8mb card and try again.

[davideo]

@Phantom

I tend to use my 4000D most of the time.

My Ram cards in my towered 1200. I know it works when I use it and that's about it. Except that it can have upto 128MB Ram on the board and another 128MB on the SCSI extention if I ever get one  :lol:

Dave G  8-)

[Phantom]

Why bother opening a shell on XP? It's totally crap. :lol:

Just do it from the windoze. Move the pointer onto the icon, press right mouse button blah blah blah... :crazy:

Format disk and select FAT and do it "quick" ok?

It's better to remove as you said the expansion card and re-install the software from the beginning.

@ Dave

 :-D  :-D

[davideo]

@Phantom

You beat me to that reply  :lol:

Dave G  8-)

[NovaCoder]

Cheers guys, I'll give it a go  :-D

[adolescent]

Before you go formatting the disk...  

I think the problem is the items don't have icons, thus the default view won't show them.  Open the window, then from the Window menu select Show -> Show All Files.  (Or, you also set the View By option to anything except Icon and get a list of the files.)

[NovaCoder]

Mmmm interesting, will try that first.