CF Adapter (through PCMCIA) Maximum Size on A1200 (Recommend Brand)

[CodeHunter]

Hello All,

1) What is the maximum capacity of a CF card that an A1200 (inserted through PCMCIA slot) can read?

My Escom A1200, can read a 1GB Viking CF card, but when I insert a 4GB Maxell (formatted as FAT16 on a WinXP) I get a CF0:NDOS.

2)When I try to format this CF card on my A1200, I get an: "I/O - Error #--3" message. Why?

3) Is it the card that is not compatible?

4) How can I read this 4GB CF card?

5) What brands do you recommend?

[TheBilgeRat]

dunno about the PCMCIA stuff but i have run maxells before in my 4000 and they have been finicky.  I recommend SanDisk Ultras

[CodeHunter]

Thanks! I will try that!

[gertsy]

Only used bigger cards internally.  I use my CF card for transfers so I have a 32Mb & 128Mb for the PCMCIA adaptor.  Certainly use original SANDisk Ultra II CF Cards, 4GB in my A1200 and 8GB in my A4000.
I think FAT16 has a maximum partition size of 2GB.  Yep just checked it now on Microsoft.
So Less than 2GB is probably the go.  

Anyone used more than that in a PCMCIA adaptor.?

[Thomas]

FAT16 is not a reason for using small CF cards. You can use FAT32 as well. (Why did you use FAT16 at all? Isn't FAT32 the default and aren't the cards already formatted as FAT32 when you buy them?)

[stefcep2]

There are many fake compact flash cards out there.  They read the correct capacity but are often much smaller.  I bought a fake sandisk 4gb.  PCMCIA does not read it.  PC reads and formats it, but random errors show up.  Would not work in my A4000 unless it was the only drive.  then it would show read write errors.  Bought a genuine Sandisk 4gb from a bricks and mortar store and NO PROBLEMS on PCMCIA or IDE adaptor.

[CodeHunter]

Sorry, I am confused, so what is the LARGEST capacity that I can use on PCMCIA adapter, 2GB? 4GB? 8GB?

[stefcep2]

Sorry, I am confused, so what is the LARGEST capacity that I can use on PCMCIA adapter, 2GB? 4GB? 8GB?

I know a 4 GB Sandisk works and works well.

[Thomas]

Sorry, I am confused, so what is the LARGEST capacity that I can use on PCMCIA adapter, 2GB? 4GB? 8GB?

The readme mentions TD64 and SCSI emulation, so it can clearly do more than 4 GB. Now it depends on how compactflash.device accesses the IDE drive. The readme says nothing about this. Limits could be 7.8 GB (CHS), 128 GB (LBA28), 2 TB (LBA48 with SCSI emulation) or 131072 TB (LBA 48). I would guess that it does LBA28.

[CodeHunter]

I just got a PATRIOT 8GB, and still my A600 and A1200 can not see it thorough PCMCIA. What brand is the most compatible? Only SANDISK? What kind of SANDISK?

[gertsy]

I just got a PATRIOT 8GB, and still my A600 and A1200 can not see it thorough PCMCIA. What brand is the most compatible? Only SANDISK? What kind of SANDISK?

I would only trust an original SANDISK Ultra II. There are lots of fakes.
Surely 4GB is heaps and if it's not, get 2.

Could someone please verify for CodeHunter that a 4GB SANDisk Ultra II CF Card will work in an A1200 CF adaptor.  Formatted Fat 32.  Thanks.  I don't have a square to spare.

[stefcep2]

I would only trust an original SANDISK Ultra II. There are lots of fakes.
Surely 4GB is heaps and if it's not, get 2.

Could someone please verify for CodeHunter that a 4GB SANDisk Ultra II CF Card will work in an A1200 CF adaptor.  Formatted Fat 32.  Thanks.  I don't have a square to spare.

yes it works here.