SD Media compatibility question

[urthworm]

I've been having problems getting stuff to load off the SD media - or even getting the MK3 to recognise the SD media plugged into it. All I get are error messages saying "Error: Initialising SD/MMC"

Any suggestions? I've tried this with the kingston 128mb that came with it, and a Sandisk 128mb with the same results. I've got a SanDisk Transflash adaptor (where you can plug microSD into an SD-sized card) and this gets recognised, but as 0mb capacity (which is true, more or less, because the MicroSD has the memory on)

I've tried Fat32 and FAT16 formatting, as well as menu versions 0.4 and 0.5 - is there anything you can suggest? Have I maybe not formatter the card correctly? Should I be using a specific program to format/load things onto the SD card?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

[cory1492]

Have a close look at the little contact fingers on your SD card for oxidization/dirt/fuzz or damage, anything that would make the contacts bad. Also have a look in the SD slot for anything that doesnt belong (fuzz etc).

Also, if that doesnt help, try menu 0.3 with your Mk3 and those cards, if they still give you those type of errors after cleaning them and using the 0.3 release then it is possible your MK3 is not working properly.

When it recognizes the transflash adapter, does it show you the files on it? Sometimes the menu doesnt seem to get the size properly and reports it as 0...

[urthworm]

It shows me a file listing with only (what I assume to be) the root directy - a "/" character. Doesn't list any of the nds files on the microSD though. It does also report size 0k.

Since it doesn't fail every time, I guess I'll attempt some cleaning and hope for the best... I'll give Menu 0.3 a shot and see what that brings too.

thanks again.

[urthworm]

Using 0.3, I'm still getting the same errors, though if I unplug the Transflash adaptor and plug it back in, the next error I get is "error initalizing FAT" - I haven't even got as far as recognising an empty directory on it either, as I've done once or twice in other versions.

Oh well. Looks like I've been given a duff MK3 in the pack What do I do about trying to get some returns/exchange on this?

[q_armando]

Try this:
when you get the error "failure to initialize FAT" ,press A again and again until your card  gets recognized.
I remember when I used menu 0.3 I had to press A up to 4 times in order to make it work.

[bruceg]

If it's a problem with ALL your SD cards, I would be more inclined to think it's a faulty unit (there was another person who had 3 different cards -- all should have worked -- who likely had a defective mk3 unit).

The regular Kingstons and Sandisks should all work fine, I would think (even Sandisk ultra was reported as operating), and MMC compatibility seems to go up with every menu release

BruceG

[cory1492]

What do I do about trying to get some returns/exchange on this?

Contact the people you bought it from and ask for a replacement.

[bruceg]

Yes, and don't delay too long (I know Divineo has a 30 day return period -- may be less for other shops).  Once you pass that deadline, you're kinda screwed...

BruceG

[urthworm]

Hi,

I already contacted my point of sale, they say I should wait for menu version 0.6 to see if that corrects the problem, and if it still doesn't work, they'll exchange it. Is the next version likely to come out any time soon?

[bruceg]

We don't know when the next menu is going to be released.  That's why I mentioned you shouldn't go beyond your return period, because then they may not honor ANY return/replacement. 

If you've tried your SD cards with previous menu versions as well, and you're using a standard Kingston or Sandisk, it should work right now, I would think.

If you want to wait, and the next menu doesn't come out BEFORE your return period expires, I would e-mail them back and demand a replacement, assuming you've tested everything, which sounds like you have

BruceG

[cory1492]

The kingston card that came with it should be working with at least one of the menu revisions. I dont know about the adapted card though, it is perhaps not compatible fully yet.

They said to wait for the next menu, so I think they will honor the return if it still is not working when the next menu comes.

[bruceg]

yeah, good point, cory.

Though I always try to make sure the communication lines are perfectly clear.  So I would sent back an e-mail saying that I would be willing to wait until the next menu comes out.  However, if this dates goes beyond my return/replacement period, then I would like them to confirm that they will still do an exchange, and then keep that confirmation e-mail as proof. 

Just trying to mitigate potential hassles that might arise because of potential miscommunication/very strict return policies/unreasonable people.

BruceG