Palm Large SD Card Compatibility

Posted By: Ryan on Monday, September 05, 2005 12:34:38 PM

Palm has released a new report on SD card compatibility with Palm handhelds and smartphones. The results explain which devices are compatible with 1 and 2GB size MMC and SD cards.

1 Gigabyte SD Card Palm reports that tests of 2GB SD cards show that they are compatible with the Treo 600, 650, Tungsten T5, Zire 72 and the LifeDrive.

It also shows that 1GB SD and MMC cards work with the Tungsten E2, T3, T2, T, Zire 71, 31 and previous devices. Larger cards may or may not work with these models. They may cause unexpected behavior or not work in these devices.

Thanks to hkklife for the tip.

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Hacked drivers from LifeDrive can also help

The_Voice_of_Reason @ 9/5/2005 4:03:57 PM #

Last I checked, some adventurous CLIE users had hacked a driver from the LifeDrive to permit the use of very lage storage media. Seek and ye shall find.

TVoR

------------------------
Sony CLIE UX100: 128 MB real RAM, OLED screen. All the PDA anyone really ever wanted.
------------------------

The Palm eCONomy = Communism™

The Great Palm Swindle: http://www.palminfocenter.com/comment_view.asp?ID=7864#108038

How PalmSource is REALLY doing: http://www.palminfocenter.com/comment_view.asp?ID=8026#110958

RE: Hacked drivers from LifeDrive can also help

jan7007 @ 12/19/2006 10:00:32 PM #

The update is available at palm web site, for the Tungsten E models,

http://www.palm.com/us/support/downloads/tungstene/sdioupdate.html

That will solve the 2 Gb SD problem.

You have the mmc update file to your E Tungsten available here : http://www.palm.com/us/support/downloads/tungstene/sdioupdate.html

That will probably fix the 2 Gb problem. Jan

Incomplete testing?

AdamaDBrown @ 9/5/2005 4:16:05 PM #

Okay, it's great that they flagged the devices that can definitely use 2 GB cards. However, why didn't they specify compatibility for the other models? They had to have 2 GB cards available to test with. Was it really that difficult to pop them into an E2 and see if it ran? And if they didn't run right, you could always list the brands of cards that worked/didn't work for a given device.

RE: Incomplete testing?

KultiVator @ 9/6/2005 4:15:53 AM #

I agree - sounds to me like they're using this report as a marketing exercise to try to wean customers off of their older Palm devices and onto the current crop.

I know Palm are out to ship units and make money - but to be honest, I know my T3 is happy running every 2GB SD card I've ever been able to try - so funny Palm aren't too keen to publish (or even admit testing) such results!

So sorry Palm, I will continue to battle on with my T3!

KultiVator
T3 + TomTom Navigator 5 + Belkin TuneCast II

(Why does Palm make it so hard to buy separate GPS car mounts?)

2GB SD card on a T3?

ackmondual @ 9/6/2005 6:29:54 PM #

For real? T3's can use the full 2GB capacity (minus the cpacity reserved for file system use)?

RE: Incomplete testing?

Bobbert @ 9/9/2005 7:01:27 AM #

...and 4gig cards are available now, even with deals as low as <$200. Anyone know if those are compatible with Treo 650?

Check out www.MobileRead.com for some great mobile computing info!

How 'bout on the Treo 90?

ginbot86 @ 12/28/2007 1:35:56 AM #

I know that 2 gigs are not SDHC compliant, so I assumed that it would work on my Treo 90. It does, but it can't read my Kinoma movies. I wonder if the driver works on it... Can't hurt.

RE: How 'bout the Treo 90?

ginbot86 @ 12/28/2007 1:40:18 AM #

I think I spoke too soon...

RE: Incomplete testing?

SeldomVisitor @ 12/28/2007 8:48:55 AM #

I think your bot needs an upgrade.

Can anyone comment

Admin @ 9/5/2005 7:48:38 PM #

If you have successfully used a 2GB card on a Tungsten E2, T3, T2, T, Zire 71, 31, 21?

-Ryan

RE: Can anyone comment

mstur @ 9/6/2005 3:19:28 AM #

I am using a 2 GB Sandisk card (normal speed, no Ultra II) with my T3. I have copied 2 GB of mp3 files to the card and can access all of them (grouped into three folders) using PocketTunes. I am also using a 1 GB Sandisk card with my audible audiobooks and Audible listener on my T3.

RE: Can anyone comment

hkklife @ 9/6/2005 10:08:29 AM #

I've used a 2gb Sandisk standard card on my T5 w/ 1.1 update. Reading & writing was flawless and overall performance was quite good. I didn't have a chance to format the card as it was not my card and there were a bunch of digitial camera images stored on it that I didn't want to zap.

I agree that as a common courtesy, Palm should release a FAT32 driver (beta/unsupported would be fine) for ALL OS 5.x devices. Or at least all of the ones running OS 5.2.x onwards. that aren't on the list.

IIRC from older/earlier threads, the 2gb Sandisks are a bit easier for older Palms to stomach than the Ultra II high speed ones.

RE: Can anyone comment

ggeoffre @ 9/6/2005 10:41:18 PM #

Does anyone have the read/write performance test results with and without the LifeDrive FAT32 drivers on various Palm devices? I would personaly be interested in the results of the LD FAT32 drive on a Treo 650 using a Lexar Media 32X 1 GB Secure Digital Card:

Online Database of SD Card Benchmark Results
http://tinyurl.com/chtwx

Audacity Card Speed Testing Utility Version 1.2
http://www.audiost.com/vfst.htm

VFSMark 1.0
http://tinyurl.com/bjtuy

RE: Can anyone comment

patfla @ 9/7/2005 12:29:50 AM #

Hi. mstur indicates that he (or she) is using a 2GB on a T|T3 however unless I've misssed something, I don't see how mstur has arrived at this point (a special [auto] Format under PocketTunes).

hkklife indicates using a 2GB card with a T5. But the T5's on Palm's approved list, meaning I believe that its version of the OS contains a FAT32 (and not FAT [16]) driver.

I have a T3 and bought a 2 GB card from Dell before I'd ever heard of this problem. The T3 of course is not supposed to be supported. I initially put the card into the T3 - "do you want to format". Click OK. Then "card not recognized". Hmmph. Looked around the Web and learned of this problem/limitation.

I don't have a working card at the moment, but that's because (as best I could determine) there were bad blocks on my first card and I'm waiting on an exchange.

Although I did have it working, after a fashion (and with FAT not FAT32) previously.

FAT has 16 bit pointers. That means it can point to 65,536 _objects_ (not necessarily bytes). It finally occured to me that in fact SD cards may be addressing (at the first level) clusters and not bytes.

2^16 (pointers) * 32K cluster size (2^15) = 2 GB. You don't seem to be able to get at varying cluster sizes on an SD card from the Windows File Explorer's Format (right-clicking on the card). It gives you only 'default allocation size'.

I have XP Pro (don't know if this is available in 'plain' XP or ME or whatever). On XP Pro, if you go into Computer Mgmt | Disk Mgmt, you can indicate both FAT (as opposed to FAT32) and you have a choice of cluster sizes up to 64K. 32K will waste less space than 64K and adds up exactly to 2 GB (per the above).

So I reformatted in this fashion and when I stuck the card in my T3, no complaint and it recognized it as containing something like 1.89 GB (which if one uses the equation here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gigabyte seems OK to me).

Copied over 450 MB from my old 512 MB card (using a card reader). Then tried transferring a copy of Wikipedia (one file) at 1 GB. Failed several times.

Then I remembered. In the Format dialog, I'd clicked 'Quick Format' which, I guessed didn't check for bad blocks (clusters).

So let's do the format again and do it right, checking for bad blocks. Every format failed. Sometimes they just aborted; other times they would format half the card and then return seemingly indicating success.

Came to the conclusion that my method was probably OK but this was an early 2GB card (bought last April) and given the high infant mortality of next-gen capacities, I probably had some bad memory. Called Dell and they agreed to do an exchange (even though I was well out of the 30 days or whatever).

I'll get a new card back from Dell; will go through my procedure; and I imagine it'll work.

But would be curious to see what others get using the above.

pat

RE: Can anyone comment

map @ 7/11/2006 8:42:43 AM #

Pat,

I'm curious on your follow-up with your replacement 2GB card; once reformatted to FAT/32K cluster, did it read/write properly? I have a 4 GB card I'd like to use, and your method (external formatting of card vice altering PDA's OS) is by far the most appealing I've seen posted.

-Mark
PS I've got the Media version of Windows XP, can't find Computer Mgmt listed, and the formatting options default to FAT32/Default allocation size when I used the normal format option - guess I'll have to track down someone with XP Pro if this method works.

map

RE: Can anyone comment

kchristensen516 @ 1/3/2008 11:47:59 PM #

Just tried this with my 2GB Sandisk card. The Tungsten T3 can read files from it, but it can't write files to it. Anyone have a fix for this?

FAT32 Driver

Frenchie @ 9/5/2005 7:58:14 PM #

The only way to get 2gb cards working on the PDAs listed aren't working is to use the FAT32 driver from the LD. To get it to work you must do a couple of things.

1. Copy it to your SD card.
2. Put in the card and open up FileZ
3. Copy the FAT32 driver into the ram.
4. Change the Creator and Type IDs to match the FATFS.PRC .
5. Once you have changed everything rename the FAT32.PRC to FATFS.PRC and reset your Palm.
6. Viola you know have a working FAT32 sdio slot. Format your 4gb SD card and your Palm should read it.

NOTE!!!: If you hard reset your PDA, then you will lose the FAT32 driver. I recommend you carry around two SD cards. One with your backup and normal stuff, another with FileZ and the Fat32 driver already configured. Copy it over and restore your Palm.

The world will end in 2006. Just as it was predicted in the bible along with the release of Microsoft Longhorn.... :p

RE: FAT32 Driver

Al @ 9/6/2005 11:32:02 AM #

Thanks Frenchie; and others.

I have been using a T3 with a 2Gig card, mainly fine, but found some issues. I am not sure if this hack has 'taken' or not. It hasn't solved all of my issues yet though...

Specifically having trouble syncing SplashPhoto.

RE: FAT32 Driver

pshooper @ 11/2/2005 9:24:29 AM #

I have a Zire 72 I am trying to use with an Adata 4 GB Sd card. The Zire will not read it as I expected. Since it won't read it a all, how can I get the fat32 patch installed on the Zire? Can I do it throught sychronization with the desktop computer it is hooked to? If so how, if not, how can I get this 4GB card to work in it? Thanks

Treo 650
Zire 72
Tungsten T5

RE: FAT32 Driver

Enduracell @ 1/16/2006 9:22:51 AM #

Hi there,

I'm having trouble trying to follow Frenchies instructions as I'm trying a 2GB card to work on my Palm Tungsten T2.

My palm can read the card size but not format it or read any information that I can get on it (although I can't hotsync stuff to it either).

I'm a Palm beginner coz I managed copy the file onto my card via a SD card reader/writer but then I don't seem to be able to do anything else with it (file z???)? I don't have access to the files and I do think I managed to hotsync the driver into the ram but again can't get into it - am I doing something wrong or am I just an idiot??

Thanking you in advance for your help.

RE: FAT32 Driver - simplified instructions:

The_Voice_of_Reason @ 1/16/2006 4:34:39 PM #

1. Copy it to your SD card.

2. Put in the card and open up FileZ [a freeware file manager program you need to install onto your Palm. http://www.freewarepalm.com/utilities/filez.shtml]

3. Copy the FAT32 driver into the RAM.

4. Change the Creator and Type IDs to match the FATFS.PRC . [Open up FileZ. Chose "View and Edit Files". Tap the arrow beside "Internal". Scroll down to the file called "FATFS". Tap on it and then tap on the "details" button. Under the "General" tab find the CASE SENSITIVE! Creator and Type IDs for this file. Write them down. Then find the FAT32 file using FileZ in the same way and change the Creator and Type IDs to match what you wrote down.]

5. Once you have changed everything rename the FAT32.PRC to FATFS.PRC [using FileZ to change the Name on the same tab that you found the Creator and Type IDs] and reset your Palm.

6. Viola you know have a working FAT32 sdio slot. Format your 4gb SD card and your Palm should read it.
--------------------------------------------------------------------

If you don't understand these instructions, don't mess around with your Palm with FileZ - you might end up fcuking things up.

I.M.

------------------------
Sony CLIE UX100: 128 MB real RAM, OLED screen. All the PDA anyone really ever wanted.
------------------------

The Palm eCONomy = Communism™

The Great Palm Swindle: http://www.palminfocenter.com/comment_view.asp?ID=7864#108038

NetFrontLinux - the next major cellphone OS?: http://www.palminfocenter.com/comment_view.asp?ID=8060#111823

RE: FAT32 Driver

DarthTux @ 1/21/2006 11:22:25 AM #

I have tried these instructions on my T5 and when I reset it locks up. I must hard reset to get my T5 working again.

Any suggestions?

RE: FAT32 Driver - Palm's (non)support is inexcusable.

The_Voice_of_Reason @ 1/21/2006 4:53:38 PM #

Your BEST solution is to sell your T5 and buy a CLIE TH55. If you can't get the T5 working with the above instructions, I'm afraid I can't help you. (I assume you've already installed Palm's T5 bugfix?)

TVoR

------------------------
Sony CLIE UX100: 128 MB real RAM, OLED screen. All the PDA anyone really ever wanted.
------------------------

The Palm eCONomy = Communism™

The Great Palm Swindle: http://www.palminfocenter.com/comment_view.asp?ID=7864#108038

NetFrontLinux - the next major cellphone OS?: http://www.palminfocenter.com/comment_view.asp?ID=8060#111823

RE: FAT32 Driver

lolovanves @ 1/31/2006 12:19:31 PM #

on my T3, I did everything to install FAT32 driver, when I format on my PC a 1GB card with FAT it works, when I format on PC with FAT32 the Palm ask me to format, I say OK, I got a window "format" which never close!
Please help me

RE: FAT32 Driver

bevtar @ 3/9/2006 12:57:38 PM #

The instructions that you provided for copying the fat32 to ram, would this also work with Tungten e2 to utilize 2gb SD card?

RE: FAT32 Driver

lolovanves @ 4/24/2006 6:45:41 PM #

On T3 I can read a 2GB Sandisk SD card but I can't write on it. I can load the card via PC card reader with music, photos and ebooks but backup, Tomtom don't work.
Does the FAT Livedrive patch allow writing on the 2GB card in the T3?

RE: FAT32 Driver

roscoep @ 6/8/2006 1:52:22 AM #

I tried following your instructions with my Treo 650. After resetting, it just went into an endless reset loop. I couldnt' stop it with a soft or a system reset. I had to do a hard reset and restore from backup! Did I do something wrong or is it just "the luck of the draw" if the FAT32.PRC works with Treo 650?

RE: FAT32 Driver

icebeah @ 7/6/2006 4:36:15 PM #

I followed your instructions and nothing happened. Now I've changed the version ID of the new FATFS +1 higher than the original so this one will load after a reboot and not the original. Now my device is not responing anymore. I've send the mail below to Palm but didn't get an answer yet.

Is there anybody who knows what I can do? You help is appreciated very much. Thanks, regards, Hanne

Unfortunately my device does not boot anymore. The screen constantly displays screen with the 'Palm Powered" logo with a 2/3 pixel black horizontal line blinking in the top of the screen all the time. My T5 does not respond to any buttons or screen touches, neither can I turn it off. Soft resets don't work, a hard reset results in the T5 rebooting. At first I get a white screen with the red-yellow PalmOne logo, the black status bar in the bottom of the screen loads completly after which I get into the formerly described grey screen again.

RE: FAT32 Driver

freakout @ 7/6/2006 5:48:58 PM #

^^ It sounds like your ROM is corrupted. Which basically means you're screwed.

Sorry man. If you can find a way to access the T5 bootloader you may be able to fix it (provided you can find a copy of a standard T5 ROM), but I'm a Treo boy so couldn't tell you where to find such information.

Tim
I apologise for any and all emoticons that appear in my posts. You may shoot them on sight.
Treo 270 ---> Treo 650

RE: FAT32 Driver

The_Voice_of_Reason @ 7/6/2006 10:18:46 PM #

Try doing one of the following:

1) Reset your PDA while pressing the PAGE UP button. Then delete the new file + install the old driver.

2) Remove the PDA's battery + leave it out overnight. Put the battery back in and see what happens.

TVoR

RE: FAT32 Driver

SeanSL @ 9/3/2006 6:22:55 PM #

Voice of Reason

Concerning your simplified instructions. You say to rename the FAT32.PRC to FATFS.PRC. Using FileZ, the extensions are not shown. When I look at the FATFS.PRC file, the name appears FATFS. Should I type the full name "FATFS.PRC" in the name of the FAT32.PRC file? Do I need to delete the original FATFS.PRC file?

Thank you

RE: FAT32 Driver

alfroma @ 10/12/2006 10:16:54 PM #

At last I found a post related to my T5 symptom, icebeah what happened with yours? Is there any chance to bring to life again?

I got the same black blinking line at the top of the screen and no boot after all.
Suddenly appears bright horizontal lines all over the screen and it stands white at the end.

RE: FAT32 Driver

MBarankin @ 11/9/2006 6:31:37 PM #

I tried these instructions in a Tungsten E2, and it does not work (i.e. doesn't read my 2 GB card). Someone please indicate if it is necessary to delete the old FATFS file from the ROM or not?!?

Has anyone else ever tried this for an E2? Have any suggestions?!? I'm dying to get some memory on this thing....

RE: FAT32 Driver

mantbrwn @ 12/5/2006 1:51:52 AM #

I have done everything exactly as indicated with a Tungsten E2. I copied the FAT32 to the SD card. I opoened fileZ, Moved FAT32.PRC to the ROM. Changed the type and creator to match the FATFS.prc I renamed the FAT32 to FATFS and reset. The Tungsten E2 still will not recognize that anycard is inserted. I tried to delete the original FATFS file but the Palm wouldn't let me ????? any help greatly appreciated

RE: FAT32 Driver

cstamper @ 7/11/2008 10:38:23 AM #

http://www.1src.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1051793

Works for me, fwiw

http://tinyurl.com/2ooncg

Imagine a 2GB Flash RAM Treo

Gekko @ 9/5/2005 8:32:43 PM #

Now that would be nice.

RE: Imagine a 2GB Flash RAM Treo

hkklife @ 9/6/2005 10:11:55 AM #

Also imagine a 4gb (2x 2gb) flash LifeDrive with all of the bugs worked out and smaller/thinner/faster/better battery life than the current one!

RE: Imagine a 2GB Flash RAM Treo

twizza @ 9/6/2005 11:26:09 AM #

Gekko;
I am imagining it all the time. Personally speaking, after having my T5 adn enjoying the copious RAM, the 32 in my 600 seems a bit weak. I'd like a GB internally split just like the T5 does it (but with a larger amount of heap space for the larger websites.

mobileministrymagazine.com
antoinerjwright.com

RE: Imagine a 2GB Flash RAM Treo

hkklife @ 9/6/2005 12:10:52 PM #

Definitely a ditto here about larger heap. I get "out of memory" errors more often on my T5 than I used to on my T3 when web browsing.

You'd think a Treo-especially when they get around to adding EVDO support-would really be the beneficiary of larger amount of heap.

RE: Imagine a 2GB Flash RAM Treo

ggeoffre @ 9/6/2005 10:33:25 PM #

I use ZLauncher to move may applications and their corresponding databases onto the card. I try and keep about 10MB free on the Treo's RAM, and I have plenty of applications installed. Enough for my needs at least. Sure is a lot better than my original Tungsten|T's 8MB of RAM. So I guess it all depends on what you get use to and where you are coming from.

I did buy a 1GB card right away, so I would also appreciate an option to purchase 'onboard' memory at the original time of purchase. I also do not tend to swap cards, ever. In fact, the case (skin) that I am using covers the card slot.

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