Palm Releases Zire 71 SD Patch

Posted By: Ryan Wednesday, July 16, 2003 6:52:52 AM

Palm has released a software update for the Zire 71 handheld. The Zire 71 Expansion Update address an issue with some expansion cards failing to read in the Zire 71 after repeated use.

The patch is a 36k file and is available from the Palm Support site. This update is ONLY for Zire 71 handheld and should not be installed on a non-Zire 71 handheld.

Thanks to Zan Hecht and Luis Pertuz for the tip.

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Should I apply the patch?

dkhaw @ 7/16/2003 9:22:21 AM #

I don't have the failing-to-read problem with my SD card. The only issue I have is writing/deleting is very slow with the 256MB Sandisk card, except when I transfer files using the RealOne Player or use a card reader.

RE: Should I apply the patch?

statik @ 7/16/2003 9:53:08 AM #

I've never had the failure to read. However, when I look at the size of my applications on my 256meg SanDisk card the sizes are all scrambled.

If this helps with the speed, I'll install it!

RE: Should I apply the patch?

achitnis @ 7/16/2003 10:25:24 AM #

If you suffer from the "slow SD", blame the Sandisk card.

I have tested several cards for speed, and the Sandisk cards are *below* the bottom of the heap!

Pick up Lexar or Panasonic cards, and you will see the difference.

I kid you not!

Atul Chitnis
http://atulchitnis.net

RE: Should I apply the patch?

AlanF @ 7/16/2003 10:45:06 AM #

I too am a bit hesitant to fix something that isn't broken. I wonder what the fix will do to read/write times. I've been using a PNY 128mb card for a couple months now with no problems. Has anybody actually had this problem?

RE: Should I apply the patch?

achitnis @ 7/16/2003 10:57:01 AM #

Yes, I have had the problem (see the Palm_OS_5 group on yahoo for details).

Too early to say if the patch actually fixes it, but am about to run a VFSmark test on the card to see if there is any improvement in speed.

Atul Chitnis
http://atulchitnis.net

RE: Should I apply the patch?

pertuz @ 7/16/2003 11:54:01 AM #

I had the problem that the patch addresses.

I had a 128 Mb card that started working perfectly, and eventually failed to work.

My girlfriends ZIre 71 (we both got them) also refused to read the "compromised" card. once the patch was applied, the card resumed its normal function. so, install it anyway, it can't hurt.

RE: Should I apply the patch?

pertuz @ 7/16/2003 3:21:39 PM #

Hello again!

Today, my girlfirneds SD card also conked out!

So up goes the patch...

Before this I tried reading my (now functional) SD card on her zire and it didnt work, but hers did.

After installing more stuff onto her SD card it too was rendered illegible on her zire, so she installed the patch and it woked once more.

So, I recommend even if your card works, install the patch anyway, it can't hurt...

RE: Should I apply the patch?

dkhaw @ 7/16/2003 3:54:07 PM #

pertuz, Out of curiosity, what brand/size of SD cards do you (and your girlfriend) have? Did they all have problems?

SD Card Problems with Tungsten T

bquin @ 7/16/2003 11:05:40 AM #

I cannot get a Sandisk 256mb card to work in my T/T. I tried and returned 2 cards. A 128mb card works fine. Any thoughts....

Bquin
...laughing at a world too absurd to take seriously...

RE: SD Card Problems with Tungsten T

Fernando @ 7/16/2003 11:34:30 AM #

palm's have never really been truly compatible wit sandisk, for some reason sandisk's cards are really crap quality and you notice this in ur palm. can't really help u there except try formatting the card in ur palm, and if it fails to do so don't really be surprised. Sandisk cards have the reputation for being the worst, and there's good reason for that rep.

RE: SD Card Problems with Tungsten T

HiWire @ 7/16/2003 11:45:08 AM #

I think I've mentioned this before, but the reason SanDisk's SD cards are slow is because of their controllers... or so I've heard. The controllers are built into the SD cards instead of the device. It's kind of sad, because most SD manufacturers mention the 10MB/s transfer rate when they're selling the 256MB+ cards, while the older ones are "2MB/s".

Take those numbers with a grain of salt. There's probably also a limitation with the Palm interface, so in the end you definitely get less than the advertised (ridiculously optimistic) peak speeds. Perhaps the performance in MP3 players, digital cameras and dedicated flash reader devices is better, but I doubt there's a huge difference.

Anyway, I'm probably going to get a Panasonic or Lexar SD card in the near future... somebody posted a comparison of speeds on a Spanish web site a while back... the results are conclusively against Sandisk.

Palm m505 User

RE: SD Card Problems with Tungsten T

Altema @ 7/16/2003 2:37:00 PM #

"I cannot get a Sandisk 256mb card to work in my T/T. I tried and returned 2 cards. A 128mb card works fine. Any thoughts...."

I'd say try to reformat the Sandisk card in the Palm if you still have one and can't get rid of it. Otherwise, get a Lexar or Toshiba card. As mentioned above, the controller is built into the card and is only a 12 bit controller on most Sandisk cards, which explains their slower performance. I've used a 256Mb Lexar card in an M505, M515, T|T, and even in the M130 with no problems.

I installed the patch and ...

dkhaw @ 7/16/2003 11:22:28 AM #

My Zire71 does NOT have the failing-to-read problem (or use a SD card that has it) but I installed it anyway to see if it made a difference with the write/delete speed for my 256MB Sandisk. RESULT? No changes, according to VFSMark.

Talking about patches, I wonder when Palm will release the audio patch to fix the random "popping noise".

RE: I installed the patch and ...

tlovey @ 7/24/2003 4:54:49 AM #

I currently use SanDisk 256 Mb SD card and am perfectly happy with it. I tested it before buying against my previous MMC Amzor 32 Mb card, which rated 142 in VFSMark on my Zire 71. SanDisk originally made 162 on the same test, whereas upon applying the patch it achieved 171 on the same test...

May your Palm be with you...

SanDisk Cards

vesther @ 7/26/2003 11:20:18 AM #

Though I don't have a Zire 71, I *do* have a 64MB SanDisk SD Card that I don't use nowadays (thanks to me having a Palm 128MB Panasonic-made Expansion Card).

Anyway, will the Zire 71 read SanDisk Cards much better if the SD Patch was applied to the handheld?

If not, then should I just get a Lexar or Panasonic Expansion Card? I already have a Palm-branded Expansion Card and it works fine on my current handheld.

Anyway, the SanDisk SD Card that I have is made in Taiwan. I don't know if this is an issue, but please reply whenever appropriate. Thanks.

Established Consumer Palm Handheld Possessor since 2002