Thinkpads Forum

Anybody know what is required to read a PCMCIA Centennial Tech 16 MB flash memory card? The card originally was used in Bay Network routers.

I did manage to format using win98SE and can read and write to the card. In XP it shows the file system as RAW and will not perform a format.

I was going to use the card in a John Deere Greenstar system but can't unless I can get them to work under XP that's what we run in our field laptops and for that matter maybe the JD computer won't be able to read or write the card either.

I'm trying this on a 23885BU G40.

Any and all suggestions greatly appreciated. Thanks, BJ

I have a PCMCIA adapter for my CompactFlash memory cards (16 and 128MB; a friend of mine uses 1GB) and it works just fine. XP reads and writes to it w/o a problem; it's formatted in FAT32 format (I haven't tried NTFS). For me it was plug&play, so I'm not sure what's required . . . I guess I'm just writing to share what worked for me. Good luck with your project

Paul

I know that at least some flash cards have their own formatting utility. Try searching for one with Google. This is my experience from several years ago, so I am not sure what you might find now.

I apoligize, my post wasn't clear enough.. The cards will work fine with an external card reader..

I need to be able to use the PCMCIA slots right on the laptop. Don't want to have to carry any extra junk around.

I've googled all I can google and all I can come up with is these cards don't have the 2 KB Attribute which is required to read them directly in the laptop slot while running XP or 2000..

Thanks for the replies, BJ

This is what I'm referring to:

http://www.sandisk.com/Products/Item(11 ... apter.aspx

The CF card slides into the adapter, which in turn slides into the PCMCIA slot--no external card readers in the mix. Is it CompactFlash memory that you're dealing with, or a different format?

Later . . .

Whoops--looks like you're not using CF after all I just searched some key words online and found this:

http://www.magicram.com/FAQSRAM.htm

There's a suggested 'work around' for XP. Is that what you're after?

Now you've got me going

I went to 'driverguide' and found this:

http://members.driverguide.com/driver/d ... erid=27181

Reading the reviews near the bottom of the page (specifically "rockokahn"'s review) I searched further and found this:

http://www.m-sys.com/site/en-US/Support ... efault.htm

Let me know if any of this is helping!

Yep, 16MB linear flash card.. They look like a wireless PCMCIA card without the antenna..

Have tried all workarounds with no luck. I'm sure it's the 2kb attribute thing that ruins them for XP and 2000.

The last link with the TRUEFFS I haven't tried..

I'll let you know in a while because it was a trueffs driver that allowed 98 to use the card.

I thought I searched everything yesterday, I WAS WRONG!!

Later, BJ

It wasn't meant to be..

The trueffs is a little command line interface that I can't even make see the card.. There are only a few commands but they can be used with about a million switches/paramaters..

Back to square 1 but thanks. It was worth a try.

Um ... a 16 MB pcmcia memory card is worth about 50¢ in today's market ... why spend the time and effort on this? It's yestertech -- use it to keep the kitchen table from wobbling.

Just get a 256 MB or 512 MB SD or CF or MemoryStick card, a PC Card adapter, and away you go. Or a USB stick. Available at your local Wal-mart or Target or Best Buy. They're all quite cheap nowadays, cheaper at Amazon or warehouse stores.

davidspalding wrote:Um ... a 16 MB pcmcia memory card is worth about 50¢ in today's market ... why spend the time and effort on this? It's yestertech -- use it to keep the kitchen table from wobbling.

Just get a 256 MB or 512 MB SD or CF or MemoryStick card, a PC Card adapter, and away you go. Or a USB stick. Available at your local Wal-mart or Target or Best Buy. They're all quite cheap nowadays, cheaper at Amazon or warehouse stores.

It may have to do with why some people drive (and maintain) classic cars and others lease the newest model (every year), why some restore heritage houses and others line up to buy the latest 'cookie cutter' model, why others restore a rotted out wooden boat and others go with a fibreglass one--the satisfaction of overcoming the challenges involved in getting (and keeping) the old things going outweighs that of buying something 'off the shelf that works'. But only for some of us This is NOT a judgement on those who go with the latest and greatest--in fact I often find myself envying them. And then buying their stuff for cheaper when they move on to the next best thing Well, back to getting the old lawnmower going . . .

Maybe you should read. I need these cards for John Deere Greenstar systems.. YES, THEY ONLY USE ABOUT 5 MB TO STORE THE INFO FROM OVER 100 FIELDS.

Now you know why I don't need cards with much space. JD charges $100.00 plus for a 30MB card. Thus using the old 50 cent cards is a good way to go.

UNDERSTAND?? I'd be glad to help you out with a GreenStar problem, but I'm confident you know nothing about them or even have a clue what I'm working with..

ENUF SAID, THANKS TO YOU GUYS WHO TRIED TO HELP

big_JIM wrote:Maybe you should read. ... UNDERSTAND?? I'd be glad to help you out with a GreenStar problem, but I'm confident you know nothing about them or even have a clue what I'm working with.. ...

Oh, I see you NEED TO USE THEM IN THE JOHN DEERE SYSTEM as well as in XP computers -- and don't want to use an external card reader which DOES work. Sorry, I really didn't comprehend that initially. Please TAKE PITY on all us poor ThinkPad users who are WOEFULLY NAIVE about John Deere Greenstar thingies. (Makes note to himself to study up on John Deere proprietary computer technology.)

So, okay, the BIG FU RESPONSE with ALL CAPS really wasn't called for, but IF YOU FEEL THE NEED TO SMACK PEOPLE ONLINE don't be surprised if YOU GET DIMINISHING RESPONSES here. Better days, Country Mouse.

City Mouse signing off.

My apologies if you're offended but it was apparent you didn't get the drift of what I am trying to do before you posted your advice.

I'm willing to keep peace on this forum as there is a wealth of knowledge and info here.

BJ