Any MSMount Issues?

[bobbd]

I've read what I've found here about MSMount, PiDirect, and PowerRun. All I want to do is put some large read-only databases on my memory stick and get good access speeds. For example Noah-Full. Based on something I read, I'll leave the app itself in RAM. Sounds like MSMount will handle that.

Is there anything I should be aware of before I test (I'll do a full backup first just in case)?

Also, I notice that CardBackup has a spot to specify the mounted folder. What exactly does that do?

Thanks in advance.

Bob

[sebring]

I use MSMount and have no problems. There are a few things you need to be aware of. Applications don't run well from MSMount, it is best used only for read only databases. If you delete a file from the MSMount directory without disabling it first, you will get a soft reset crash. You can add files to the MSMount directory without disabling it, but the files will not be recognized until you disable it and re-enable it. To avoid problems, I recommend you include the following files in the non-compatible app list of MSMount. Hotsync, MS Import, Cardbackup, and your usual file manager.

If that is Noah Lite you will be using, you will have to have enough free RAM to hold your Dictionary DB when you run Noah Lite, or you may get a crash. I run the Noah Lite app from MS using my third party launcher (from the palm/launcher directory, not the MS Mount directory) only the dictionary DB is in the MS Mount directory. I think Noah Pro has it's own support for MS, which is what I would use, if you are talking about Noah Pro.

In CardBackup, you need to check the box that you are using Mount software and make sure the correct directory for MS Mount is shown, or you will get a crash during a backup, if MS Mount is enabled when the backup runs.

The worst problem I have had with MS Mount has been a soft reset crash and I have been using it for nearly a year. Wish I could say the same for some of the other apps I have tried.

A lot of people like PiDirect, which is also free if you have 10 or fewer DBs you want to mount.

[bobbd]

Excellent. Exactly what I was looking for. Thanks. And I may check out PiDirect as well since I can only see using a few large databases.

Thanks again.

Bob

[sebring]

:)

[DanT]

I use PiDirectII and able to read 1.5MB map with only 0.4MB free RAM. Tried it with PowerRun and got system crash. From what I understand, unlike PiDirectII, PowerRun tries to move the whole data file to RAM so if you don't have enough free RAM, guess what. Not sure whether MSMount will do the same as PiDirectII, that is it will move only portion of the read-only data instead of the entire data file. One thing I remember about MSMount, I tried it once with it's speed set at 53 MHz and got white screen which required a soft reset. PiDirectII has no problem running at that overclock speed.

[joejoe]

i use pidrect II with noah & find it works perfectly. i run the program from RAM but the database is on my ms. other programs i run directly off of the ms with no problems.

it's worth a look.

[DanT]

Instead of Noah, try MSDict or Mi: D. They run from MS so you don't need PiDirectII, MSMount, or PowerRun. I have both, one has 17 MB dictionaries, the other has 10MB dictionaries. They are also have hacks so you can pop them up to look for a word definition while reading an ebook.

[yorrick]

If you can - try to use programs which are VFS aware (ie. can use the external card). Noah Pro is VFS aware so it saves you time copying large databases across. Noah lite is not VFS aware.
Programs such as Mi:D, BDicty, MSDict etc are all VFS aware - so take advantage of this feature.

Using MSMount or PowerRun has issues since it will copy the database/file to RAM before referencing it. Hence if you had a 5M database and only 1M free RAM, you will crash the Palm.
PiDirect avoids this by copying segments of memory it uses to RAM so in the scenario above, it is unlikely that it will crash the Palm until PiDirect needs to copy more and more data until it runs out of RAM. So avoid relying too much on running stuff off MSMount or PiDirect.

Hope this helps.

[bobbd]

Thanks again Sebring:D

I set up MSMount based on your post and the documentation. I now run Noah Lite using Wordnet Full on the MS. I also put the USDA Food Database up there as well. And I still have 8.3 Meg free on my T665. And CardBackup works nicely as well. It didn't seem to mind whether I checked that I use MSMount or not but I'll play it safe in the future. And I see what happens if FileZ is included or not in the MSMount list.

Thanks to everyone else who responded. I may try PiDirect and some of the other dictionaries mentioned. But considering that Noah Lite and MSMount have great prices (free) and do the job for me, that's what I'll probably stick with.

Thanks all

Bob

[DanT]

I guess that would be okay if you have that much free RAM. You may consider the alternatives once your free RAM in the low end like mine.

[bobbd]

I know MSMount doesn't copy the entire database into RAM because access is too fast. However I don't know that it clears what it uses immediately. Does anyone know what MSMount does with RAM as compared to PiDirect?

Bob

[sebring]

Here is an explanation of PiDirect. MSMount works similarly, but I don't have the answer to your question. This is Spradlinb's web site www.launchplug.com

http://www.launchplug.com/PiDirectII.html