256 MB SD Cards that work

[Dougf]

Hi All,

At this point I have not been seeing a HUGE amount of new complaints about the SD Card issue as I had 2 weeks ago. At this point it is well know it is SANDisk 128 MB or more. I am really wanting to get a 256 MB Card. Large retailers mainly seem to sell SanDisk, and the thing that kills me is sandisk has a palm support logo on all their cards. So..... is PNY and Lexar safe? The cards I have seen are the same color purple as Sandisk, does that make them Sandisks branded as other company names?

Bottom line, in the 256MB SD Cards, what has worked well for people so far with no or little problems, and where did you purchase these trouble free cards? Thanks for any help.

[tpipher]

I have 37 256meg PNY (Toshiba) memory cards and have had NO problem from anyone in the department.

Got them at Bestbuys for the most part.

[tanker_bob]

I have 2 256MB PNY (Toshiba) memory cards and only have rare bad sector errors, but never permanent ones. The only problem with the Toshibas is their abysmal write speed. I have Panasonics on order to replace them.

[n0m0n]

Originally posted by Tanker Bob
I have 2 256MB PNY (Toshiba) memory cards and only have rare bad sector errors, but never permanent ones. The only problem with the Toshibas is their abysmal write speed. I have Panasonics on order to replace them.


So you are of the opinion that Panasonic makes the best product for the T3?
Is this an opinion or from what you have heard here as well as out in the industry?
Thanks

[tanker_bob]

My opinion formed by reading this, Brighthand, and PDA Avenue forums on the subject. They seem to have few problems with the T3, and the fastest performance under VFSMark. I'm giving it a shot, anyway.

[n0m0n]

Yeah I am leaning towards a Panasonic I just needed more info on why?
Do you know what is there warranty period?

Man i'll tell you Palm really did some major damage to SanDisks reputation with this one!!!
Everyone and their brother is leery on buying a SanDisk now.
I wonder if Palm is going to do anything for those how have lost $$$ over this?

[kennyd]

I am using a Lexar (Panasonic) 256MB card on a T3, my wife uses a PNY (Panasonic) 256MB card on a T. Neither of us have ever had a problem with either card on either unit.

[Phaggard]

My Sandisk 256 worked fine. For 2 days.

[cyco]

I have a 256mb sandisk sd that says "0212LR TAIWAN" on the back, and so far it works it hasn't given me any troubles (not that I'm waiting for it to get fried or anything bad happens)
So far I'm only using it for mp3s and kinoma, I do my backup in another card (64mb Panasonic)

Is there any 256 sandisks that is "safe" to use for the time being?
Any info would be useful..

[Phaggard]

Mine says 0205LR TAIWAN.

[BasilC]

I've got a Lexar 256MB card, which has been working fine so far. I've solved the problem of writing directly to the card by using my digital camera as a rather expensive card reader!

[Phaggard]

I started doing soft resets after some program installs and I started getting prompts after the reset if I wanted to format the SD card. It has never worked since.

[Dougf]

Thanks everyone, I ended up purchasing the Lexar 256 (Panasonic) Card. I get it reading fine, and writing from a card reader but transferring from internal memory to card has been a little shaky as I have some files it worked fine with and others saying card dosent recognize format.

[Icepick4u]

Hi, i have T3 with a Lexar Panasonic 256
and only have a persistent error with BackupMan
just this
but also have an impressive VFS mark


VFSMark Results

File Create: 473%
File Delete: 300%
File Write: 137%
File Read: 713%
File Seek: 907%
DB Export: 331%
DB Import: 867%
Record Access: 822%
Resource Access: 768%

VFSMark: 590

BTW , i running a T3 optimizer v1.2
and still waiting an official patch too

[cyco]

after reading the posts on this thread, I'm assuming the card is safe if you don't write to it?
so am I wrong assuming if I lock my card to be read only is the safest way at the moment?:D

[Ni+Mh]

I've used my Apacer (Toshiba chipset) 256MB SD card to copy some stuff to a T3, no problem. Lucky for me? I really don't know if it's safe

[n2ifp]

No it's not safe at any speed either! The Toshiba 256MB PNY cards still get errors. The Panasonic, well... forget about it, it gets more errors than you can shake a memory stick at!!!:mad:

[DeanDC10]

Originally posted by cyco
after reading the posts on this thread, I'm assuming the card is safe if you don't write to it?
so am I wrong assuming if I lock my card to be read only is the safest way at the moment?:D

That is mostly true. Locking the card to read only is safer. The best thing is not to Backup to a card using a third party backup software, or HotSyncing large single files, or many files at once that will end up being a lot of data. Doing heavy writing to the card seems to make it fail, add a SanDisk card to the issue and you are doomed.

--Use a PC card reader for most of the writing to the card, most importantly large files, MP3's, movies, pictures, etc...

--Lock the card and use it read only, at least most of the time.

--Get a Palm Backup + 64mb SD card if you need to backup to a card.

--Do not use a SanDisk SD card ever; Panasonic seems to be the best. Note: other brands will use SanDisk cards. It can be a little tricky to stay clear of SanDisk rebranded cards, Made in Taiwan usually means SanDisk. Made in Japan usually means Panasonic. You have to go to the Card Info app on the Palm to actually find out the true manufacture of the card.

If you follow the above you are pretty safe it seems.

[n0m0n]

Funny.
I have found that I can backup if I go into BackUpMan and choose to back up at that moment.
BUT if I setup the automatic backups then I get the error message!!???!!?!!???
I have proven this 5 times now...
Why???

[Icepick4u]

yea , sometimes u get an error , byt @ last u made one

[jjbender]

I have a 128 MB Sandisk and a 512 MB Sandisk. The 128 MB I won't use anymore because it fails completely after a day or so. The 512 MB I haven't had any problems with. I have only used it for music. I have about 430 MB of music on it and used a card reader from Sandisk to copy the files onto it. I also have a 256 MB Lexar (panasonic) that I use and have had no problems what so ever with it.

[Vidge]

I've been using my 256 Panasonic since I got my T3 on 9/26 with no problems

[abraune]

Hello to all;

This my first message and first of all I wanted to say how happy I am with this very helpful website.

My problem is with my 256 SD card (brand unknow right now, no access to information and had to peal of label):

- can only write MP3 files
- when card is inserted error "the startup application for this card cannot be run" comes up
- cannot format the card or view any of it's contents
- cannot copy from handheld to card

Can anyone give me any suggestions?

Thanks to all!

A l e x

[n0m0n]

Try a card reader.
They are cheap and probably can bring more clarity as to the status of your card.
Oh and make sure the lock tab is in a unlocked position when trying to copy.

[abraune]

Good idea...will try a card reader. The card is not locked.

Thanks;

A l e x

[JwY]

this is driving me insane
i so want to get an sd card but i don't want to fry it

[ryber]

My T3 just hosed my 256 MB Lexar card. It's not just a SanDisk problem, and it's not just a write problem. I have not used the T3 to write files to the card, and it still trashed the card.

[DeanDC10]

Originally posted by ryber
My T3 just hosed my 256 MB Lexar card. It's not just a SanDisk problem, and it's not just a write problem. I have not used the T3 to write files to the card, and it still trashed the card.

What were you doing when it failed???

[ryber]

I was listening to an MP3 the first time it failed. I completely restored the card from a backup I had on my PC. The next thing I used the card for was to copy a book from the card to the T3, and that was the last breath the card took. It won't even recognize it in my card reader now.

[DeanDC10]

Originally posted by ryber
I was listening to an MP3 the first time it failed. I completely restored the card from a backup I had on my PC. The next thing I used the card for was to copy a book from the card to the T3, and that was the last breath the card took. It won't even recognize it in my card reader now.

Is this a SanDisk rebranded card??

[ryber]

No. It's a Lexar rebranded Panasonic card.

[abraune]

Originally posted by abraune
Hello to all;

This my first message and first of all I wanted to say how happy I am with this very helpful website.

My problem is with my 256 SD card (brand unknow right now, no access to information and had to peal of label):

- can only write MP3 files
- when card is inserted error "the startup application for this card cannot be run" comes up
- cannot format the card or view any of it's contents
- cannot copy from handheld to card

Can anyone give me any suggestions?

Thanks to all!

A l e x


As a follow up to my posting on this thread yesterday, I wanted to quickly update you on my progress:

1. Went out and purchased a card reader (thanks Jeff W.!)
2. Initially the reader would not recognize the 256MB Sandisk card. Attempted to format it with the reader with no success.
3. Proceeded then to correct the errors of the card, which was successful.
4. Inserted it in my T3 which acknowledged the presence of the card but gave the message that “format” was not recognized, thus card was still not read.
5. Formated the card with the PDA and now it works like a dream.

Hopefully this info. sheds a bit of light in the big 256 card debate Again thanks to Jeff for his wise suggestions.

A l e x

[Phaggard]

Abraune,

What card reader did you get and does the software to correct the errors supplied with the reader?

[n0m0n]

Originally posted by abraune
As a follow up to my posting on this thread yesterday, I wanted to quickly update you on my progress:

1. Went out and purchased a card reader (thanks Jeff W.!)
2. Initially the reader would not recognize the 256MB Sandisk card. Attempted to format it with the reader with no success.
3. Proceeded then to correct the errors of the card, which was successful.
4. Inserted it in my T3 which acknowledged the presence of the card but gave the message that “format” was not recognized, thus card was still not read.
5. Formated the card with the PDA and now it works like a dream.

Hopefully this info. sheds a bit of light in the big 256 card debate Again thanks to Jeff for his wise suggestions.

A l e x

No problem glad to have been able to help.

[abraune]

Originally posted by phaggard
Abraune,

What card reader did you get and does the software to correct the errors supplied with the reader?

The card reader is by IOGEAR (reads the 6 different types), I have Windows XP home edition so it was not necessary for me to install any drivers or additional software from the provided CD. All I did was right click on top of the external drive which was reading the SD card, and an option appeared for correcting errors. Hope this helps.

[Phaggard]

Thanks Abraune.

[Magik]

Does anyone know who the manufacturer is for SimpleTech or Kingston SD cards? Has anyone had issues with these?

[abraune]

Originally posted by Magik
Does anyone know who the manufacturer is for SimpleTech or Kingston SD cards? Has anyone had issues with these?

Not Me.

[Magik]

Haven't had issues with these brands or don't know the manufacturer?

[abraune]

No to both questions.

[twinsdad]

Magik,

I have a Simpletech 128 meg card that I purchased from Sam's Club. It is manufactured by Panasonic. I have been able to do scheduled backups with Backupman and have had only 1 sector error message when writing to the card from the T3

Don

[neo_deets]

Well I just purchase a Panasonic labled card... I hope to god it's actually a Panasonic. I'm not planning to use and backup software just listen to music and read books. Wish me luck. :)

Regards
neo_deets

[JwY]

ohh some sd cards are going on sale near me
should i get a 256 lexar or wait for the patch first?
arghhh!!!

[n0m0n]

Well I am using a 128 MB SD info says Toshiba...
I have been using this card for a few years with my m515, and for a month now with my T3.
I have a 256 MB Panasonic that I ordered in route via mail.
Once I get that I will lug that puppy in and take it for a spin
I am interested to see what happens with it.
Are there any signs that the card is crashing, frying, burning, toast???
Or will it just stop???
Thanks