Memory Stick Pro Question

[PalmDoc]

Read the quote, then read my question at the bottom...

This is from Brighthand.com:

"When Sony announced the Memory Stick PRO format, it said the NX series and the NZ90 would need a software patch to make use of them. However, people who already have the cards have found a way to use them without the patch. Memory Stick PRO cards come in FAT32 format. Without the patch, Clie models can use the card for transferring data like files and applications but streaming data only works for a few seconds. This makes it impossible to use the card for MP3s, video, etc. However, if the card is reformatted to FAT16, this limitation disappears. Of course, there are some drawbacks to this workaround. FAT32 uses a smaller block size so reformatting it to FAT16 will reduce the amount of data that can be stored on it. Also, it will probably be necessary to reformat the card back to FAT32 in order to use the patch when it is released. But this workaround does allow people who have already bought Memory Stick PRO cards to begin using them immediately. "

OK...so my question is, if you reformat a MSPro to FAT16, will it work in an NR series Clie?

Anyone willing to try this out? I would be willing to live with the limitations of FAT16 for a 256 or 512MB MS!!!

[PalmDoc]

...someone has to find the prospect of this intriguing.

Imagine if all it would take would be a simple re-format to make these high-capacity MS's available to all of us!

[PalmDoc]

This topic may be heating up...check this thread if you're interested:

http://www.cliesource.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=9695

[pigburger]

Just a thought, you could always run out and buy a MS pro and give it a shot. I certainly refuse to be the first monkey shot in space.....

[Spiral]

I definately think it would be interesting if we coudl use a ms pro formatted to FAT16, might even make me consider getting a sony camera.

But i definately wouldn't spend money to buy one to test, could somebody borrow one from a friend and try it?

[Ethan]

I was thrilled and devastated when the Sony Mem Stick Pro came out. I tot " Wow bigger space to store full length movie" and then "Damn!!! Not for NR70!!!" as I read throught the Sony Memory Stick Website...

All along I thought it was a hardware incompatibility that prevented its use on the NR70s. Though I know nuts about hardware but I hope that the stick is usable on the NRs...

Anyway any updates yet fellow Cliers? *Pacing around the room like a father waiting the birth of his first child*

[crh3f]

I'm willing to be the tester, if someone will only tell me how to reformat a stick to FAT16... (and maybe chip in for some cost-recovery if I screw up a memory stick in the process...)

[Spiral]

The method is discussed in some NX threads about memory stick pro and audio/video problems, i think you need a memory stick reader other than your clie, then use the windows disk formatter.

[GeekGod]

Tried it today. Didn't work. :( :confused:

Not sure why. Will have to mess with it a bit more and see...

Worked like a champ in the NX, but no go in my NR. :mad:

Might be a while before I can try anything else. The stick I tried today was for a customer with an NX. Installed the NX System Update and Formatted the stick with 16K Cluster size (on a PC) and it worked like a champ. MP3, video, MS Import, etc. Tried re-formatting on the NX, and it reverted to 32K Cluster and didn't work right again. So you got to use a PC to format (the problem is the cluster size).

I'm trying to get Sony to loan me a MS Pro to play with. If that happens I'll try and kludge something for OS4. I have a few ideas...

PS: Tried an older Dazzle MS reader after the format and it still didn't work. The reader in the RZ26G works right out of the box. Nice to have all these toys to play with. :p

[Ethan]

Tks for the updates... guess will have to wait and see...
*still slightly hopeful*