Is it possible? MS Pro for all Clie's??

[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? Or ANY Clie for that matter? I just checked, and my 'standard' 128MB MS is formatted in FAT16.

Anyone willing to try this out? I would be willing to live with the limitations of FAT16 for a 256MB, 512MB, or (one could only wish) 1GB MS!!!

Even with a larger block size and slower access rate, it would be no worse than present MS's...just BIGGER!!!

Am I totally off here?

[Alistar]

Thats a good question. However, I wonder if the fat16 is not the inly limitation to the MS Pro working in other Clies. I am sure Sony would have realised this possibility and stated that the other Clies could use the MS Pro in this fashion. It seems only logical that they would try and get other Clie users to buy the stick even with possible limited functionality.

[PalmDoc]

...Sony wants to make us upgrade our hardware, by having us think that is the only way to take advantage of the new MSPro format.

I don't know much about the technical details of flash memory, but if NX and NZ users can reformat the MSPro to FAT16 and use it without the patch, why shouldn't it work in any Memory Stick enabled device that way? Theoretically, without the patch, the MS slot in an NX or NZ is a standard thing...right???

Someone PLEASE either validate my wishful thinking...or crush this pipe dream, so I can move on and settle for a 128MBx2 MS Select :(

HELP!!!!

[Alistar]

I am not sure about whether the MS slot is the same or not.

You have raised an interesting point, I would be interested in seeing someone try this out.

[JackAxe]

My NR70v was announced in Hong Kong, May 9, 2002. The PCG-GRX1P Vaio was announced in Hong Kong, April 3, 2002. Why is the VAIO which was announced a month earlier compatible with MS PRO when my Clie' is not? My only thought has been pretty much the same as PalmDoc's comment, that SONY want's use to upgrade to newer hardware.

I personally think this whole MS PRO non compatibility is BS. Convinient for SONY.

<]=P

[kkerruish]

>>>Why is the VAIO which was announced a month earlier compatible with MS PRO when my Clie' is not?

Most likely because the Vaio having a full operating system can have any updates needed / already supports FAT32...

The NR70(V) is running OS4.1 - which is already considered a 'legacy' operating system...so you won't see the major players developing hardware for it anymore...even though there are thousands of units out there...the cost of developing hardware drivers for two different Palm OS platforms is expensive...

Ken

[JackAxe]

Dam SONY for being CHEAP AND EVIL!!!

<]=P

[PalmDoc]

Yes...Palm OS 4.1 may be a legacy operating system, but it recognizes and uses 'legacy' memory sticks that are formatted as FAT16 storage media with no problems...

So, why couldn't a 'legacy' Clie recognize and use a new MS Pro that has been re-formatted for FAT16, just like a 'legacy' memory stick??? We don't need the OS to conform to the media or accept some sort of patch or update that it can't handle...maybe the patch will simply allow the newer Clies to access both FAT16 and FAT32 formatted MS's. We don't need that...we simply need to know if the media can be made to conform to an older file allocation scheme by means of a simple re-format. We know it works in some Clie models that also accept 'legacy' MS's, without having to patch the OS.

Wow...the thought sends shivers up my spine...1GB of MP3s on my NR70V!!

There has to be someone out there who has purchased a MS Pro and has an 'old' Clie lying around....

I can't be the only one out there who is salivating over the prospect of this!!!???:p

[PalmDoc]

Well...it looks like my local Circuit City might have MS Pro's in stock. I may just have to buy one, try it out, and return it if it doesn't work.

Again, I ask...anyone out there with a MS Pro and a pre-OS5 Clie willing to give it a try?

[Tachion]

I don't see why it wouldn't work. The maximum partition size for FAT16 is 2 gigabytes, correct? If that's the case, simply reformatting the MS Pro sticks as FAT16 insted of FAT32 shouldn't cause any problems or loss of space at all.

Looks like Sony's attempt to make us all buy new devices has failed. It's pretty sad that they couldn't at least have thought of a better way to hide this "limitation".

[Danl123uk]

Yes very good idea but wouldnt u need a NX or NZ to revert it the FAT 16 then try it on say a SJ33 or lower.

[tsuribito]

No you can format the stick in a Personal Computer. And try it in a Clie

[Mastervtec]

I hope it works!!!!

[aaronrkelly]

Did anyone get this to work - heck I cant even use up my 64 MB stick but more is usually better.....did it work huh huh huh :-)

[blackcarrera]

No it won't work, I formated my stick and did a hard reset and it didn't know what media type it was without the updates. the hard ware is the same though.

[Unregistered]

> No it won't work, I formated my stick and did a hard reset
> and it didn't know what media type it was without
> the updates. the hard ware is the same though.

Hmm...

please tell us, how you did format the stick? Are you shure it is FAT16 now? Which stick-type is it?
Which Clié?

You wrote, your Clié didn't know what media type it was without the updates. Normally the Clié can read the MS-Pro stick without updates (see posting of "palmdoc" above).

And: why did you hard-reset?


Lutz

[JackAxe]

Thanks, now we know.

<]=)

[blackcarrera]

Actually I'm not familiar with with the format types, I just read to format it to FAT, so i did; My computer only said Fat and did not say Fat16 or 32, SO I thought that maybe this is commen. I did notice a mager speed decrees when writing to the Pro stick in my NX70.

I did a hard reset to see if it would read what ever format I formated it to with out the updates.

[Unregistered]

I'm afraid you formatted with FAT 32 again. Which Desktop-System do you use?

If you are using Windows (which?) and MS-Import/Export, your MS will be shown as a drive. When the drive appears in Windows-Explorer it will show you the type of FAT right-clicking on the drive-icon.

Lutz

[blackcarrera]

Ok, standard sticks will only format to FAT and a PRO stick will format to FAT and/or FAT32 (this should help clear things up)

I'm using XPPro. Before I used the computer to format the Pro stick the properties said it was FAT just like my standard sticks, then I formatted my Pro stick to FAT and the properties said it was FAT but the speed decreased when writing to the Pro stick.
When I formatted to FAT32 the properties said FAT32 but the Clie did not recognize the Pro stick.

I don't think my computer will even Farmat the Pro stick to Fat16.

[blackcarrera]

What should the FAT be to try and get the Pro sticks to work for other Clies?

[RMCF]

As for the slot, it is exactly the same. I know this because my old laptop can read pro's (with patch) and it was made when nobody even imagined that ms pro would be available.

[JackAxe]

Originally posted by blackcarrera
What should the FAT be to try and get the Pro sticks to work for other Clies?

I just read this from another site:

"By default, Windows XP will format any CompactFlash card of 64MB or more with the FAT32 format. Digital cameras and other devices usually use the FAT (FAT16) format and can not operate with a FAT32 formatted card."

If they're saying by default, then maybe there's an option to switch to 16?

<]=)

[NJL!2016]

i think it has something to do with the hardware
the os5 clies have more powerfiul processors and can recognize more than 128 megabytes on a ms

[JackAxe]

But on that note, the a PALM M515 can use 512 meg SD cards. Also if you read about the Dragonball from Motorolas site, it states it can address up to 1 Gig of memory.

<]=)

[rmotfage]

I have windows 2000.

you can use from a "cmd" window the "format" commad to choose the filesystem type.

Let's say you memory stick pro is seen as drive I:, you could try a
format I: /FS:FAT
if that fails, you may have to add /A:size parameter. do a
help format

to see options.

I do not have a MSpro neither a MS reader on my PC: I cannot do the test.

Who can try to format a MSpro in FAT with this method?

[Crusher]

As soon as I can get at least a 512mb card locally (so I can return it when I can't make it work) for around $225.00 I will do this. The best deal I can find is $235.00 delivered, but that is online...I absolutely hate the return process for online stuff. CompUSA wants $331.00 and then there is tax...

If someone does this let us know! I see absolutely no reason it won't work as long as it is formatted correctly.

[GeekGod]

It won't work on OS4 no matter how it's formatted (yes, I tried).

It might be possible with a software update, but Sony isn't going to release one. :(

I've got some friends at Sony who are trying to get me an MS Pro to play with for a few weeks. If that happens, I may try and kludge something for OS4.

Or I may just break down and get an NX and use the CF driver for cheap, big storage...

[Crusher]

So...there I was...wondering if a MS Pro stick would work with my NR that I love so much, but badly need more space! There is the CF thang...I could go there...After reading this thread I load my MS 128mb and tidy it up. Lo and behold I screw up something and delete some database that zlauncher wants and before you know it I am formatting my card...I decide...what is to lose...lets experiment before I put things back together.

I reformat in FAT and figure out that in Win 2kPro you can directly select FAT (which I presume is FAT 16) and FAT32...as well as NTFS. AFter formatting in FAT I only get 66mb on a 128mb card...then I reset the clie and I get all 128mb back (I never get exactly 128mb due to some of it being used for overhead)...then I lose it again. I never did try FAT32 as I could not get FAT to work. I ended up using the card utilities on my clie to format my card and everything is now copacetic.

Why? :) Riddle me that Clieman!

[Roni]

Originally posted by RMCF
As for the slot, it is exactly the same. I know this because my old laptop can read pro's (with patch) and it was made when nobody even imagined that ms pro would be available.

Is it a Sony laptop with internal ms reader or...?

Sony could have made support for MS pro long before anyone knew ms pro was coming.....