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Aag
Newbie

Registered: Nov 2004
Location:
Posts: 6

OS: Win2K SP

Sony Microvault & Other USB Drives - Important Information

Hi Fellows,
I have seen lot many Sony Microvault complain posts here.
Quite many are those which states that the SONY utilities are not working on their drives.

Well I must inform you fellows that there are quite a lot FAKE branded drives being marketed worldwide !.

In countries where copyright law doesnt prevail much, you can easily find them being sold by shopkeepers & distributors. In other countries those drives are generally sold through EBay & other Auction sites.

There are lookalike drives having some other names.

The FAKE brands being distributed are generally SONY, LG, SAMSUNG, KINGSTON & few more.

The FAKE drives being marketed are the ones which have very easy & sleek shape (easy to duplicate).

There are lot many manufacturers/distributors which have quite a ready made stock of USB stuff & can do custom logo printing.

Note: The Links pasted belows doesn't mean that these companies make FAKE drives. I am just showing the similarities between the some barnded ones & no name ones.

Who puts the NAMES on no-name ones , I cant say. You have to check that for yourself.

But you can have your custom logo printing & have the accompanying CD if you order 1000+ pieces

[url]http://www.sunfd.com/[/url]

[url]http://www.made-in-china.com/showrooms/goldeast/3/gf/mic/mic/9/Shenzhen_Gold_East_Technology_Co.,_Ltd..html[/url]

[url]http://www.made-in-china.com/showrooms/goldeast/3/gf/mic/mic/10/Shenzhen_Gold_East_Technology_Co.,_Ltd..html[/url]

[url]http://www.made-in-china.com/products/show/premium/jc5NTA5M/jUyNDUyM/3/_Kingston_USB_Flash_Drive.html[/url] (Kingston !! -- No SAY)

(2Gig Drive without LOGO - Look Alike)
[url]http://www.made-in-china.com/products/show/premium/zM0ODQ1M/jE3NzgwM/3/_USB_Flash_Disk_[/url](F010).html (Exactly like the new SONY GIG Drive)

Sony Latest 2Gig Vault (Original)
[url]http://www.sony.net/Products/Media/Microvault/usd-g.html[/url]

Sony Micorvault (Look Alike )
[url]http://www.compgeeks.com/details.asp?invtid=MINIDISK-256-DGRY-CS&cat=RDM[/url]
You will find more sites

Sony Microvault (Original)
[url]http://www.sony.net/Products/Media/Microvault/usm-u2.html[/url]

So printing a LOGO on a no-name devices is not difficult.
And doing that earns a LOT more profit.

Now regarding the SONY MICROVAULT drive,

if your drive is not being recognized by the iformatter (Low Level Format Programme) & password programme downloaded from SONY Site, then your SONY Drive is for SURE FAKE !!!

You probably would have got a minicdrom drive, having 3 or folder namely "PP2201", "PP2202", Win98 etc

If you have the minicdrom having these folders then your USB Flash Drive controller (not saying the drive) is made by
PointChips [url]http://www.pointchips.com[/url]

You would also have got the MangerX prgramme on the accompanied CDROM but that wouldnt have detected your FLASH Drive. If your FLASH DRIVE is detected & are able to format then you are among the very few lucky ones.

In order to solve the data corruption problem (which generally occurs after using the drive for sometime),
You need to Low Level format the USB Drive with the Formatter designed for the PP2201 controller.

There is download section at the Pointchips site but thas closed for open public. & furthermore the company doesn't provide the generic format utility FOR SECURITY REASONS (Ahh.. dunno what the legitimate users will do)

To be EXTRA SURE, you can physically see the CHIP on your SONY MICROVAULT, the two pieces of platic cover are easily detached with some force (Pull in Strainght Line - Dont bend).

Easier way is to have a extra strendth flash light, put it at some angle on the middle Translucent Part & you would see the "FreeDik PP2201" on the controller chip. Thas the 110% confirmation that your drive is using a Pointchip controller & coz of the you are unable to get Iformatter working. (probably the actual SONY Drive uses some other controller or some other PID )

Wanted to share this with you, so that anyuser who is gonna buy any FLASH drive, please make sure that you are able to RUN lowlevel format utility from the manufactures web site. DOnt trust the accompanied CDROM rather always get the latest drivers/utilties from the compnay site & check.

Ohh BTW I also own a FAKE SONY 128U2 -- & thas giving data corruption problem.

Take care & have nice time.

Aag

Last edited by Aag on 11-07-2004 at 03:54 AM

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11-03-2004 08:32 AM

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sojourner
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Registered: Dec 2004
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Posts: 1

OS: Windows xp professional sp2

WINDOWS XP PRO SP2 will not recognize SONY Micro Vault USM-256EV in "my computer"

My [URL=http://www.sony.net/Products/Media/Microvault/usm-e.html]Sony USB 2.0 Micro Vault Flash Drive Storage Media, model no. USM-256EV[/URL], also called a [URL=http://www.sony.com.my/sonystyle/cat_accs/micro_vault.asp]Sony Micro Vault ELITE,[/URL] cannot be seen by my windows xp professional sp2 operating system in "my computer." I have tried SONY's Trouble Shooting page and read SONY's FAQ, Knowledge Base Articles 325653 and 318654 and Notes on use for the 256E, but so far nothing works.

The [URL=http://www.sony.net/Products/Media/Microvault/download_usm-e.html]SONY formater[/URL] will not recognize that my SONY USM-256EV flash drive is connected; and neither EZRecover 3.0 for PL-2515 nor EzRecover_Stormblue recognize that it is connected. Nevertheless, my SONY USM-256EV flash drive shows up under "device manager," is detected by [URL=http://www.lavalys.com/]EVEREST 1.51[/URL] and the folders & files written on my SONY USM-256EV flash drive by another computer which using a windows 2000 OS can be recovered by [URL=http://www.active-undelete.com/]Active Undelete[/URL] on my windows xp computer.

I clearly cannot write to my SONY USM-256EV flash drive from my windows xp computer (although at one time I could . . . I have no clue what happened, if anything, to make it quit), because it is not recognized as a disk drive by "my computer" in windows xp. The Windows 2000 computer can both read and write on my SONY USM-256EV flash drive.

Using a flash light, and looking at an angle on the middle translucent part my SONY USM-256EV flash drive, the controller chip is identified as a [URL=http://www.ktc.com.tw/download.asp]KTC-FC1325N USB Flash Drive Controller[/URL] manufactured by [URL=http://www.ktc.com.tw/about.asp]Key Technology Corporation[/URL] out of Taiwan.

The flash drive came with the following software: Password Lock, Auto Zip, Auto Login and PC Lock, and includes drivers for Windows 98/98SE, but I have not installed any of this software (I do not want to make the problem worse than it is).

I sure would like to be able to read and write on this flash drive with my windows xp as well as my windows 2000 (located at the office). Now . . . although I can bring files home, I cannot work on them at home and then take them back to the office. It is a one-way street, and the only off-ramp at home is by using Active Undelete to locate the files and folders on my SONY USM-256EV flash drive, recover and copy them to my C drive at home.

Windows 2000 installs driver version 5.0.2183.1 for my SONY USM-256EV flash drive and windows xp uses driver version 5.1.2535. It does not appear that my windows xp will permit me to install 5.0.2183.1 drivers.

Both Active Undelete and EVEREST 1.51 report that my SONY USM-256EV flash drive uses a FAT16 file system. Active Undelete reads a serial number of E4DE-3250 on the flash drive but there is also a number D33021 which appears on the outside of the SONY USM-256EV case.

I AM STUCK and have no clue whether this is an original SONY product, a FAKE SONY product or, and more to the point, if I can every get the thing working on both computers again. I would appreciate any help. Thanks,

Sojourner.

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12-26-2004 12:42 PM

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piasek
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Registered: Jun 2005
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OS: Windows 98se

fake sony microvault have 128 mb capity , it's sure.
I check it.

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06-05-2005 04:00 PM

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KURO
Regular Visitor

Registered: Jul 2005
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Posts: 89

OS: xp windows

Hi, I used this usb over 6 months but I still haven't the problem, I'm so lucky can buy the good and cheap item.

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07-24-2005 12:49 PM

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winbinar
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Registered: Aug 2005
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OS: WinXP

In this fake device the following chips: controller i5062-ZD ([url]www.icreate.com.tw[/url]) and memory M29ABGPAH 0512 ([url]www.StarRam.com[/url] ????).
The utility iFormat does not recognize this device though it is intended for the controller i5062-ZD. I've use WinXP Professional. Today I've to install iFormat and drivers under Win98. That's freezing...

Attachment: photo0224.jpg
This has been downloaded 6792 time(s).

Last edited by winbinar on 08-18-2005 at 02:55 PM

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08-11-2005 09:29 PM

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winbinar
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Registered: Aug 2005
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OS: WinXP

Today I got the PortFree Production Tool 3.16 and 3.20 for i5062-ZD and i5068-ZD (PDx8 v3.16, PDx8 v3.20),
but report has regret:
PenDrive 1 : GOOD
Controller ID : A8062,103
Flash 1 ID : 0x2c 0xda 0x80 0x15 0x50 0xff 0xff 0xff
Total Useable Sector : UNKNOW
Total Useable Byte : UNKNOW

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09-09-2005 02:54 PM

ajanas
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Registered: Sep 2005
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OS: xp

what's the function of portfree production program?

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09-10-2005 07:30 AM

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winbinar
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OS: WinXP

Attached

Attachment: pdx8_2k_320.zip
This has been downloaded 8188 time(s).

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09-10-2005 07:45 AM

ajanas
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Registered: Sep 2005
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OS: xp

My 4GB drive also shows corrupted folders once every few days.
So I downloaded 3.16 and 3.20 PortFree Production utility and did low level format and flash test and now my drive shows as 256MB rather than 4GB.
However, when this drive has i5062-ZD controller and a samsung memory chip K9E2G08U0M which is 256Mx8, which is 2GB.

[url]http://www.samsung.com/Products/Semiconductor/Flash/NAND/2Gbit/K9E2G08U0M/K9E2G08U0M.htm[/url]

Does it mean that samsung chip is fake as well and it is 256MB, or that running 3.16 portfree production utility screwed up icreate i5062-ZD flash drive controller?

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09-12-2005 03:35 AM

winbinar
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OS: WinXP

What information about your flash disk in report window?

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09-12-2005 09:49 AM

ajanas
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Registered: Sep 2005
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OS: xp

This is a REPORT from PortFree Production Program v3.16 when pressed CHECK FLASH with my 4GB kingston drive plugged in.
As I have reported previously, when disassembled, it has i5062-ZD controller and a samsung memory chip K9E2G08U0M which is 256Mx8 or 2GB.

PenDrive 1 : GOOD
Controller ID : A8062,103
Flash 1 ID : 0xec 0xda 0x80 0x15 0x50 0xec 0xda 0x80
Flash 1 : ID 0xec, Good Blocks UNKNOW, Bad Block UNKNOW, Total Blocks UNKNOW
Flash 1 Capacity : UNKNOW
Total Useable Sector : UNKNOW
Total Useable Byte : UNKNOW

Any ideas what this report indicates?

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09-13-2005 01:37 PM

jd00005
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Registered: Sep 2005
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OS: WinXP sp2, W2K, WinXP SP1, Ubuntu Linux 5.04

iFormat_v418

I'm looking for a copy of iFormat_v418.

The 8gb Create i5062 ZD chipped "Sony Micro Vault" I am trying to revive is assumed to be fake due to the price but may be interesting to get it working after a bout with a self-inflicted WinXP OS formatting.

Does anyone else have experience with one of these?

Thanks, JD

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09-15-2005 04:53 PM

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winbinar
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And one more newer version of utility PortFree Production Program 3.27 (03.03.2005).

Attachment: pdx8_2k_v327.zip
This has been downloaded 9617 time(s).

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09-16-2005 02:38 PM

winbinar
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OS: WinXP

YEEEEEESSSSSSS!
128Mb instead 1Gb is at me !!!

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09-17-2005 12:08 PM

anahuac
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Registered: Sep 2005
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Posts: 2

OS: Win XP

fake Sony microvault 2GB

Hi I'm the owner of a fake microvault it has the Icreate i5062ZD flash disk controller, I have not opened it to see the memory module, I bought it in ebay, I paid 86 dollars (shipping fee included), is not a bad business for a 2G flash drive, but this thing is not working anymore :-(.

These are some differences that I've noticed: the printing quality, then it says "2G" and below this "B", the good one says "2" and below "GB".

Now, I'm having problems, it is detected by winXP but winXP says that it has a 0MB of capacity, It was recognized by win2K, I formated under win2K and win"k said that it has 1TB of capacity amazing!!!, but as I said before is not working :-(.

Do you know what I can do to get it working again?

Thanks.

¡Viva Mexico!!!

Last edited by anahuac on 09-28-2005 at 05:17 PM

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09-26-2005 09:40 PM

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rolandventura
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Registered: Sep 2005
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OS: win xp

Looks like I have got one as well! Several months ago I bought a Sony Micro Vault 1GB on ebay but when it arrived XP read it as being 2GB. All was well for a very short while then the contents of word documents were magically being replaced with lots of zeros. Many MP3s would no longer play and folders started appearing also with lots of zeros. I have removed the cover of the key and have a Hynix 1GB chip with an i5062-zd controller. I have downloaded PortFree 3.27. Can anyone please give me some monkey-proof instructions as to what I should do next?

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09-26-2005 09:44 PM

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anahuac
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Registered: Sep 2005
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OS: Win XP

as the other fellows said, you have to format it.
click in the options button, then check the format opcion, then click the run button (not sure about the name). I do not know if this works, but you dont lose anything trying..

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09-26-2005 09:50 PM

rcasaw
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Registered: Sep 2005
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OS: W 2000

The only way I can get this fake to take a format is to use reproduce mode. Then it comes up with a 64mb capacity that is recognizable. Cant make it accept a size any bigger. Maybe that's what it really is??

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09-26-2005 11:00 PM

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winbinar
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Registered: Aug 2005
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OS: WinXP

I have found the original document also for using PortFree program and has attached him. Enjoy much smaller capacity of your faked flash disks.

Attachment: pdx8_20040324.zip
This has been downloaded 6526 time(s).

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09-27-2005 11:13 AM

rolandventura
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OS: win xp

Many thanks for the advice, mine seems to be OK now. Before the LLF it instantly corrupted pdfs but now it seem to be ok. Only problem is that I had to destroy the entire casing to get a look at the chip......

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09-27-2005 09:31 PM

nanoflash
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OS: WinXP Pro

Who can sell me a SONY Microvault with the Samsung CHIP K9E2G08U0M ????

Hi, i need the nand flash chips K9E2G08U0M for my own project. Iwill pay much money for somebody, who can sell me Sony Microvault USB stick or other products with this CHIP. PLS dont hesitate to contact me !

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09-28-2005 11:19 AM

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rolandventura
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Registered: Sep 2005
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OS: win xp

I have noticed a strange thing with PortFree. Before the LLF memory manager said that my key was 1GB when my comp said it was 2GB. After the LLF both memory manager and my comp say it is now 125MB. However, before the LLF I moved several files from the fake onto my PC hard disk. The total size of all the files I moved was 510MB and even if I ignore the corrupted ones the fully functional files easily come to more than 125MB. I then cross referenced the memory chip serial number with the manufacturers website and it says that the chip has 1GB capacity. Is there a problem with PortFree or am I just crap? Is the chip a fake as well?

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09-29-2005 09:25 AM

winbinar
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OS: WinXP

Your memory chip is 1Gbit or 1Gbyte? 1Gbit/8bit = 128Mbytes.

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09-29-2005 01:17 PM

rolandventura
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That would explain it, thanks.

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09-30-2005 12:29 PM

jim15800
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Registered: Sep 2005
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OS: windows xp pro

I have a drive wihch reads 8 gb,but isn't. Is there anyway to format it to show the true capacity. The seller is willing to give me a refund I show it doesn't it isn't really an 8 gb drive. The seller is willing to exchange it now, but as I suspect his entire supply are fakes I want a refund. Honest seller cheated by supplier. If any one responds please give fulkl instructions on how to format. I am a mainframer; Windows is new for me. thank you in advance to anyone who responds.

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10-01-2005 04:20 PM

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lameboyadvance
Newbie

Registered: Sep 2005
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OS: Windows 98SE

Why couldn't I find this thread [b]before[/b] I bought the drive? I thought it sounded fishy, but I did at least half a dozen Googles, and somehow managed to miss this...

Anyway, I recently got suckered in to buying a "Sony VAIO 4GB" flash drive, which I proceeded to immediately format, leaving me with either 0B or 1TB.
Its a i5062-ZD chip with a HY4G2M flash. I tried downloading the PDx_2k_???.zip files above, but as the names imply, they need Win2K or better.

Can someone please give me a copy of the 98 version, or at least point me in the right direction?

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10-03-2005 08:13 PM

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mrcockrell
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Registered: Oct 2005
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OS: XP

4gb Sony VAIO USB Flash Drive

Hey lameboyadvance

i recently purchased that same drive, where did you buy yours, i got mine on ebay, for about $100, and the guy is now an unregistered user on Ebay

I assume my drive is fake since i can find nothing on an actual Sony product like this, my drive seems ok after i formatted it(windos standard format), it shows 4gb, but ocasionally when i copy a file to it it creates a corrupted undeletable file with 128 files in it and they are all named 000000000.000, and i have to reformat it

does anyone know if i should just use a LLF to try to fix this problem

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10-04-2005 12:59 AM

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mrcockrell
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Registered: Oct 2005
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OS: XP

well i did the LLF using portfrees latest version, and now my flash drive only has 501 MB

i guess theres no way to reverse/fix this?, or is there?

anyone know what the capacity adjust option does exactly?

I have already had around 1.5 Gb of usable data on this drive so i know it is capable of holding more??

Last edited by mrcockrell on 10-04-2005 at 02:06 AM

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10-04-2005 02:02 AM

lameboyadvance
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OS: Windows 98SE

mrcockrell,
Yours sounds an awful lot like mine. The guy I got it from left ebay only a few days after I paid him (via BidPay of course, PayPal would've meant Buyer Protection

).

Reading up on the flash chip, it [b]is[/b] 500MB (4Gb(it)). Problem is all the (98SE) USB drivers I try with it either want to format it as 0 bytes or 1TB. Unless I can find a 98 copy of that program, I'll need to find a spare drive to install 2K onto.

...And as for fitting 1.5GB of data onto a 500MB drive, that is impossible. A lot of data would be lost, accounting for the 0000's everywhere.

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10-04-2005 07:31 AM

lmuzanenhamo
Newbie

Registered: Oct 2005
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Posts: 1

OS: Windows XP Pro Service Pack 2

iFormat Download

hey guys I have tried PortFree production software but it doesnt seem to pick up the flash still. It says that there is a "No Flash Error". I have an asssumably fake USM512U2 flash that was formatted under Windows XP. Since then it hasnt worked. It gives the famed "Insert disk in drive X". Does anyone know how I can sort this out?

Does anyone know where I can get iFormat, besides the PointChips site???

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