"it worked for a while, and then ... no more" i used the sandisk mini cruzer for about 4-6 months. it worked great during that time, and then ... it just stopped working. the wierd thing about all this is that after mine died my my mom gave me her's to use, and i have been using that for about 1-1 1/2 years. i don't know what's this is all about. i thought my was just an isolated incident but several of my friends and colleagues have also had problems such as mine. interesting to note is that the one that stopped working seems to be an earlier version (shape is thicker) and the one is still working (skinner shape). i don't know if there is any reasoning there. From Anna, February 25, 2005
"Just like you...mine died...suddenly!!" I received the Cruzer Mini 512mb for Christmas. I used it once, maybe twice (I actually never put anything on it, just plugged it in and took a look). I have a Dell PC with XP that is 2 1/2 years old, and am running SP1. I plugged it in today to use, and the light never came on, and the PC never recognized it. I plugged it into the keyboard (where it previously worked) and in to the back of the PC and into a new 2.0 Card I installed. Nothing ever happened. I then plugged it into my old 98 NEC and nothing worked. I use a smaller MB one at work and we haven't had any issues. I am very discouraged to think of the large $$ my husband spent and the unreliability of SanDisk's tech support. My only recourse is to go directly to Best Buy, and I doubt they'll be any help. I am ever so dissapointed in what I thought would have been a real treat. From Heather, February 21, 2005
"Just like you...mine died...suddenly!!" I received the Cruzer Mini 512mb for Christmas. I used it once, maybe twice (I actually never put anything on it, just plugged it in and took a look). I have a Dell PC with XP that is 2 1/2 years old, and am running SP1. I plugged it in today to use, and the light never came on, and the PC never recognized it. I plugged it into the keyboard (where it previously worked) and in to the back of the PC and into a new 2.0 Card I installed. Nothing ever happened. I then plugged it into my old 98 NEC and nothing worked. I use a smaller MB one at work and we haven't had any issues. I am very discouraged to think of the large $$ my husband spent and the unreliability of SanDisk's tech support. My only recourse is to go directly to Best Buy, and I doubt they'll be any help. I am ever so dissapointed in what I thought would have been a real treat. From Heather, February 21, 2005
"it worked well for months then suddently fail" Worked well enough months, transferring files between my XP Laptop, Win98SE home computers and win2000 compaq at work. Then, when i take confidence on it, it suddently fails.
It won't work on either computer now. When I plug it in, the computers recognize that a USB 2.0 device is attached, but the volume and files do not appear and are not accessible. Neither the computer will let me reformat it. Obviously when this happens i have stored on it important data without back-up.
Sandisk's support pages on their website are, for all intents and purposes, useless. I must say I'm surprised, I really expected better of Sandisk.
From marc, January 27, 2005
"it worked well for months then suddently fail" Worked well enough months, transferring files between my XP Laptop, Win98SE home computers and win2000 compaq at work. Then, when i take confidence on it, it suddently fails.
It won't work on either computer now. When I plug it in, the computers recognize that a USB 2.0 device is attached, but the volume and files do not appear and are not accessible. Neither the computer will let me reformat it. Obviously when this happens i have stored on it important data without back-up.
Sandisk's support pages on their website are, for all intents and purposes, useless. I must say I'm surprised, I really expected better of Sandisk.
From marc, January 27, 2005
"Compatibility Issues" Bought this a month ago. Only been able to use my older pentium computer to access it and transfer on to it. My new top of the line one has a error everytime I install it in any usb slot either USB 1.0 through a hub or even the usb 2.0 through the regular slots. I have eight usb 2.0 slots and none of them work with it. Motherboard is a MS-7025 from MSI. Just a Major problem with compatiblity. Buyer Beware. From Shaun Wallace, January 14, 2005
"Check the power consumption on the USB interface" After posting my comments above, I once again tried to get my Cruzer Mini 512MB to work on my Compaq Presario 8000 desktop. On the port on the front of the case (the one everyone would expect to use), it behaved as before, described in my other post.
To be thorough, I did something I had not done before, I plugged it into USB port on the Belkin combo USB2.0/1394 (firewire) card instead of one of the ports on the front of the machine. IT WORKED. So clearly it is some problem with the on-board Intel USB interface.
So I went to the Compaq website, and under troubleshooting USB devices, they recommend disconnecting all but the problem device, which I did. And of course it worked again. So I withdraw my comments above.
To anyone who has problems, I suggest that you remove all other USB devices to check if excessive currrent demand on the interface is the problem.
I have looked superficially on the internet, but I cannot find how much current the Cruzer draws. Sufficient to say that with five other devices on the interface, the Cruzer obviously exceeded the motherboard interface's capacity. From Myles Fisher, December 01, 2004
"Doesn't always work" Like Greg, my Sandisk Cruzer Mini 512MB doesn't work with my Compaq Presario 8000 desktop with Win XP Home (USB 2.0). It will sometimes show the root directory, but I can't open the folders. And it hangs Explorer every time.
BUT it works fine on my Presario 1720US notebook, also with Win XP Home (but USB 1.1). Needless to say it is useless for what I want to use it, to be able to access important files from my desktop machine when travelling and at home.
I have used other thumb drives with no problems on both machines. From Myles Fisher, December 01, 2004
"Worked for 2-days, then went kaputt" Worked well enough the first couple of days I had it, transferring files between my XP home computer and win2000 compaq at work. Then it seized up, slows down and even hangs explorer. It won't work on either computer now. When I plug it in, the computers recognize that a USB 2.0 device is attached, but the volume and files do not appear and are not accessible. Niether computer will let me reformat it. Sandisk's support pages on their website are, for all intents and purposes, useless. I must say I'm surprised, I really expected better of Sandisk. From Greg, September 24, 2004
We're currently upgrading our user review system; so we won't be accepting new reviews for now. Cruzer Mini 512MB Specs
Windows 98 SE, Windows ME, Windows 2000, Windows XP, MacOS 9.1, MacOS X
Dimensions
2.83" x 0.78" x 0.31"
Capacity
512MB
Read performance Average substained rate
8MB/s
Write performance Average substained rate
7MB/s
Data protection method
Software password lock
Software
--
Additional media compatibility
None
Accessories
Neck strap, 2 additional colored caps
Extra function(s)
--
Material of casing
--
Power source
Bus-powered
Warranty
Two years
Extras Lost a USB cable? Get a replacement USB cable.
Running out of USB ports? Get an extra USB hub.
You may need a new USB card to achieve Hi-Speed USB speeds.
Confirm with our USB 2.0 FAQ if you have Hi-Speed USB on your PC.
Where to buy Sandisk Cruzer Mini 512MB?
