A while back when I first started this website I hoped this issue of memory cards losing data in PDAs and other devices would disappear when the manufacturers got their act together.  Nearly a year later and it appears they're not listening to their customers nor reading the complaints. 

This site has been (and still is, up to a point) mainly to do with SD cards and Dell Axims.  HOWEVER,  that does not mean I don't want to hear from users like yourself with other devices like cameras, phones, MP3 players, etc.  And any memory card!  You see, the more info I receive about what is and isn't compatible with your device, the more likely you will help another person like yourself to purchase a card that will work with their device. 

Because the person in the shop is only interested in selling you something that will fit in your device, they're not that interested in whether its going to work! 

I hope this helps.

Jon (Happycheesecake) C

(And no, I'm not going to redesign this site just because Aximsite has changed!  I *like* the old logo!)

These pages are designed to be viewed @ 1024 x 768 res.

Had this Pocket PC problem? Me too..

Jon's most commonly asked question....

Why isn't the free space on my new SD card the same as the advertised capacity?

You buy a 256mb SD card, and when you check the capacity it shows as a 240mb card.  Even worse if you brought a 512mb card - it shows as 480mb.  Where's my space gone? 

Well first, there appears to be some disagreement regarding what is 1KB in size.  I suggest you read the postings on Aximsite (Empty 512MB CF card shows only 487.47 free?) and make up your own mind. 

Also, some of the space is used by the File Allocation Table (just like your hard drive) but this can depend on how your card is formatted (FAT16, FAT32, etc)..  The rest is used by what I call the "Secure Area" (The SD Card Association calls this the "Copyright Protection Mechanism").  Yes, some of your storage has gone to be used as sort-of extension of the File Allocation Table (FAT) to determine what data on the card is protected by copyright.  Secure?  Yep, like you can copy data on the card but not then copy it off, or the data is write-protected...

And of course digital cameras, PDA's and 99% of the rest of the SD card devices need this "secure area" like you need another hole in your head.  But guess what?  You can't get it back.  You can't format the "secure area" (Unless someone out there in webland knows of a consumer device that supports a low-level format) .  Its under the control of the SD card's internal controller. 

And guess what happens if the "secure area" becomes corrupted?  Say bye-bye to your SD card...  A high-level format can't directly access the secure area.

(Actually I'll admit the most common question is - why did my SD card go wrong?  You should find the answer on the line above...)

Disclaimer:

I'm not blaming anyone for this.  I'm not pointing my finger at anything/anyone.  I'm just stating what I know, ok?   The info on these pages are solely the responsibility of me, Jon Crawford!  Although the website is linked to Aximsite they have no editorial control  over the contents of this site.

Manufacturers - come and have a go if you think you're hard enough!  Or, better still send me some SD cards to try out!