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WillEyedOney

Q: Powerbook 520 Compact Flash Problem

I have just bought a PCMCIA CF adapter and a 2gb Sandisk CF card.
Inserting the adapter into the PCMCIA module works ok, however when I insert the CF card into the adapter the adapter and card are ejected after a couple of seconds.
I have tried the card in the card reader on my XP machine and it is all ok.
Any Ideas as to why my powerbook throws its toys (CF Card) out of its pram?

Powerbook 520, Mac OS 8.6 or Earlier

Posted on Mar 11, 2008 3:24 AM

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Q: Powerbook 520 Compact Flash Problem

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  • by WillEyedOney,

    WillEyedOney WillEyedOney Mar 28, 2008 8:07 AM in response to WillEyedOney
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 28, 2008 8:07 AM in response to WillEyedOney
    Right, tried it with a 256mb card and it works. I guess that 2gb is just too big for the old girl to handle.
    One further question, what do I use to format the card? Anubis etc won't touch it.
  • by jpl,

    jpl jpl Mar 29, 2008 10:27 AM in response to WillEyedOney
    Level 7 (28,285 points)
    Mar 29, 2008 10:27 AM in response to WillEyedOney
    Will,

    Jan Hedland is the resident expert on these older machines, so he should be around soon. My suggestion for formatting is to do it on a modern machine if possible. If you are running OS 8.6 on the PB 520, you can format it as MacOS Extended (HFS+); if running OS 8.0 or earlier, you must use MacOS Standard (HFS). Mac OS 8.1 through 9.2.2 can use either format.

    As I recall, I formatted a PC card hard drive on my Wallstreet using Drive Setup in the Utilities folder. Drive Setup cannot see HDs connected to a USB or Firewire PC card, but apparently could handle the PC card HD.
  • by WillEyedOney,

    WillEyedOney WillEyedOney Mar 29, 2008 1:12 PM in response to jpl
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 29, 2008 1:12 PM in response to jpl
    Thanks for the reply.
    I am running 7.5.5 so unfortunately there are no options for formatting disks etc. :/
  • by Limnos,

    Limnos Limnos Mar 29, 2008 3:34 PM in response to WillEyedOney
    Level 9 (54,621 points)
    Mac OS X
    Mar 29, 2008 3:34 PM in response to WillEyedOney
    OS7, it's been a while. I have vague memories of some limit to drive sizes. To OS7 2GB must appear gargantuan and over the limit. Also, I don't think OS7 can use HFS+
  • by WillEyedOney,

    WillEyedOney WillEyedOney Mar 29, 2008 3:57 PM in response to Limnos
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 29, 2008 3:57 PM in response to Limnos
    I turned off PC Exchange and tried the card.
    OS offered to initialise it and I said ok. Seemed to take an age with the little
    watch icon so I forced a restart. CF card now shows up on the desktop.
    So far it doesn't let me choose it as a Startup Disk though.