Using compact flash card between Mac and Janome sewing machine

Question

Using compact flash card between Mac and Janome sewing machine

Help!
I recently bought a Janome embroidery sewing machine, which uses a compact flash card to download embroidery files to the machine via a computer. Of course the machine works in windows format, but I was told by the dealership that others have used Macs successfully to drag files to a card and download onto the machine. (They can't seem to refer me to any of these customers, of course). Anyway, every time I try to transfer a file and then load it into the sewing machine, I get a "FAT card error". I contacted Janome, and as expected, they told me to format it in a windows machine, then the sewing machine, then try the Mac. I followed their directions exactly, but still the error. They surmissed that the Mac had re-formatted the card when I put it in. (I don't believe so, as the Mac just reads it. Plus, info. indicates it is still a MS-DOS FAT16 formatted card. After writing to them again, of course they blame the Mac. Can anyone give me an idea on how to get this Windows disabled sewing machine to accept the card after I have put it into the Mac? I am using a Sabent card reader. Could that have anything to do with it?

iMac G4 Flat Panel Mac OS X (10.4.5) Janome Memory Craft 9700

Posted on Mar 1, 2006 11:14 PM

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Answer 1

Androcles

Level 3

536 points

Mar 2, 2006 1:50 PM in response to Cathy Overton

Have you tried formatting on the iMac?

Put the flash card in your reader and plug it in.

Go to 'applications' --- 'utilities' and select "disk utility".

You should be able to see your compact flash card. It's important that you take the very top name and select it (the one that says how big it is). Move over to the 'erase' tab and select from the 'volume format' section; "ms-dos". Select erase....

You should be able to make the disk work for both Mac and Windows by doing this. If this does not work, then there could potentially be a problem with your card.

Good luck!

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Answer 2

Mar 4, 2006 1:36 PM in response to Cathy Overton

Thanks, Androcles, but it still didn't work. I don't think it's the card, because the machine accepts it fine if it has been formatted using the windows pc, but even after formatting it with ms/dos, as per your instructions (thanks for reminding me about disk utility), I still get the same Fat card error message when inserting it into the sewing machine. It's as if the mac puts some kind of "tag" or something on it that the sewing machine doesn't like, even if all I have done is insert it into the mac, then take it out and put it into the machine, with no changes to the content of the card. I may have to resort to only using it with the windows machine at work, but I really hate to give up!

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