SanDisk Ultra II Memory Stick Pro Duo not compatible with iMac?

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Level 1

9 points

SanDisk Ultra II Memory Stick Pro Duo not compatible with iMac?

Hello all. First time poster.

I've got an old iMac 10.2.8 that I still love (although apps keep crashing lately and it's probably about time to upgrade). I use a Sony Ericsson k750i mobile phone and a Cybershot digital camera as well.

I recently bought a 4gb memory stick duo with the specific purpose of loading it with music from my iTunes and using it on my phone. When I connected my phone to the iMac via USB cable, nothing happened. It didn't mount at all. So I popped the memory stick in my camera because I never had a problem with that mounting. I got the following error:

"You have inserted a disk containing no volumes that Mac OS X can read. To use the unreadable volumes, click initialize. To continue with the disk inserted, click ignore."

I looked into the format and the stick is WINDOWS FAT32. The other san disk card I've got is DOS FAT16. That one works through the camera.

I called SanDisk and they told me to reformat the new stick to the DOS format. However, i have no idea how to do this with my mac. Is it possible?

Any other ideas on how to make this work with my iMac? i thought my mac was compatible with everything.

Thanks and aloha.

iMac G4 Mac OS X (10.2.x)

Posted on Aug 26, 2006 1:43 PM

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Answer 1

Aug 26, 2006 1:59 PM in response to Cluto

Just looked on a doc that said that "Music is stored on a memory card that's formatted as FAT-16—not HFS." I thought that FAT 32 would work but if you haven't got anything on the card go ahead and format to FAT 16. It must be something to do with the way the files are written and the such.

I hope it works.

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Answer 2

mrtotes

Level 6

11,836 points

Aug 26, 2006 2:17 PM in response to Cluto

Hello and Welcome to Apple Discussions.

To format any drive to DOS format (FAT32) go to Macintosh HD > Applications > Utilities > Disk Utility.

Insert the flash card/drive/disk to your card reader/camera/phone and then load Disk Utility. It should be listed as a drive on the left hand pane. Select it and click Erase (selecting the appropriate format in the drop down menu below).

mrtotes

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Answer 3

Cluto Author

Level 1

9 points

Aug 26, 2006 2:44 PM in response to mrtotes

I called Sony and asked them if I could format it in the Sony digicam I've got. They could not tell me what format it would be after I did that. SanDisk only told me to reformat it to DOS FAT16.

I looked at Disk Utility and I didn't see an option for Volume Fomat other than Mac OSX, OSX Extended and UNIX.

So the question is: do I reformat it in the camera and hope it comes out DOS FAT16 or do I try to do it on my iMac and then hope it is compatible with the camera and cell phone?

Thanks.

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Answer 4

Aug 26, 2006 3:11 PM in response to Cluto

"The other san disk card I've got is DOS FAT16. That one works through the camera."

You have a card that is FAT 16 with your digital camera. Use that camera and format it to FAT 16.

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Answer 5

Cluto Author

Level 1

9 points

Aug 27, 2006 2:13 AM in response to Nick Stearns

I wouldn't recommend reformatting the card to FAT16. As far as I know, FAT16 simply wasn't designed to track files on cards larger than 2GB.
Sorry to be negative, but you might be better off simply selling the card on eBay and getting a 2GB one instead...
------------------------------------------------------------------------
This was a reply on a different board. While I appreciate the reply, I don't know what to think about the advice.

I realize that I can put my music on the memory stick via bluetooth but it would take a week to do it. Not a good idea. I can probably reformat it in my Sony digicam but according to the quote above, it won't work beyond 2GB.

I guess my question is why doesn't my iMac recognize the FAT_32 format? Is it because of 10.2.8 being outdated? Speaking of that, iSync doesn't work with my phone either because the phone is newer than the version of iSync that is on 10.2.x.

Thanks for the replies but I'm still confused......Aloha.

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Answer 6

mrtotes

Level 6

11,836 points

Aug 27, 2006 6:20 AM in response to Cluto

Yeah FAT_16 can only address up to 2Gb.

When I look at my flash cards in Disk Utility I get 6 formatting options one of which is 'MS-DOS File System' which in this case means FAT_3; which is what you need. Even 10.2.8 can read FAT_32. Try inserting the card to the reader and allowing Mac OS to Initialize it. Then go in to Disk Utility select the Drive (not just the Volume) and click on the Erase tab. Hopefully you'll then get the option to Erase and format in 'MS-DOS' format.

mrtotes

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Answer 7

Aug 27, 2006 8:12 AM in response to mrtotes

I agree with mrtotes, go ahead and format FAT_3. You can always go back to the FAT_32 as it is available in Disk Utility if this doesn't work.

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Answer 8

Cluto Author

Level 1

9 points

Aug 27, 2006 1:10 PM in response to Nick Stearns

Thanks. I'm off to work now but I'll give it a try tomorrow as soon as I get a chance. I will report back with my findings.

Aloha.

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Answer 9

Cluto Author

Level 1

9 points

Aug 29, 2006 3:37 PM in response to Cluto

Well, I reformatted it to what shows "MSDOS" and it shows that there is 3.8 GB of space on the disk. It now mounts on my iMac through my camera (haven't tried to the phone yet) but now I can't add any files to it. WHY?

I drag iTunes files that are MP3 to the disk and nothing happens. Is there somethng here that I'm missing? I couldn't send any of my iTunes files via bluetooth to the phone either.

What's going on? HELP......

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Answer 10

mrtotes

Level 6

11,836 points

Aug 29, 2006 4:33 PM in response to Cluto

Well now you've got the card in FAT_32 having formatted it in Disk Utility I can't work out what's not working. I suggest you restart the Mac and switch off all your devices and try again.

It may also be worth re-formating the card using the phone or camera (if possible). I suspect the problem here is that you're trying to access a 4Gb card through a camera that may or may not support 4Gb cards. Have a look at this compatiblity list.

It may be worth considering a card reader if this is the case. They aren't expensive and will be much quicker and easier than connecting through the camera. Unless of course it works if you connect your phone via USB using the k750i's USB Mass Storage facility.

regards

mrtotes

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Answer 11

Cluto Author

Level 1

9 points

Aug 30, 2006 1:24 AM in response to Cluto

mrtotes, I really appreciate the responses. Here's the latest.

I was able to mount the MS via my camera (since it would not even show up through my phone/USB connection). I reformatted it to MSDOS and then tried to drag the music directly from iTunes to the MS. It would not work. Finally, I figured that if I dragged 60 songs at a time to the desktop, THEN put them in the MS, it would work ok. I did this for half the day and wound up with 800 songs on there. The MS showed that it had .5GB free space.

I popped it in my phone and the phone basically locked up for a couple minutes. I was not shocked by this since it's a lot of info on that card. However, to my dismay, when I looked in the sounds folder on my phone, there was NOTHING there. I am not able to access any of the files I wasted my time to put on the MS. There is no option anywhere in my phone to use them or even to show them as files on the MS.

Here's the final question. Do i use the phone option of reformatting the MS or just reformat it again on the Mac and send it back or sell it on ebay? This is ridiculous and no longer worth the effort if I can't get it to work in the next day or so.

Thanks again.
Cluto

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Answer 12

mrtotes

Level 6

11,836 points

Aug 30, 2006 12:36 PM in response to Cluto

4Gb is a big flash card - many devices can't support cards that large. I'd be tempted to speak to Sony (as the experts on your K750i and Cybershot)to get their take on whether a 4Gb card should work (my phone with an SD slot won't even read a 1Gb card let alone the 2Gb I've also got).

I've had a look on Sony's website but can't find useful info in that respect.

Another thought is what format is the music you're putting on there? I think the Sony Ericsson phones are good for .mp3 and aac but certainly not and .aac with Apple's DRM.

regards

mrtotes

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Answer 13

Cluto Author

Level 1

9 points

Aug 31, 2006 2:01 AM in response to mrtotes

Mrtotes,

Believe it or not, I finally got it to work. The reformatting on my iMac followed by some info I got on another site (reminding me to ensure that the music files are placed in the MP3 folder on the MS) actually worked. I am now the proud (yet tired) owner of a phone with over 800 songs on it. Now if my battery can keep up with my music useage.

Thanks again for all your help. It's much appreciated.

Aloha.

iMac G4 Mac OS X (10.2.x)

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Answer 14

mrtotes

Level 6

11,836 points

Aug 31, 2006 3:00 AM in response to Cluto

That's good news. Thanks for coming back and sharing your experience and the solution with us all!

mrtotes

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Answer 15

Aug 31, 2006 3:31 PM in response to Cluto

Congrats.

That is what this forum is for. You have question, you ask. If somebody knows, they answer. If they don't and you figure it out, let everybody know how to do it in case they get in that situation.

Now anybody who searches for Memory Stick or SanDisk will be directed to this post to find a fix.

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