Storage Card utilities

[John Blasdell]

There are a couple of programs to format, defrag, scan/repair and other "fixes" for storage cards. Which program is best? Any major problems with either program? Thanks! :?

[Darius Wey]

CNetX Flash Format is worth a look. In the times I've tried it, it did what it said!

Here is a link: http://www.cnetx.com/Format/features.asp

[Len M.]

Softwinter's Storage Tools does a fine job:

http://www.softwinter.com/storagetools.html

[Menneisyys]

There are a couple of programs to format, defrag, scan/repair and other "fixes" for storage cards. Which program is best? Any major problems with either program? Thanks! :?

For just formatting cards, see the above-mentioned programs, or just Resco File Explorer. The latter also supports formatting card (albeit, without fine-tunable parameters - see for example http://www.firstloox.org//forums/showthread.php?t=3591 on this.)

For repairing cards, I wouldn't recommend either Storage Tools or Pocket Mechanic (the two apps I've tried to use for such purposes). They have always been much worse than the traditional chkdsk on Windows. They've both messed up some of my cards (I've tried to save some mp3 files NoteM crashed on during recording) several times.

So, whenever possible, avoid using both Storage Tools and Pocket Mechanic if you need to repair a card or do the same as with chkdsk. Always try to stick to chkdsk then.

(I've also discussed this problem in my article on my PPC-based MP3 recoder roundup linked from http://www.pocketpcmag.com/newsl_jkwg/JKWG_02-22-05.htm (or, alternatively: http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/index.php?action=expand,37799 and http://www.pocketcasting.com/archives/2005/02/21/recording-on-the-pocket-pc/ .)

[Menneisyys]

There are a couple of programs to format, defrag, scan/repair and other "fixes" for storage cards. Which program is best? Any major problems with either program? Thanks! :?

For just formatting cards, see the above-mentioned programs, or just Resco File Explorer. The latter also supports formatting card (albeit, without fine-tunable parameters - see for example http://www.firstloox.org//forums/showthread.php?t=3591 on this.)

For repairing cards, I wouldn't recommend either Storage Tools or Pocket Mechanic (the two apps I've tried to use for such purposes). They have always been much worse than the traditional chkdsk on Windows. They've both messed up some of my cards (I've tried to save some mp3 files NoteM crashed on during recording) several times.

So, whenever possible, avoid using both Storage Tools and Pocket Mechanic if you need to repair a card or do the same as with chkdsk. Always try to stick to chkdsk then.

(I've also discussed this problem in my article on my PPC-based MP3 recoder roundup linked from http://www.pocketpcmag.com/newsl_jkwg/JKWG_02-22-05.htm (or, alternatively: http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/index.php?action=expand,37799 and http://www.pocketcasting.com/archives/2005/02/21/recording-on-the-pocket-pc/ .)

Another discussion of this problem (and a new "victim" of it): http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=340477

[Patrick Y.]

For repairing cards, I wouldn't recommend either Storage Tools or Pocket Mechanic (the two apps I've tried to use for such purposes). They have always been much worse than the traditional chkdsk on Windows. They've both messed up some of my cards (I've tried to save some mp3 files NoteM crashed on during recording) several times.

So, whenever possible, avoid using both Storage Tools and Pocket Mechanic if you need to repair a card or do the same as with chkdsk. Always try to stick to chkdsk then.


Menneisyys is absolutely right :!: Don't ever trust Pocket Mechanic or Storage Tool. It totally SCREWS UP my SD card. :roll: More than 480 MB of files on my card got messed up. I have TERRIBLE time retrieving them. Get a SD card reader and stick with CHKDSK!

[John Blasdell]

Wow! Glad I asked. I assumed both programs were good; one was better. Turns out both are bad. :devilboy:

When my primary handheld was a Palm, I suggested in forums and e-mails to developers that they create Palm-based tools to check and repair storage cards. Sounded easy to me (my only programming was years ago w/ Basic, but this didn't sound hard). The replies all stated this would be a very complex task, with the real probability of screwing up the storage cards. Turns out they knew what they were talking about.

You saved me hours down the road, trying to salvage what should never have been messed up. We should be able to do everything on the road, without a PC. Reality says, "You need the PC!" I guess the best solution is to pack a card reader even if I don't have my notebook; I can find a PC to plug it into and check/fix the card.

Thanks again!