CF Reader And MPC 2kXL

So I got a card reader for my mpc but when i format the cf card on my pc, the mpc wont recognize it but when i format it on my mpc, the pc won't recognize it. How do I fix it?

Thanks, peace.

Format on your pc FAT16 or FAT only!!! Try that..

What PC operating system are you using?

That would make a significant difference.

Im on XP.

I tried doing it FAT only but it didn't work either and I don't have an option to do it FAT 16 only FAT and FAT 32...

Thanks...

The problem is that XP FAT is not the same as DOS5, 6, 7 FAT of yesteryear. That is, the format is just enough different from the older versions so that the MPC does recognize it. This is the same issue with Zips, as discussed many times on this board before.

Normally for Zips, you could just use the Iomega Zip tools, which formats it in DOS5.x format which is great for the MPC and PC to read. With a CF reader, that option would not be available.

Alternatives:
1. Find a Win9x/Me system and format the card.
2. Create a win9x boot disk from bootdisk.com. Load a USB mass storage driver for DOS (described at http://www.winhex.com/replica.html). Format the drive. This assuming your CF reader for your PC is USB.
3. or **AS A LAST RESORT**, Let me know what size your CF card is. I have a solution, but I would need the size first since I may have a custom solution for you.

mpc3000 wrote:Alternatives:
1. Find a Win9x/Me system and format the card.
2. Create a win9x boot disk from bootdisk.com. Load a USB mass storage driver for DOS (described at http://www.winhex.com/replica.html). Format the drive. This assuming your CF reader for your PC is USB.

Can those alternatives not be applied to external Scsi HD's? (Especially 1)

OK, I found an easy and simple solution to format a CF card using a USB reader so that XP and MPC2k will read it:

Download and install the The Dell USB Memory Key from:
http://www.bay-wolf.com/downloads.htm

Use it for format the CF card (no need to check off boot files).

That's it.


As far as using this stuff for HD's, #1 would not work since any Windows OS will recognize the HD as a HD and will put a partition table there. The MPC does not like drives that have partition tables. I have written a custom formatting utility that actually formats a HD into multiple MPC partitions and the PC sees all partitions, but it is not ready for public release.

Well....If u can release it to me privatly, that would be nice

Dope...i really appreciate it...

how do i make my XP pc read the mpc zip disks? i can do the reverse, like computer zips to mpc. but if i format a disk on the pc, i shouldnt be saving data to it from the mpc.. right?

mpc3000 wrote:The problem is that XP FAT is not the same as DOS5, 6, 7 FAT of yesteryear. That is, the format is just enough different from the older versions so that the MPC does recognize it. This is the same issue with Zips, as discussed many times on this board before.

Normally for Zips, you could just use the Iomega Zip tools, which formats it in DOS5.x format which is great for the MPC and PC to read. With a CF reader, that option would not be available.

Alternatives:
1. Find a Win9x/Me system and format the card.
2. Create a win9x boot disk from bootdisk.com. Load a USB mass storage driver for DOS (described at http://www.winhex.com/replica.html). Format the drive. This assuming your CF reader for your PC is USB.
3. or **AS A LAST RESORT**, Let me know what size your CF card is. I have a solution, but I would need the size first since I may have a custom solution for you.

Download and install the The Dell USB Memory Key from:
http://www.bay-wolf.com/downloads.htm

ok...for some reason its not workin...I tried #2 and it didn't work, it won't assign a device letter to the cf reader

I also tried downloading the Dell USB Memory Key but that was very unsuccessful too. It says cannot format, and then something about the geometric assignment.

I tried it on 3 different comps and no go.

I have a 2gb sandisk card by the way. I guess i need to start lookin for someone with win 9x unless you have any other suggestions.

I appreciate it...peace.

nanoloop wrote:how do i make my XP pc read the mpc zip disks? i can do the reverse, like computer zips to mpc. but if i format a disk on the pc, i shouldnt be saving data to it from the mpc.. right?

you're havin' the same problem as me but with zip disks...just read the above posts and it should point you in the right direction.

ok i dont mean to be a smart a** but i have no problem formatting my disc on winxp service pk 1 and allowing my mpc2kxl to see it, and vice versa, in a matter of fact if i download any file onto the zip from my pc, the mp will recoginze the title but not open it eg mp3 and non compatible files apart from wav . i have done with out fail, ican even create partitions on my zip. i currently format in fat32 by going to disk management in my computer.
any reason why this is so??

I actually had no problems with zip disks too but my problem is with my cf card....

2 gig?

That is a problem. Even if you format it in Win9x, I doubt the MPC could correctly mount it.