(Article: 1289)
This article applies to the following items:
- Pro-III Flash Card Reader
- Pro-II Memory Card Reader w/USB and Firewire
- Pro-III Flash Card reader Black
- 6-In-1 Card Reader USB2 Black
Summary
Card Readers May Not Be Compatible With All Memory Cards
Symptom
A memory card is unrecognized by the card reader. When a memory card is inserted into the card reader, you may receive a message that the card is not formatted.
Cause
No industry standard for file format or media compatibility.
Resolution
Media not recognized
- Make sure the media is not inserted upside down.
- Try rebooting the system with the media already inserted.
- Try another media card.
- Try formatting the memory card in the card reader (use at your own risk!!)
Formatting a memory card (use at your own risk!)
NOTE!! Formatting a memory card will erase all saved data from a memory card, permanently.
You should NOT format the Flash card if your Camera/MP3 player, etc? does not support any Windows / Mac standard OS File Tables or if your Flash card requires an ID string to be recognized by the OEM device (industry formatted card). Please consult your OEM device manufacturer for details to the use of the memory card.
Media is high level pre-formatted prior to shipment; however, if for any reason you need to high level format your memory card, follow the procedure outlined below:
- Click Start then click My Computer.
- Right click on the drive letter associated with memory card you wish to
format.
NOTE: BE SURE TO SELECT THE CORRECT ICON! The icon for the Card Reader will indicate it is a removable device (e.g. Removable Disk (E:)). Be sure not to inadvertently format the wrong device. - Select Format and follow the instructions displayed on screen to format the media.
Formatting Note for Windows XP users: The format utility used for
removable memory cards 64 MB or above is set by default to use the FAT32 file
system. Many cameras and portable devices will not accept media that has been
formatted to the FAT32 file system.
Problems that may result from formatting the memory card
The device using the formatted memory card may display an error when the card is
inserted such as:
- Error message asking to re-format the memory card.
- Error message that the memory card is not formatted.
- Error message indicating that the card is anomalous.
Alternative formatting method to try for Windows XP: There is a pop-up list
in the Windows XP formatting utility that allows you to change from FAT32 to the
FAT16 file system.
Some devices may still have problems. The card may need to be re-formatted by
the device itself. Be sure to isolate the device from the computer when
formatting the media.
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