HP200LX CF cards

[fy789]

The Ebay seller only sells the CF card as a CF+CF-->PCMCIA set.
Stand alone workable HP CF cards are not available.

The exisiting issue is the SanDisk CF card is not compatible.
A lot of the Amazon vendors like to send out random items,
while the item they advertized is NOT available.
I specifically ordered a 64MB SanDisk SDCFB CF card, but they
ship me a SDCFJ card. I guess there are subtle electrical
differences that fail my exisitng 64MB CF card.
It is not "flaky", but just "Incompatible".

Let me see if the HP CF card will work.

BTW, do you have a step-by-step cheatsheet on how to add and
configure the 200LX to access larger CF cards using acecard3.sys?
I really appreciate if you can post this here. Thx!

(03-29-2024 12:31 PM)BruceH Wrote:  Now I'm confused: if you've only just ordered the CF<->PCMCIA adapter how were you using the CF card in the 200LX? Or do you mean you've ordered another?

Regardless, if the CF card is flaky then you need to be sure that is working reliably first otherwise you're just making life hard for yourself.

You can format the card using your Ubuntu box with a command something like:
$ sudo mkfs.vfat -F 16 /dev/sdy1
where the /dev/sdy1 bit needs to be changed to the appropriate value for your system as it depends on what you have connected.

mkfs.fat has a -c option that checks for bad blocks first before formatting that you might try. Also there is -F 12 to format as FAT12 which might make the 200LX happier? TBH I never really had any problems with my 200LX - the PCMCIA adaptor and card 'just worked' so I've not had to look any deeper. It is, of course, an old card bought at the time and therefore small capacity.