Steve'sDigicams

lg · Dec 7, 2002, 12:49 AM

Well, formatting it under every available cluster size didn't fix the problem. Also, it appears that the card that works has 16K clusters, but I can't format the card using 16K clusters because the format command won't allow it. Gibson, thanks for the suggestion anyway!

I contacted Olympus technical support, and they said if cleaning the contacts with alcohol didn't fix it, to send it back for repair/replacement. Unless anyone else has any other ideas, I'll send it in some time next week.

Bert Bigelow · Dec 7, 2002, 2:14 AM

Just FYI...I think this was discussed in another thread...I bought two 128MB SM cards (PQI) at a local electronics store (Fry's) for $37.95 each. Somebody here posted a price of $29.95 at Best Buy. I checked a local BB...their price was $79.95 for a Sandisk 128! A long way from $29.95!

gibsonpd3620 · Dec 7, 2002, 6:13 AM

lg
Olympus has always been faithful to support their equipment. You can find 128mb smart media at www.newegg.com for less than $45

Bert Bigelow · Dec 7, 2002, 12:59 PM

gibson,
Interesting website. Thanks. The range of prices for SM and CF cards amazes me. If you read the specs, it's not clear that you get what you pay for. The cheapo cards I bought came with a five-year warranty. They work fine, and write speed seems to be about the same as my Oly cards.

jawz · Dec 7, 2002, 9:04 PM

I purchased a SanDisk SM 128M card from my local brick-n-mortar Staples for $27.94 (after $10 mail in rebate), but it was a one day promo deal.

Bert Bigelow · Dec 7, 2002, 9:32 PM

jawz,
That's a great price!!! There's a Staples about a mile from my house! I gotta watch their ads closer. Thanks for the heads-up.

LordAthens · Dec 10, 2002, 1:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bert Bigelow

Just FYI...I think this was discussed in another thread...I bought two 128MB SM cards (PQI) at a local electronics store (Fry's) for $37.95 each. Somebody here posted a price of $29.95 at Best Buy. I checked a local BB...their price was $79.95 for a Sandisk 128! A long way from $29.95!

They were probably referring to the day after Thanksgiving sale (aka Black Friday). I was at Best Buy at 4:30am, got in at 6am, grabbed a few things as well as the Compact Flash and Smart Media. Limit 5 of each @ 29.99. So I got (5) 128meg Sandisk Smart Media cards and (5) 128meg Sandisk Compact Flash cards for ~$300. No rebates to deal with. All instant

jsmeeker · Dec 10, 2002, 1:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bert Bigelow

Just FYI...I think this was discussed in another thread...I bought two 128MB SM cards (PQI) at a local electronics store (Fry's) for $37.95 each. Somebody here posted a price of $29.95 at Best Buy. I checked a local BB...their price was $79.95 for a Sandisk 128! A long way from $29.95!

That $29 price I quoted was a special Best Buy was running during the 2 days after Thanksgiving. It *was* real.

smart_guy · Dec 16, 2002, 4:54 PM

:idea: :arrow: With Smart Media this is a common problem.
The easy way is to format the media with Format program designed maily for SmartMedia

visit the below link.
http://store.compuapps.com/usb11products.html

They provide format software which can solve your porblem
or you can look for OmniFlashProducts SmartMedia reader/writer.

lg · Dec 17, 2002, 7:18 AM

I've already sent the card to Olympus for repair/replacement, but thanks for your suggestion. Smart_guy, have you actually used the program to reformat smartmedia and have it repair cards before?

Dec 7, 2002, 12:49 AM	#11
lg Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 823	Olympus says send it back... Well, formatting it under every available cluster size didn't fix the problem. Also, it appears that the card that works has 16K clusters, but I can't format the card using 16K clusters because the format command won't allow it. Gibson, thanks for the suggestion anyway! I contacted Olympus technical support, and they said if cleaning the contacts with alcohol didn't fix it, to send it back for repair/replacement. Unless anyone else has any other ideas, I'll send it in some time next week.

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Dec 7, 2002, 2:14 AM	#12
Bert Bigelow Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 128	Just FYI...I think this was discussed in another thread...I bought two 128MB SM cards (PQI) at a local electronics store (Fry's) for $37.95 each. Somebody here posted a price of $29.95 at Best Buy. I checked a local BB...their price was $79.95 for a Sandisk 128! A long way from $29.95!

Dec 7, 2002, 6:13 AM	#13
gibsonpd3620 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 3,585	lg Olympus has always been faithful to support their equipment. You can find 128mb smart media at www.newegg.com for less than $45

Dec 7, 2002, 12:59 PM	#14
Bert Bigelow Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 128	gibson, Interesting website. Thanks. The range of prices for SM and CF cards amazes me. If you read the specs, it's not clear that you get what you pay for. The cheapo cards I bought came with a five-year warranty. They work fine, and write speed seems to be about the same as my Oly cards.

Dec 7, 2002, 9:04 PM	#15
jawz Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 430	I purchased a SanDisk SM 128M card from my local brick-n-mortar Staples for $27.94 (after $10 mail in rebate), but it was a one day promo deal.

Dec 7, 2002, 9:32 PM	#16
Bert Bigelow Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 128	jawz, That's a great price!!! There's a Staples about a mile from my house! I gotta watch their ads closer. Thanks for the heads-up.

Dec 16, 2002, 4:54 PM	#19
smart_guy Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 3	:idea: :arrow: With Smart Media this is a common problem. The easy way is to format the media with Format program designed maily for SmartMedia visit the below link. http://store.compuapps.com/usb11products.html They provide format software which can solve your porblem or you can look for OmniFlashProducts SmartMedia reader/writer.

Dec 17, 2002, 7:18 AM	#20
lg Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 823	I've already sent the card to Olympus for repair/replacement, but thanks for your suggestion. Smart_guy, have you actually used the program to reformat smartmedia and have it repair cards before?