Strange Kingston CF Card Error

[RobbyS13]

I'm encountering a problem that I've never heard of before.

I just got a replacement 128 MB CF card from Kingston and my E-125 won't read from it. Every time I insert it, I get asked if I want to format it. When I answer YES, I get a Storage Card Warning: An error occured while formatting the Storage Card folder (error code 31).

I have formatted it with my USB SanDisk CF Card reader attached to my PC, but I still asked if I want to format it, and the same subsequent error.

Kingston replaced this card after my previous one stopped working, too. That one wouldn't even be recognized by my Card reader. Now, I know the Kingston 128 MB card WILL work in my E-125 because it worked for over a month. Anyone have any words of wisdom?

[Calinz]

It's just a bug with Pocket PC, don't worry about it. Just say no everytime it asks to format.

Unfortunately, when I bring up the CF card in File Explorer, it lists it with 0bytes available. On my PC with the Card Reader, it lists it with 123 Mb.

[Calinz]

hmm... odd. You might want to contact Kingston.

[SteveOr]

I have an HP Jornada 548 and have just encountered the same problem except I get "error 0" instead. I've been using my 128mg CF card with no problems for three months. I was using my PPC away from home and ran down the battery. I don't think this would cause the problem though. Kingston offered to replace the CF card but I suspect it is a problem with the PPC.

[imported_Sergey]

I noticed iPAQ stops reading CF cards properly when the battery is low. I guess it switches off some circuitry to preserve the remaining power.
This works (I mean happens) on almost any iPAQ. I tried my Microdrive with two iPAQs with low battery. They both refused to read the MD, which is brand new one week old BTW.
Has anyone else noticed this?

[JRG]

same thing happened on my E125. I had just got the card that day and thought i screwed it up.

It gave me that format error. I think i just hit no and then it started working. No problems since.

[SteveOr]

Well my problem doesn't seem to be with my 128mb card. I went to my local CompUSA and popped it in their display Jornada, it prompted me to format, it formatted with no problems, and I was able to save a Word document on it. When I tried it on my own Jornada the same "error 0" came up.

After a hard reset and a restore with a month old backup I still have the same problem. Kingston offered to replace it but I dont think the card is the problem. Does anyone have any other ideas?

Well, now that my Finals are over, I got around to screwing with my CF-128 card. I took it down to the local Circuit City to try it out in their E-125. It recognized that there was a card in there, and gave me the same option for formatting the card. I hit NO and then opened up File Explorer. It saw the card, but when I tried to save a note to it, it told me that the disk was write-protected or full. Just out of curiosity, I put the card in the Jornada, and was able to save a file just fine.

I've talked to Kingston Tech Support and Casio Tech Support, and they have no reports of any problems with the Kingston CF Cards, but who knows if they actually keep track of that stuff.

In any case, I'm exchanging this card with another one from Kingston as well. BTW, their customer support is pretty good. They overnighted me a new card the last time, even before I had sent the first one.

If this third card doesn't work I guess I'll pursue some kind of exchange/rebate with Buy.com. That should be interesting.

[SteveOr]

After speaking with Hewlett Packard, they offered to fix my Jornada pronto since it is still under warranty. Hopefully that will solve the problem. While I'm waiting I might have the CF card replaced since I cleaned it out anyway. Overkill perhaps, but no one seems to know for sure.