Neuros Technology Forums

Hi, my Neuros Mpeg4 recorder2 don't reconize my Hitachi 4gb microdrive card... what can be the problem ?.... the card work fine on my computer..

Thanks!

Bruno

quote:

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Originally posted by arpix(at)hotmail.com

Hi, my Neuros Mpeg4 recorder2 don't reconize my Hitachi 4gb microdrive card... what can be the problem ?.... the card work fine on my computer..

Thanks!

Bruno

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I might be because the microdrive is not inserted firmly enough. Make     sure the connections are clean and insert it firmly in the slot. Also try to use the storage button on the remote.
Let us know if that works out.


FJ

It doesn'T work!, what else could it be... I try to find a way to format with an other that FAT32.. but I was unable...

I really need a way... I'm going to a windsurfing trip in 3 weeks and neuros mpeg4 rc2 is my digital vid. recorder.

Thanks to help me!

I also have a hitachi 4 gb cf microdrive that the psp is not recognizing. I tried the memory button, the menu setup and made sure it was snug. Has there been any solution to this?

The PSP accepts only MS DUO cards, so the CF card will not work for the PSP, but you could transfer the video files to your PC by connecting the PSP via USB and transfer the video files onto the PSP MS DUO card.  

About the recorder not seeing the CF card, have you tried to format the CF card with a CF card reader or does your PC have a built-in CF card reader?  Did you buy the card from a direct Hitachi reseller?

I will try to reformat it.. I purchased the card new off an ebay seller tat specializes in retail electronics. It just seems weird that it will not even see it.. but works fine in my card reader.
the recorder sees my oter 256 mb cf cards with no problem.. as well as my 1 gb and 2 gb, and 512 mb pro duo cards with no problem as well.
It is just kid of frustrating.
Thanks for your time.
-AcTs

reformatted.. fat 32 system.. still no go.. it shows 0 mb 0 min. sigh.. I dont know what else to do. reads fine in the card reader.. just not in the neuros..

We really need to find a way to use the card, beside the fact that it's not working... I'm happy that I'm not the only one to get this problem...  more head on a problem... more way to resolve it !!!

Thanks to everyone working on this problem!!!

It may need a firmware update...
 much like the psp.. any version under 2.0 could not read that the 4.0 gb microdrive that  was there.. then the 2.0 frimware version hit and it could read it. Yet Neuros  claims to have used a 6 gb microdrive. I would like to be able to record on my Hitachi 4 gb  as well.. many thanks to all who are trying to help us.

To the Neuros folks may I ask what brand was used for the test?
Also to Fj.. I was readin up on the fat16.. It will only allow 2 gb at a time unelss you partition it.. if what I read was right. Still your help is greatly appreiated.

Any new word on this? My seagate 5 gb microdrive reformatted to fat32 is not recgnized as well.. this is not good![:(!]

Yet on a good note it truly is a great product! Just wish it would read the dang microdrive is all.
-AcTs

any new word on any of the questions? It cannot be just the hitachi and seagate... at least i hope not the seagate as they just announced the 12 gb microdrive compactflash hd.. I could use that to record on the neuros!

We are looking into themicrodrives requests. We are also working on a new firmware that will allow you to use seagate microdrives. I will keep you updated.

FJ

Thanks Fj.. good to know.

I'm going to take a stab at this:

Microdrives tend to come in two styles - ATA/IDE and IDE.  When you buy a standard microdrive, it's the ATA/IDE style, which lets you use it in a CF-IDE adapter, or on a CF-PCMICA (ATA) adapter.

Some devices (MP3 players, etc) have a 4GB microdrive in them, and are sold for less than the cost of the bare drive.  To avoid people using them as memory cards, the OEM can cripple the card, and make it only support IDE mode.

So, if you have an IDE-Only drive, it won't work in a PCMCIA adapter, or devices that are based off the ATA standard.  Sorry.

You could be right. A good example is the PDA market. Depending upon the type of processor used in a PDA there is a different ATADSK.DLL used to recognize processor/microdrive combinations.

Hitachi has different utilities to install the ATADSK.DLL for MIPS, SA1100 processors running Windows CE for instance.

I think if Neuros staff have tested a Hitachi to 6GB, then I would stick to the Hitachi brand. Probably a firmware issue.

quote:

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Originally posted by cyt0plas(at)gmail.com

I'm going to take a stab at this:

Microdrives tend to come in two styles - ATA/IDE and IDE.  When you buy a standard microdrive, it's the ATA/IDE style, which lets you use it in a CF-IDE adapter, or on a CF-PCMICA (ATA) adapter.

Some devices (MP3 players, etc) have a 4GB microdrive in them, and are sold for less than the cost of the bare drive.  To avoid people using them as memory cards, the OEM can cripple the card, and make it only support IDE mode.

So, if you have an IDE-Only drive, it won't work in a PCMCIA adapter, or devices that are based off the ATA standard.  Sorry.

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Ex-Navy

For the guys with the microdrive problems, and you have a access to a multimeter, if you can, take a sewing needle and gently insert it into pin 9 of the microdrive connector.
Measure the resistance between the needle and the casing of the microdrive.
If pin 9 shows a resistance of around 1.5k ohms, the drive maybe disabled in CF mode. IDE drives do not work in PCMCIA slots as PCMCIA only uses ATA disks. This is disabled by the manufacturer.
Another way is to get an microdrive to IDE adaptor for your pc.
Connect it as a regular hard drive. If it works, then it is strapped to be an IDE drive, nothing more.




Ex-Navy

For the developers at Neuros,
Maybe this link might help solve the problem;

http://www.tjotala.com/hardware/storagebrick/#Software

Ex-Navy

More interesting news: Manufacturers of microdrives purposely disable  them..................from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microdrive

Maybe you guys are getting these microdrives..........

    * Microdrives are found in the recently discontinued iPod mini and Zen Micro mp3 players, among others. Companies making such players order the Microdrives in large quantities, which can mean that it is cheaper to buy a mp3 player with an integrated Microdrive than a separate Microdrive to add to an expandable mp3 player. An example is the Creative MuVo; many of these were bought up by those interested in purchasing a Microdrive and stripped for their Microdrive which was then replaced by a lower capacity CompactFlash card.

    * When combined with a PCMCIA adaptor and used in a laptop Microdrives can be a viable alternative to USB flash memory sticks purely due to their price. The use of Microdrives over chip-based CF cards is unlikely to make any notable difference to the battery life of the laptop, and any impact that would damage the Microdrive is likely to break other components of the laptop as well. However these cannot devices cannot be used with ordinary desktop PC's unless they are fitted with PCI PCMCIA adaptors or CF card readers.

Sometimes when a device with an integrated Microdrive stops working the device is taken apart and stripped of its Microdrive, which is then sold on. Unfortunately Microdrives taken from such devices may not work in digital cameras. The device must be accessed using ATA mode and therefore such drives do not fetch anywhere near as much as CF-enabled Microdrives as they cannot be used in devices that do not support ATA mode.

Ex-Navy

Page 89 of http://www.compactflash.org/cfspc3_0.pdf

the specs for CF1ⅈ tell how to disable the True IDE mode

[8D]

Ex-Navy

That’s a lot of information thanks.
Now back to the question for this hard head guy.  Can I buy a 4 or 6GB drive that will work?
If so what drive?

FJ: What neuros saying?

Thanks
JB

A word from Hitachi directly.................




It has come to our attention that many others selling on eBay are offering bare 4GB Hitachi Microdrives that were actually removed from OEM equipment such as the Creative 4GB Muvo2, Samsung's 4GB YEPP or pre-release versions of Apple's mini-ipod. The version of the Hitachi 4GB Microdrive found in these OEM devices is NOT generic and these modified drives will NOT reliably work in most other CF based equipment despite the claims of these sellers. The reason for this is that many OEMs using Hitachi 4GB drives in their products are doing so with proprietary firmware written to their specialized OEM hardware implementation . In the case of Creative's Muvo2 product it not only has proprietary firmware, but it also uses a different CF connector pin out and operating voltage than the CF industry standard supports. Any unknowing buyer who purchases and uses one of these hybrid Muvo2/Hitachi 4G microdrives in their CF equipment for prolonged periods of time will destroy both the Hitachi 4GB drive and their CF based equipment. For other OEMs using proprietary firmware in their Hitachi 4Gb Microdrives, you will experience intermittent read/write problems if you use their hybrid 4GB Microdrive in other CF devices. If buying elsewhere on eBay, please be sure to ask the seller the origin of their 4GB Hitachi Microdrive before buying or you may be making a costly mistake! In contrast, all our Hitachi Microdrives are guaranteed fresh OEM product direct from Hitachi and have not been modified in any way from the Hitachi supplied specifications stated below. If you have any doubts about our special OEM warning statement above feel fee to contact us and we will gladly provide legitimate buyers with our Hitachi OEM reseller ID so you can call Hitachi OEM and verify our statement as well as our reseller status or you can contact Hitachi Storage Technologies OEM directly @ 1-800-801-4618 to verify anything we have stated in our warning statement above. Buying a OEM drive removed from any of the OEM equipment stated with proprietary firmware will ruin your Hitachi Microdrive as well as CF based equipment.


Ex-Navy

Read FJ's comment (his own topic listed) about Datatel.....yes you can buy a 4GB that works..

PSP fans will be happy to hear that the Neuros MPEG4 Recorder 2 works will Datel 4GB Hard drive. Insert the Duo connection of the Datel HD in the MS slot and ...record...you have access to 4GB of storage for your favorite videos.

quote:

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Originally posted by jerry.bell(at)guidestone.org

That’s a lot of information thanks.
Now back to the question for this hard head guy.  Can I buy a 4 or 6GB drive that will work?
If so what drive?

FJ: What neuros saying?

Thanks
JB

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Ex-Navy

I have the datel 4 gb hd.. and my recorder does not recognize it at all.. yet when plugged into my psp.. it works flawlessly.. I have 8 movies on it that I just watched. So it cannot be the microdrives.. the seagate 5 gb also does not work... I just tried my friends datel 4 gb drive as well th epro duo connector slot does not as mine, see his datel 4 gb. sigh..