SOLVED: How to see the internal memory again - Page 2

theducks · 06-07-2010, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaleDe

I suspect the windows 7 has changed the default format and that window xp could also generate the same file format if the user changed the default setting. It is unlikely that Windows 7 can really do something in formatting that earlier systems cannot do. It is likely just a different default.

Forcing people to buy Windows 7 is certainly not the solution.

Note I checked the format of the internal memory and it is definitely FAT32. I believe the default for XP and perhaps Mac's is FAT (FAT16). This may be the problem.

Dale

Interesting.

I just hooked mine to Ubuntu and looked at it with Disk Utility :

And my main was FAT (16 bit) and the 4G SD card was FAT32

Maybe I reformatted along the way. The (small) size of the internal does not dictate that FAT32 must be used as with larger sizes.

jusmee · 06-07-2010, 07:57 PM

I have long believed it has more to do with the way it is partitioned, not the filesystem type. There was a 'trick' often found on USB keys for example, where they appeared to have multiple partitions, all referring to the same storage space, and I think this was to ensure they'd work with lots of different computer OS's. I found out because you needed to remove them and make one simple partition to make a USB key bootable (I did this all in linux). I thought this was what the HP utility, that everyone in Windows seemed to be using, did, also.

Freeshadow · 06-07-2010, 10:19 PM

i found a difference which might be helpful in finding a OS independent way of reformatting the device:

when looked on the drive info itself the model is reported as "Linux File-Stor Gadget" (instead of hardware manufacturer namestring)
the partition table type is reported as "loop" in contrary to the usual "msdos"
the internal drive can't be mounted,when the device is off (in contrary to a lot of other usb-storage mountable gadgets like mp3 players which even have to be off when mounted)

this leads me to folowing assumption:
what we see as "internal drive" is in fact a "virtual drive" created by the readers system. that is why conventional formatting attempts fail

the gparted screenshot is attached.

I'm not going to make a test-format (and maybe a flash session) now, since i do not have a win7 box @ hand (ATM) should it fail.
But someone in NEED might to try following steps (after getting gparted of course: http://gparted.sourceforge.net/download.php) in case of Linux-users: use your distros repository

select the right drive (size of 300 something MiB is your hint)
choose "create partition table" under menupoint "Drive"
in the option "extended" there is "loop" to choose from
choose "format as > fat(16 or 32) under menupoint "Partition"
click on "Apply"

and hope it works

would be very happy about reports, in the meantime i'll try to find out additional facts altough I believe an enlightning word

from the factory guys or firmware gurus 'd be better than my shots in the dark.

jusmee · 06-07-2010, 11:34 PM

I tried with gparted - not sure if I set it exactly the same as you suggest (it was a while ago) but I had no luck getting it to work.

Freeshadow · 06-08-2010, 11:33 AM

the "loop" setting must be the most important one.
"msdos" means the part table is written ON the storage dev, in the way a x86 would expect it to be. as far as I could find out this isn't the same for images (floppies, or VM "harddisks")
no offence to be meant, but if you don't remember to have changed this setting I simply assumed that you have not, since the partition table type is by default set to "msdos" (what in the most cases is the right way to do it) you would have to open the "extended" submenu and switch it there.

btw. I know, I wouldn't have done it too, having no idea that the formatting has to be done in a different-than-usual way

I still don't know if this would actually help, I was only looking around for differences and hints, which might provide us with an OS-independent formatting solution. since parted recognizes this partition, I assume it should be (at least by the factory guys) to give us a parted script or something similar to to format the storage area w/o the need of reflashing

06-07-2010, 10:19 PM	#18
Freeshadow temp. out of service Posts: 2,792 Karma: 24285242 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Duisburg (DE) Device: PB 623	i found a difference which might be helpful in finding a OS independent way of reformatting the device: when looked on the drive info itself the model is reported as "Linux File-Stor Gadget" (instead of hardware manufacturer namestring) the partition table type is reported as "loop" in contrary to the usual "msdos" the internal drive can't be mounted,when the device is off (in contrary to a lot of other usb-storage mountable gadgets like mp3 players which even have to be off when mounted) this leads me to folowing assumption: what we see as "internal drive" is in fact a "virtual drive" created by the readers system. that is why conventional formatting attempts fail the gparted screenshot is attached. I'm not going to make a test-format (and maybe a flash session) now, since i do not have a win7 box @ hand (ATM) should it fail. But someone in NEED might to try following steps (after getting gparted of course: http://gparted.sourceforge.net/download.php) in case of Linux-users: use your distros repository select the right drive (size of 300 something MiB is your hint) choose "create partition table" under menupoint "Drive" in the option "extended" there is "loop" to choose from choose "format as > fat(16 or 32) under menupoint "Partition" click on "Apply" and hope it works would be very happy about reports, in the meantime i'll try to find out additional facts altough I believe an enlightning word from the factory guys or firmware gurus 'd be better than my shots in the dark. Attached Thumbnails Last edited by Freeshadow; 06-07-2010 at 10:22 PM. Reason: forgot attachment

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
PRS-600 Internal memory or card?	cgk	Sony Reader	3	03-21-2010 11:53 AM
Books on internal memory show as on Memory Stick	doreenjoy	Sony Reader	6	06-05-2009 02:08 AM
Formatted internal memory...what now	swedish11	Bookeen	2	04-21-2009 04:47 AM
Internal Memory	jlbfoot	Sony Reader	3	12-16-2008 04:34 PM
Memory cards and internal memory	Valloric	Sony Reader	30	02-15-2008 05:46 AM

06-07-2010, 07:57 PM	#17
jusmee Wizard Posts: 1,047 Karma: 203682 Join Date: Oct 2009 Device: Libre 2	I have long believed it has more to do with the way it is partitioned, not the filesystem type. There was a 'trick' often found on USB keys for example, where they appeared to have multiple partitions, all referring to the same storage space, and I think this was to ensure they'd work with lots of different computer OS's. I found out because you needed to remove them and make one simple partition to make a USB key bootable (I did this all in linux). I thought this was what the HP utility, that everyone in Windows seemed to be using, did, also.

06-07-2010, 11:34 PM	#19
jusmee Wizard Posts: 1,047 Karma: 203682 Join Date: Oct 2009 Device: Libre 2	I tried with gparted - not sure if I set it exactly the same as you suggest (it was a while ago) but I had no luck getting it to work.

06-08-2010, 11:33 AM	#20
Freeshadow temp. out of service Posts: 2,792 Karma: 24285242 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Duisburg (DE) Device: PB 623	the "loop" setting must be the most important one. "msdos" means the part table is written ON the storage dev, in the way a x86 would expect it to be. as far as I could find out this isn't the same for images (floppies, or VM "harddisks") no offence to be meant, but if you don't remember to have changed this setting I simply assumed that you have not, since the partition table type is by default set to "msdos" (what in the most cases is the right way to do it) you would have to open the "extended" submenu and switch it there. btw. I know, I wouldn't have done it too, having no idea that the formatting has to be done in a different-than-usual way I still don't know if this would actually help, I was only looking around for differences and hints, which might provide us with an OS-independent formatting solution. since parted recognizes this partition, I assume it should be (at least by the factory guys) to give us a parted script or something similar to to format the storage area w/o the need of reflashing