Memory Stick problems

[Govtcheez]

I've got a 128 MB Sony Memory Stick that has somehow gotten something corrupted on it. I'd give more details, but I can't, really - a guy here took it out in one of our cameras and when it came back it didn't work. He (of course) didn't do anything wrong, it just happened. I put the card in a card reader and the only file on it has some garbage filename. I've tried to format the card or delete the file on it, but Windows won't let me. Are there any utilities out there that would help me get rid of this, or are we stuck buying a new one?

[ober]

Have you tried formatting it from the camera? (I'm assuming you tried to format using Windows). I can't imagine the actual stick would be corrupted unless it was damaged physically.

[Govtcheez]

Yeah, I tried that - no dice.

[no-one]

have you tried nixing explorer and killing it from command prompt?

[Govtcheez]

Yep, tried that as well.

[Perspective]

If you have a linux box you can plug the camera in and try something like this as root. mkfs is sometimes a little less fussy than the MS formatter.

(note: you might want to check the mkfs man page, im just posting this from memory)
$ /sbin/mkfs.vfat -F32 /media/usbdisk

[Govtcheez]

All windows boxes here.

[Waldo2k2]

see if sony has a utility, if not, you could try mkfs from a knoppix boot cd, beyond that just see if it can be rma'd.

[jverkoey]

see if sony has a utility, if not, you could try mkfs from a knoppix boot cd, beyond that just see if it can be rma'd.

I'd also suggest knoppix to do mkfs.

[Govtcheez]

I formatted with the camera again and it worked this time

[VOX]

Next time this happens, if all else fails you could always try a big magnet and hope for the best...

[Waldo2k2]

umm...you do realize that memory sticks aren't magnetic right???

[VOX]

It was a joke.

[Waldo2k2]

>>It was a joke.

just checking. I do know a few people who would say something like that though.

[Glirk Dient]

No no silly, the only way to fix a comp with a large magnet is to put the magnet next to the BIOS chip. That simply gives your computer a fresh start!