How to repair a PCMCIA / Compact flash card

Instructions on how to format a pcmcia card from within a Option 11c

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PDT: login on /sio/0
Password:
PDT in Progress. Please Wait....
Done!

pdt> cd a: (You can use either the A or B card slots on the 11c!)
pdt> ll

Directory of 'a:':
SIZE DATE TIME NAME
---------- ----------- -------- ------------
512 Jul-12-2004 12:48:36 BACKUP <DIR>
512 Jul-12-2004 18:23:10 ARCH_DB <DIR>
512 Jul-12-2004 12:16:46 BOOTROM <DIR>
512 Jul-12-2004 12:16:48 DFLT_DB <DIR>
1479908 Sep-25-2003 18:08:20 DRAMOS
204010 Sep-25-2003 18:08:22 DRAMOS.SYM
661 Sep-25-2003 18:08:06 DRAMOSCC.SYM
512 Jul-12-2004 12:17:08 P <DIR>
892 Oct-01-2003 10:40:02 README.TXT
512 Jul-12-2004 12:18:56 U <DIR>

pdt> pcmciaformat a:
PCMCIA 'a:' will be formatted (y/n) ?y (It only takes a couple of seconds!)
Formatting PCMCIA 'a:'
Format complete

pdt> ll
Directory of 'a:': (The pcmcia card is now formatted & blank!)

SIZE DATE TIME NAME
---------- ----------- -------- ------------

pdt> chkdsk
Volume in drive 'a:' has no label
47908864 bytes free on 'a:'

pdt> cd c:

pdt> exit
PDT in Progress. Please Wait....
Done!

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How to repair a PCMCIA / Compact flash card
that won't work in Windows 95/98 or on some Nortel applications

Most PCMCIA or Compact flash size cards can be reused. If by any chance it was formatted by accident with Windows 2000 or XP etc, it's possible to recover the card back into full working order by putting it into a digital camera that accepts that type of card & using the camera's own format facility.
I had a Canon Power shot A70 digital camera, which I found worked OK for me. I was then able to reuse my 64 Meg Sandisk CF card again.


The bulletin that warns you not to format with Windows XP or Windows 2000. It does say that you can use the CMD (DOS) prompt to format CF cards. i.e.


FORMAT volume /FS:FAT (volume = PCMCIA Drive Letter e.g. ôHö

I regularly format PCMCIA/CF cards on my Windows XP laptop without issue.

A word of warning: Don't ever delete anything on a PCMCIA/CF with Windows as Windows will create the Recycle Bin on the PCMCIA/CF card, and vxWorks doesn't like that.

If you need to delete something, then "MOVE" it (Cut & Paste) to another drive, then delete it. This will prevent Windows from creating the Recycle Bin on the PCMCIA/CF card.