At 02:25 AM 7/18/01, you wrote:
>Do flash memory cards just "die" after awhile? Is there a little backup
>battery that's given up the ghost?
No battery, but flash RAM cards can become damaged. I have personally lost
one Ethernet card and one 20MB flash RAM card which became irreparably
damaged.
In the case of the Ethernet card, Farallon had me run some tests from a
PC-Card equipped laptop, and the results of the test indicated the card was
destroyed. They replaced it for me under warranty.
In the case of the RAM card, there was no tech support available, so I went
searching on the 'Net. I attempted to reformat it from a laptop using the
manufacturer's recommended procedure, but it failed. Through my requests
for aid, I learned that PC Cards contain a block of configuration data
known as the "tuples", and if this data becomes damaged the cards cannot be
used or repaired. I saw little choice but to throw the card away and
purchase a new one, which is still working fine to this day.
Apparently, the "tuples" on my cards had become corrupted and they were no
longer usable in any device I tried them in.
I believe that MP2x00 devices have the potential to damage the "tuples" on
any flash cards that are inserted at the time of a device reset (i.e.,
pushing the reset button on the back of the Newt). This theory has been
supported by opinions from other Newties, as well as Apple's recommendation
(so I'm told -- I have never heard it) that all flash cards be ejected
before a reset. I have adopted the habit of always ejecting my cards before
resetting the Newton and so far I haven't destroyed any more cards.
I hope that your Flash RAM card isn't permanently damaged like mine were,
but it does unfortunately seem like a possibility.
Should you replace the card, you may want to consider my practice of
ejecting the card each time prior to a system reset. It may be based in
reality, or it may be voodoo, but since I started I haven't damaged more cards.
I try to take advantage of every opportunity to share this theory, since I
don't hear it discussed too often and I don't know if it's ever been
properly investigated.
Good luck,
-Jeremy
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