compact flash pinout question

M

Mad Scientist Jr

Guest
looking into the CF slot, the top left pin broke in my compact flash
reader, what is this used for and is it needed for the device to
function?
any help appreciated!
 
usenet_daughter@yahoo.com (Mad Scientist Jr) wrote:

looking into the CF slot, the top left pin broke in my compact flash
reader, what is this used for and is it needed for the device to
function?
any help appreciated!
Click to expand...
I'd have thought the second question should be easy to answer by
replacing it in the slot and trying it.

--
Terry Pinnell
Hobbyist, West Sussex, UK
 
Is the pin indeed broken off or is it bent over?? Seen way too many with
bent pins, also a [pain] challenge to correct and confirm functional. At the
cost of reliable USB CF Readers??
"Mad Scientist Jr" <usenet_daughter@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:7a93f3c4.0404181749.2d012175@posting.google.com...
looking into the CF slot, the top left pin broke in my compact flash
reader, what is this used for and is it needed for the device to
function?
any help appreciated!
Click to expand...
 
I'd have thought the second question should be easy to answer by
replacing it in the slot and trying it.
Click to expand...
Well here's why I'm asking - it *does* function as far as I can see.
At least Win XP recognizes the CF card and I can browse the files. But
I don't know if that pin is used for writing files, or for certain
sectors on the CF card. So I am wary to use it for fear of losing data
or damaging my CF card.
 
Is the pin indeed broken off or is it bent over?? Seen way too many with
bent pins, also a [pain] challenge to correct and confirm functional. At the
cost of reliable USB CF Readers??
Click to expand...
The pin WAS bent, and when I tried to bend it back it broke. I figure
it's worth asking, is the top left pin used, then I don't have to go
out and get a new reader.
 
Piggybacking,

Terry Pinnell <terrypin@dial.pipex.com> writes:

usenet_daughter@yahoo.com (Mad Scientist Jr) wrote:

looking into the CF slot, the top left pin broke in my compact flash
reader, what is this used for and is it needed for the device to
function?
any help appreciated!
Click to expand...
Pins 1 and 50 are both ground, so if your "top left" pin is either of these,
it's probably redundant, depending on how your reader and card(s) are wired.
Test by filling the card(s) with large files and checking the MD5 sums.

The CompactFlash spec is available at www.compactflash.org.
--
fecit quoque Dominus Deus Adam et uxori eius tunicas pellicias et
induit eos
 
Can you tell me how to check MD5 sums? Is there a utility for this?

Pins 1 and 50 are both ground, so if your "top left" pin is either of these,
it's probably redundant, depending on how your reader and card(s) are wired.
Test by filling the card(s) with large files and checking the MD5 sums.
Click to expand...
 
usenet_daughter@yahoo.com (Mad Scientist Jr) writes:

Can you tell me how to check MD5 sums? Is there a utility for this?

Pins 1 and 50 are both ground, so if your "top left" pin is either of these,
it's probably redundant, depending on how your reader and card(s) are wired.
Test by filling the card(s) with large files and checking the MD5 sums.
Click to expand...
Yes, there are quite a few. If you use Windows, try one of these:

http://www.google.com/search?q=windows+md5sum

What you need to do is select a set of files that just about fills up your
card, compute the checksums, and copy the files to the card. Then eject the
card, (perform any steps dictated by your card reader and Windows software
interactions to purge any cached card data; rebooting at this point should be
nearly 100% effective), reinsert the card, and verify the checksums on the
files on the card. If they match, you're probably ok to use this particular
card in your damaged reader.
--
fecit quoque Dominus Deus Adam et uxori eius tunicas pellicias et
induit eos
 
Understoood!! Cheers Mate, have a good day, Eh
"Mad Scientist Jr" <usenet_daughter@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:7a93f3c4.0404190836.6d90c36d@posting.google.com...
Is the pin indeed broken off or is it bent over?? Seen way too many with
bent pins, also a [pain] challenge to correct and confirm functional. At
the
cost of reliable USB CF Readers??

The pin WAS bent, and when I tried to bend it back it broke. I figure
it's worth asking, is the top left pin used, then I don't have to go
out and get a new reader.
Click to expand...
 
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