I’ve run into a problem trying to use a SanDisk Cruzer Micro USB Flash Drive
(512 MB) with a Tyros 2. I’ve had no problem using an SD memory card reader/writer connected into the USB port of the T2. So I know the T2 USB port is working OK.

It seems that the SanDisk Flash Drive is factory partitioned and appears as two drives to a computer. In fact it shows up both as a drive G and drive H on my PC. When connected to the USB port of the T2, it is also seen as two drives, USB1 and USB2. When I try to format USB1, I end up getting a blue screen and having to reboot the T2 system. If I try to reboot USB2, the T2 tells me there is no device present, even though it gives an indication that one is present by assigning it a USB number. This is the second USB Flash Drive of this type I’ve tried and I’ve gotten the same results both times.

I’ve formatted the drive on my PC but have not figured out how to remove the partition, if that is even possible on that device. Has anyone else experienced what I’ve described above? I spoke to Scott Yee a few days ago and he assured me that he has a number of Flash Drives, including the SanDisk Cruzer and they all work just fine with the T2. He did allow as that he may have reformatted the drive and possibly gotten rid of the partition. I was unable to accomplish that. Any ideas or suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.
Paul C.

Hi Paul,

To remove the extra Partition and re-format the Sandisk Cruzer as FAT32:

1) Right Click "MY Computer" and select "Manage"
2) Under Computer Management, select "Disk Management"
3) Select your 'SanDisk Cruzer' device.
4) Right Mouse click the right most partition and select "Delete Partition". and then create a new ONE (only one).
5) Now reformat it as Fat32.

This should now solve your problem, and allow your Tyros2 to recognize your SanDisk Cruzer. Good luck. Let us know how this goes.

Scott

Thanks for the responses, guys. I must have been out of town or something when Donny was experiencing the same things I went through. I don’t recall reading that thread before. I took my first Cruzer back as well. When Scott told me he’s gotten an identical one to work, I went back out and got another Cruzer (on sale again) and experienced the same things all over again. Then in desperation, I posted last evening.

Scott, I followed your procedure exactly, but when I get to the step that calls for “Delete Partition” that action is not available to me (it’s one of those faint gray guys that means it is not an option). I’ve earlier tried some deletions and re-formatting on this Cruzer, so maybe a few things changed that affect the partition deletion option – I don’t know.

Why can’t all of these things work out of the box as the Staples unit did for Donny?
(I guess that’s more of a criticism of the Tyros OS than the flash drive, because the unit works on my PC). I’d like to give this thing one more try before punting again. Scott, maybe you and I have to chat on the phone one more time.
Paul C.

As a side note......at this time my STAPELS "RELAY" 512mb Thumb Drive is still working perfectly right out of the box.

I believe it should be formatted as just FAT, not FAT32 in your computer.

Also...have you tried re-formatting directly in the keyboard?

Eddie

Yes Eddie, I did try formatting on the keyboard. That's when the Tyros freezes up and gives the blue screen with the error message that Donny described earlier. I'm trying to get hold of the ScanDisk technical support folks to see if they have any suggestions. It appears that the Tyros OS can't deal with the Cruzer micro flash drive as it is configured by the manufacturer. As I wrote earlier, my PC has no problem reading and writing to the micro drive. Scott Yee phoned me a bit earlier and suggested a call to ScanDisk. I'm trying to get hold of them. If I can't get where I want to be soon, I'll likely return this unit and look for one like Donny got from Staples. It really shouldn't be this hard, should it?

This is no help at all, I know, but I have four SansDisk Cruzers (1 256 and 3 1 gig) and all work(ed) perfectly "right out the box" in the T2. I dont know what this means other than apparently you shouldn't have to do anything to the drive to get it to work. I hate it when new stuff doesn't work consistently from one person to another. Stumped!!!

chas

Very perplexing. Let us know what the outcome is if you can reach SanDisc.

I have 2 SanDisc memory sticks that worked just fine out of the box.

Eddie

eddie you dont have a T2

Let me check.

Yep Donny...you are right.

However, I have run into several cases where a SanDisk and even a PIN memory stick did not work in a 3K or a Tyros. In every case I have heard of, the problem is usually a formatting issue. But Paul's problem seems to be a new wrinkle. This is why I am interested.

Eddie

Paul:

I have a sandisk cruzer mini 512MB. when I got it, it had a bunch of advertizement and junk in it so I just formated it on my computer to fat32..works perfect.....

I heard of someone else that had problems like yours, but they formatted and it worked fine.......???????

Maybe got a bad one???

pose

Ok eddie...I was thinking it was a T2/thumb drive communication issue..

It may be a T2 issue. But as Pose says, the Cruzer has some pre-installed software on it which is not necessary for use in any keyboard...and may or may not have an operational affect when used with a Tyros 2 or other keyboard.

I am still wondering about FAT vs. FAT32. Can someone clarify which format is supposed to be used?
Eddie

Eddie:

I've heard a couple guys who are pretty good at these thing swear by fat32, so I assume for ty's its fat32....pose

EDIT EDIT:
just noticed your cruzer to be "MICRO" mine says "MINI" wondering if that might have something to do with it, maybe a particianed version that can't be cleaned to just a single or something?????pose

[This message has been edited by loungelyzard (edited 06-26-2006).]

Well, I got hold of a technical guy at SanDisk. He was quite helpful and we’ve gotten the problem solved and everything works OK. Now let me share what I’ve learned. First of all I learned that the Cruzer Flash Drive I bought (which is the Micro mode) is meant for use with Windows XP and Windows 2000. I confirmed that by reading the specs on the back of the package. (As they say, when all else fails read the directions).

The Micro is partitioned so as to hold an operating system known as U3. It contains Skype software and several other things. My XP system has no problem with this. The Tyros does not like it. So what we did (with the phone help of the tech rep) was the following. I first had to go on-line to download the latest update to the SanDisk U3 software. (This, by the way, required me to download Active X, which I had not been running - by my choice because I believe I read somewhere about security vulnerabilities when running it). Anyway, having updated the U3 software, then we could use that routine to eliminate the U3 program – sort of a software suicide mission, seems to me. After rebooting my PC, sure enough the U3 icon was absent from the tray and that
extra drive icon no longer appeared in the “My Computer” window. That was the clue that things may have been cleared up.

I should mention that the tech rep wasn’t sure this exercise would take care of the problem before we started. When he heard that the second icon had disappeared, he began to believe we might be there. And sure enough, when I took it to the Tyros, it worked just fine.

I asked the rep if they made a USB flash drive that didn’t have the U3 software installed. He said they used to. It was known as the Mini (as opposed to the Micro). But SanDisk no longer makes it. He said one may still be able to find some at various outlets, but the company not longer makes them.

So if anyone wants to use a SanDisk right out of the box and have it work, try to locate the Mini model, or be prepared to go through the exercise I went through. Or just go to Staples and buy what Donny bought and be done with it.
Paul C.

Yeah, didn't pick that up. Mine also say "Mini", all of them.

chas