Kingston 8GB microSDHC class 4 In-compatibility issue

SanDisk MP3 players Sansa® Fuze™
1

Incompatibility issue with Kingston Technology 8GB microSDHC memory card and video file playback.  ASIN: B001CQT0X4  SDC4/8GB

I recently purchased a Kingston Technology 8GB microSDHC card from Amazon.com for my 8gig Sansa Fuze (firmware version 1.01.15).   I formatted the card while it was plugged into my Fuze via Windows XP.  Loaded some songs and a video file to the ext memory card.  

During playback the video was jerky then lockup within a minute,  requiring the fuse to be reset.  Music however seemed to playback (although i didn’t concentrate on testing music files).   I worked with Amazon to replace the card with another Kingston 8GB card and had the same exact issue.

Some observations:

I copied the 48MB video file to the internal memory - plays back smooth, no issues.  works 100%

Copied the same video to a sansdisk 512Mb microSDHC card (ext) - plays back smooth, no issues.  works 100%

Copied the same video to the Kingston external microSDHC - jerky playback, then locks up, requiring a hard reset.

Copied the file back to the computer from the Kingston card and checked the file with a byte for byte compare, its the same as the original file.  No data corruption.

There appears to be a compatibility issue with the Kingston memory card.     I purchased this card thinking it was a class 4 memory and for a decent price.    But it’s not working out. EDIT:( Due to the incompatibility issue i’ve returned the Kingston 8GB card)

Some other observations:   Transfer speeds…  Copying the Video file size = 51,085,894 Bytes

Sansa Fuze   Internal Fuze memory             External Kingston 8GB

==================================================

Read Speed   17 seconds                          15 seconds

write Speed    9 seconds                         140 seconds**

** was extremely slow writing data to the Kingston 8GB microSDHC

Video file used was a 8 minute music video I personally converted using Sansa’s Media Converter (v 1.0B004.236CDG) software.  Avenged Sevenfold - A little piece of heaven.    I also tryed other files that have the same issue.

The Kingston memory card says it is microSDHC compatible with version 2.0 specs of the standard.

Message Edited by niko_sama on 10-21-2008 09:09 AM

2

I Just take a stab at this… You said you format-ed the card. Did you format the card to Fat 32? If you didn’t that’s what you need to do as the Fuze does not like a smaller allocated file size…  George

Message Edited by George-W on 10-20-2008 09:29 PM

Message Edited by George-W on 10-20-2008 09:30 PM

3

I think your problem is that you used Windows to format the card. You should use a utility specifically designed for formatting SDHC cards. Others on another website mentioned that they had performance issues when formatting a card using windows. I have not used this yet.

"SD or SDHC memory card file systems formatted with generic operating system formatting software do not comply with official SD memory card requirements and optimum performance may not be experienced. "

http://www.sdcard.org/consumers/formatter/

Message Edited by JK98 on 10-20-2008 09:27 PM

4

With the kingston memory in the Fuze, and the fuze connected to the USB port of the computer I went under  Mycomputer  > Sansa Fuze 8GB  > right clicking on the External uSD Card 7.41BG.  and selecting Format.   it doesn’t offer any options   a Format dialog box opens and give me the warning that all data on this device will be erased.   click OK  or cancel. 

Clicking OK it says  Formatting you External uSD Card.

After a minute  it says Format Compete.

:slight_smile: I thought this was the way to do it, as I have done this with my other microSDHC cards,   (1GB, 512MB and even 128MB cards ).   But I understand this is a higher capacity memory.   Unfortunately my SD port will not successfully access the 8GB card.  Why I am not sure.  it accesses the smaller SD cards fine.  (Dell E521   Windows XP sp3. With updates virus protections etc. )…   

Note:  I was curious why the Fuze doesn’t have a format feature for the external memory card, only the internal memory. 

Message Edited by niko_sama on 10-21-2008 09:11 AM

5

I’ve downloaded SDformatter and i am on a quest to find a laptop with an SD Card slot.    I will try formatting with this utility.  

Thank you the suggestions <img class=

I will attempt this and report back

Message Edited by niko_sama on 10-21-2008 09:19 AM

6

I assume that you should be able to use that SDHC card formatter to format the card while it is in the player if you connect using MSC mode. I haven’t used that SDHC card formatter though. You could try it.

7

The SD card formatter won’t work on the card while it is in the player? Did you try it with the player connected in MSC mode? Did you download and read the instructions file for it? I haven’t used it, however I assume it should be easy enough to use.

8

@niko_sama wrote:

I’ve downloaded SDformatter and i am on a quest to find a laptop with an SD Card slot.    I will try formatting with this utility.  

 

Thank you the suggestions :)   I will attempt this and report back.

Message Edited by niko_sama on 10-20-2008 07:24 PM

Alternatively, you can get a card reader & plug it into one of your USB ports. They’re pretty cheap. Just make sure they say they’re compatible with SDHC cards.

9

@niko_sama wrote:

I’ve downloaded SDformatter and i am on a quest to find a laptop with an SD Card slot.    I will try formatting with this utility.  

 

Thank you the suggestions :smiley:   I will attempt this and report back.

Message Edited by niko_sama on 10-20-2008 07:24 PM

Alternatively, you can get a card reader & plug it into one of your USB ports. They’re pretty cheap. Just make sure it says it’s compatible with SDHC cards.

10

Side note:    I went to Kingston’s site found this page athought i didn’t find it very helpful.  http://www.kingston.com/support/FLASHMEMORYCARDS/mediaGeneral3.asp

Message Edited by niko_sama on 10-20-2008 08:26 PM

11

Changing the USB setting to MSC allowed me to format the ext card while in the Fuze, using the SDFormatter utility.       It formatted the card in FAT32 and was successful.   I disconnected the fuse and changed the USB back to auto and loaded up the video again.        And …    :(   It still locks up while playing back the video from the ext card.      Playing the video from the internal memory is no issue.  

Is there a diagnostic debug mode to test the hardware/memory.     I thought I remembered seeing something like this for the CLIP or the Fuze.   maybe I can run a memory diagnostic on the ext card.   

If someone has any helpful suggestions I’m willing to try.    

However I will most likely return the memory to Amazon in exchange for a SanDisk 8GB microSDHC.

12

I think it’s the card.  I received this card yesterday.  I just tried loading one movie dvd, nothing else on it and it didn’t work.  This move had been successful on a 4gb card and I took off to put with other similar movies on this 8gb.  I did not format this card, but with my Sandisk 8gb I did format the way you did, in my computer and right clicked on format (I did that because I think I messed it up by trying to upload several 30 minute videos one after the other instead of one at a time) and that worked fine, movies and short videos played fine.

If you had this much trouble, I don’t know if I want to try anything else. I just formatted the card to remove the movie but if yours didn’t work either, it’s probably the card.

13

Summary (Part 1).   

I’ve tried two different Kingston SDC4/8BG  MicroSDHC memory cards in the Sansa Fuze and have had jerky video the lockup after a minute.  Requiring the Sansa Fuze to have to be reset (Holding the switch in the on position for 10 seconds).      I’ve tried several movies of decent size converted for the Sansa Fuze that work fine from the internet memory and other microSDHC external cards.   But they fail with  the Kingston 8GB card.

It appears Dalaug234 has had the same issues.   So that would make 3 different cards,  and two different Sansa Fuze players.     I would keep this information available for anyone who might be having the same issue.      I send a support request email to Kingston and posted this message thread here.

Message Edited by niko_sama on 10-21-2008 01:47 PM

14

I thought his issue might be formatting using windows rather than a SDHC formatting utility. I thought class 4 would be fast enough for video, but perhaps not all class 4 cards are fast enough. Perhaps a class 6 card should be used? I never used video on my Fuze, since I heard about all the glitches(sound out of synch and others), and that I wouldn’t even like watching video on a 1.9" screen. Video on a portable player also eats battery power very quickly.

15

:wink: hmmm… have you guys checked if there is a codec that is installed in your system? because sometimes if you don’t have codec installed the audio and visual will not be in sync when you transfer it on a portable device.

try this:

http://www.free-codecs.com/download/K_lite_codec_pack.htm

16

I have the exact same issue with my Kingston 8GB card.  I can play music from it fine.  However video will lock up the system after a minute or so requiring a reboot.  The video will play fine if I move it to the built in memory (not a codec issue).

17

Actually the class doesn’t matter on video, that’s just how fast or slow it will load depending on how much you have on your card (see Am I going to notice any difference between a Class 4 and Class 6 Micro SDHC card?  link ).   I have videos on 2 of the 2gb and one I’m not sure what the class is (doesn’t say, was a walmart purchase for $12).  2 of the 4gb, both class 4 with movies.  One 8gb (can’t remember the class it’s in my fuze right now, either a 4 or 6) with movies (it’s a sandisk).

I have no problem watching the movies on the little screen (so far I don’t even need reading glasses).  The audio and video is rarely out of sync, but in general with the .avi format, it works pretty good.  Most movies convert and most sync good.  I’ve only had a flew glitches with movies not even working on the anydvdconverter software or SMC or on my fuze.  But very few.  I’ve converted over 18 movies and have 5 more I want to put on a card.

18

Here is my reply from Kingston Tech Support:

From: Kingston Tech support     Kingston.com

Dear Niko Sama,

We do not officially support this device, so we cannot guarantee our cards with work in this MP3 player. Please provide all the numbers printed on the card. I can check to see if we have cards made with different components.

If you have any other questions or concerns, please feel free to reply to this e-mail with full email history. Thank you for using Kingston on-line technical support.

Regards,

Kingston Technology
Technical Support

 

I replyed back to them with all the details on the card i purchased.

19

Summary (part 2).   

I’ve tried two different Kingston SDC4/8BG  microSDHC memory cards in my Sansa Fuze and have had jerky video the lockups after a minute.   I’ve tried several movies of decent size converted for the Sansa Fuze that work fine from the internet memory and other microSDHC external cards.   But they fail with  the Kingston 8GB card.

It appears Dalaug234 and ctumbles has had the same issues.   So that would make 4 different cards,  and 3 different Sansa Fuze players.

Video playback from the ext Kingston 8GB incurs jerky video,  sound,  and lockups.    Kingston Tech Support replied saying the 8GB/Class 4 card is not guarantee to work in our Sansa Fuze.    My options are to return the card to whoever I purchased or get an RMA number through their online site to try another card.

My best guess is it’s an electronic compatibility issue (reading/timing/voltage levels/delays) between the external Kingston 8GB memory card and the Fuze.   I don’t believe it has anything to do with the data files, the formatting of the card  or codecs.

I expect video and music to work,   no hocus pocus or gremlins. 

Don’t buy the Kingston 8GB class 4 card for the Fuze.  You have been warned :) 

 

My Solution was to return the card and purchase a SanDisk microSDHC card.

 

UPDATE:   I purchased the SanDisk 8GB microSDHC class 4  -   Copied the same test music video.   It plays with no issued.   Problem solved.       Write speeds are fast too  48.7 meg file in 10 seconds.

Thank you to everyone who replied and tried to help or give feedback ^_^  Kudos

Message Edited by niko_sama on 10-22-2008 07:37 PM

20

That’s why I went with a trusted name with my wife’s player when looking for a micro SDHC card, Sandisk…  If you have a Staples near you they have good deals on memory cards often…We got a Sandisk 8 GB class 2 card for $24.99… Not to bad…  I have heard that Radio Shack has some good deals on a class 4 Sandisk card in 8 GB $39.99 I think…  I always used Sandisk when it came to memory cards for my digital cameras… And with my  DSLR I stick with the Ultra II Sandisk cards…  I look at it this way if it’s not broke stick with waht works for you ! Ya know… Plus the brand is the same as the Fuze so there should be no compatible issues…  Best of luck!!  let us know how your making out… George