Moving to a larger storage card.
When I started using my first Pocket PC, I bought a 128 mb SanDisk SD card. I installed about 20 different applications to the card and also set up my POP3 accounts to store all email attachments to the card. Things started getting crowded and I started thinking about upgrading to a larger storage card. So I bought a 1 GB PNY SD card.
Since I had installed so many applications to the 128 mb SD card and since I'm a bit lazy, I didn't want to uninstall all these applications and reinstall them to my new SD card. So I bought this nifty thing, called XtraDrive, which turns any SD card into a portable USB card reader. I bought my XtraDrive at the local Office Depot store, but I notice that Amazon.com is now selling them for cheap.
In less than 5 minutes I had transferred all my data from my old SD card to my new SD card.
First, I created a subdirectory on my computer called Storage Card.
Then I removed the 128 mb SD card from my Pocket PC, inserted it into the XtraDrive, and copied the entire contents to the Storage Card subdirectory on my computer.
Next I inserted the 1 GB SD card into my Pocket PC, and using SKTOOLS to rename the card to "Storage Card." (this name is required if you want to store email attachments to the storage card)
Finally I removed the new SD card from my Pocket PC, inserted it into my XtraDrive, and copied the entire contents from the Storage Card subdirectory on my computer to it.
When I inserted the new SD card into the Pocket PC, everything worked as expected. Some months later, I followed the process again when I upgraded to a 4 GB A-Data SD card.
A few months ago I decided to switch all my applications and files from the 4 GB SD card to a 1 GB Compact Flash card, which I had been using for Media (music, video, etc), so I following the same procedure again. This time renaming the Compact Flash card to "Storage Card" and renaming the 4 GB SD card to "Media." 1 GB seems to be more than enough space for applications and documents, and it's nice to use the 4 GB SD card for music and videos.
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unless i'm mistaken, you'd only need this if your pc didn't have a built in card reader. Correct?
Dave
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Yes, with my new Pavilion laptop I now have a built in card reader, which is really nice and convenient. I still love the XTRA drive though because it makes it easy for me to quickly move files from my pocket pc to other computers when I am away from my laptop. This helps a lot when I am teaching. The XTRA drive has become indispensable to me and I am now on my third one (I seem to keep "losing" them).
julie
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Julie,
Thanks for your many points of wisdom. I am an internal point person for a group of about 300 using the 6925. I have heard various comments that 1 GB is the largest SD card the 6925 will use. Although I currently have a 2 GB card in mine, I haven't filled it over 1 GB to test it. What is your experience. (I looked at your article on storage cards, but didn't see this issue addressed.)
Thanks,
Rick
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Rick,
For the most part, HP has mentioned that 1GB is the largest SD card they support. This is because this is the largest card they've tested in the pocket pcs. In fact, many users report success using much larger SD cards in their pocket pcs. I use a 4GB SD card in my hx2415 and my rx1955 with no problems whatsover.
In regards to the 6900s, I have followed with interest a few threads from users who reported success with a 4GB mini-SD card (TopRAM) they purchased on eBay. Lately those same users have reported many problems with their 4GB cards. It seems that the card works fine for a few weeks then the data on the card becomes corrupted and eventually the card is useless. I'm glad I didn't waste my time and money with that card.
HP recently posted a notice about the largest mini-SD card that is supported by the 6900, which happens to be a 2 GB mini-SD card.
I have a couple of 2 GB mini-SD cards (made by A-Data) that I use in my hw6925 and, so far, I've had no problems. My hw6925 recognizes all of the space. I use the card primarily for loading GPS maps, and at one time I had over 1GB of data loaded to the SD card, but currently I don't have much loaded to it. If you are interested, I'll load up some files to my SD card to test it some more.
julie
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My 2 cents worth. Every SD & CF card I've pushed to the max, whether 512kb or 1G, whether Sandisk or Kingston, has resulted in lost & corrupted data. And by max, I mean within 10% of its usable space.
PS Julie, Glad I found out about your blog -- now I don't have to wait for your wisdom on HP. Thanks for all the accumulated experience and insight.
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Julie,
Thanks for the response. Sounds like the support folks who said 1 GB was the limit to the SD card in the 6925 were wrong.
You mentioned GPS maps. Which application do you use on the 6925. I tried the one that came with a trial and was pretty pleased, but did not fork over the $129. Google Maps interfaces with the GPS receiver to give a good traffic display and dynamic location feature, but no turn-by-turn directions. I also have a 5900 iPAQ which has TOmTom and I really like that. Here's a question on that. I sync'd it with Outlook once and then decided that was not useful with my 6925 having all that info. Now I can't get the calendar reminders to stop. Do you know where the calendar and task databases are stored?
Thanks,
Rick
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Rick,
I didn't buy the GPS software either after the trial was over. Instead I bought iGuidance, which I think is the same software that was provided as trial software, but not private labeled for HP. The iGuidance application has a slightly different user interface and cost $109. You can get it here:
http://www.inavcorp.com/products/iguidance3.html
Google Maps works pretty well, but it uses my GPRS connection. I pay for only a limited data plan through my cellular services and so I don't want to use GPRS too much.
The calendar & task databases are stored in an area of the Pocket PC that is not accessible unless you install some software to your Pocket PC. SKTOOLs includes a module that will allow you to delete all records in these databases (you can not selectively delete entries). You can delete the calendar reminders on your 5900 by modifying your notification queue. There's some software you'll need to install to your pocket pc before you can view and modify your notification queue. See this article for links to SKTOOLS and Scarey Bear's Check Notifications software:
http://frommypocket.pocketprimer.com/2007/02/13/notifications--alerts.aspx
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Julie,
Thanks for the info. Couple comments:
1)Called iGuidance and discussed volume deal with my company. They were amenable (no discount quotes yet) but suggested I wait until June when they were releasing a new version. So you may want to watch for that.
2) Bought SKTOOLS (eventually I MAY be able to use the pts I'm accruing at Handango!). It looks pretty neat. First I backed up my registry. Did you let it clean and optimize your registry? Anything to watch out for?
3) A caveat: I installed MS Voice COmmand on recommendation from an associate. Though it does SORT OF work on the 6925, I think it was responsible for the dropped keystrokes I was seeing during email compose before I did a cold reset. So I would not recommend it because of the keystroke stealing issues. Has this come up on your site?
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Glad to hear about the update for IGuidance...I'll keep my eyes out for it. Since I just purchased it myself, I think I remember reading somewhere that the next update would be free for me - I'll have to go back and confirm this.
I use SKTOOLs for so many things and have installed it to all my Pocket PCs. I am hesitant to let it clean and optimize the registry because I've read threads from other users whose registries got messed up when they did it and then they had problems accessing some of their software. But backing up first will safeguard this from being a fatal issue, since you can always restore from your backup and be back where you started. Typically, the developer of SKTOOLs has provided updates free of charge for licensed users, so I think that's a great deal.
I use MS Voice Command loaded on my hw6925 and have not had any problems with it. I haven't read of VC causing keystroke issues with other users on the various forums that I frequent, so could this be a coincidence?
julie
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I am having a problem on my hx2495 with my current 1GB SD card. I took your advice about the battery problems and removed the card, after I turned the device off, to save battery power. However, when I plugged in back in, it got renamed to SD Card2 automatically, without my assistance, and I can not seem to get it renamed back to the original name. All the apps and docs I stored on the card are now not usable, because the links and system info are trying to find the original name. I can not figure how this could have happened, as I have removed the card from the device before and never had this problem. Help, if you can.
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You can rename the SD card back to its original, correct name using a utility program. I use SKTOOLS and that software has an option that allows you to rename your SD cards.
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