It is currently Mon Mar 16, 2020 8:43 am

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 10 posts ] 
Author Message
Post subject: PASSPORT 500 USB STICK NOT RECOGNIZED - Solution
Posted: Mon Jan 13, 2014 9:48 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Thu Jan 02, 2014 2:48 pm
Posts: 7
DISCLOSURES: None. I'm just a guy who loves his PASSPORT 500 and all things USB.

There have been a number of posts on this forum that some USB Sticks are not recognized by the Passport 500.

Well, I had the exact same issue and NONE of the recommendations for formatting worked. I have several 32GB USB sticks from SanDisk and not a single one of them could be recognized by the system.

So I started searching for "Low Level Formatting of USB" on the iNET and came across this gem of format software from HDDGuru.com called HDD Low Level Format Tool. The cost is $3.30 (USD) and what great software. It fixed all of the issues and I now have more than ten 32GB + thumb drives that the Passport 500 can read and write to.

http://hddguru.com/software/HDD-LLF-Low-Level-Format-Tool/


Last edited by narlo on Sun Jan 19, 2014 3:25 am, edited 1 time in total.

Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject: Re: PASSPORT 500 USB STICK NOT RECOGNIZED - Solution
Posted: Mon Jan 13, 2014 9:53 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Thu Jan 02, 2014 2:48 pm
Posts: 7
In addition, the problems with my Ford Sync reading the USB sticks has also disappeared. (I know, not related to Fender, but relevant in context to this thread as another example of using the recommended software).


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: PASSPORT 500 USB STICK NOT RECOGNIZED - Solution
Posted: Mon Jan 13, 2014 12:56 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

Joined: Wed Feb 16, 2011 7:24 am
Posts: 434
This looks like a great utility for Windows users. You've always been able to do this with the utilities that Microsoft has included with its operating systems, but more recent versions of Microsoft has made it increasingly difficult to find the utility. In Windows 7, the old "FDISK" at the command prompt has been replaced by going to the Control Panel, choosing "Administrative Tools", then choosing "Computer Management", then choosing "Disk Management", and then hacking your way through repartitioning the USB drive from NTFS or ExFAT to FAT32. These non-computers that use USB drives (like a Passport or a Ford) use the older FAT32 partition type. And Windows 8 adds complexity by making it hard to find the Control Panel. Microsoft is lost and flailing.

The low level formatting tool you describe is much easier to get to and probably easier to figure out how to use. And it's free for non-commercial use. What's not to like?

Mac users can use Disk Utility. You can get to it with Finder in /Applications/Utilities or you can find it in Launchpad in the "Other" group. Just make sure you use "MS-DOS (FAT)" as the partition type. Do not use "ExFAT". ExFAT works fine with either Macs or PCs, but it doesn't work on these non-computer devices (Passports and Fords).


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: PASSPORT 500 USB STICK NOT RECOGNIZED - Solution
Posted: Fri Jan 17, 2014 4:08 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Thu Jan 02, 2014 2:48 pm
Posts: 7
Windows 7 cannot do this kind of low level formatting on USB sticks. Believe me, I have an MSc in Computer Science and I've been in the business for 30 years.

The utility takes care of it. It isn't free either. As I said, it's just over $3.00 [edit] for the un-throttled version. There is a free version but I haven't tested it and it isn't clear (to me) when throttling would be relevant so I skipped the free version without reviewing it. (thanks to ContraCaller for making the distinction) [/edit].


Last edited by narlo on Fri Jan 17, 2014 5:27 pm, edited 2 times in total.

Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: PASSPORT 500 USB STICK NOT RECOGNIZED - Solution
Posted: Fri Jan 17, 2014 1:50 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

Joined: Wed Feb 16, 2011 7:24 am
Posts: 434
Not to turn this into a geek pissing contest, but I started out in 1973 programming an IBM 360/370 in college as a Computer Science major at a "Polytechnic" university, then tried for several years unsuccessfully to make my living not working with computers. I've been in PC and Mac support since 1987. You and I both have a lot of experience and we both know a lot about computers. Neither of us needs to pull rank or disrespect the other. We both deserve respect for our varied experience.

In Windows 7:
1. Open the Control Panel.
2. Choose the Small Icons view.
3. Double-click Administrative Tools.
4. Double-click Computer Management.
5. Under "Storage", select Disk Management.
6. Select the FLASH drive (probably E:, though it might get a higher letter assignment, since the boot drive gets C: and a CD/DVD drive usually gets D:).
7. Right-mouse-click the rectangular graphic depicting the drive and choose "Format".
8. Choose FAT32 from the drop-down list. Do NOT choose NTFS, or ExFAT. (Most larger-than-4GB FLASH drives are already partitioned as ExFAT.)
9. Clear the checkmark from the "Perform a quick format" option box.
10. Click the "Okay" button.
11. Wait for it to finish formatting the drive.
12. By either of your preferred methods, eject the drive (from the SysTray icon for USB devices, or by right-mouse clicking the drive in Windows Explorer (a.k.a. My Computer, or Computer).

If you do this, the FLASH drive will work in your Passport and in your Ford. It is ridiculous that Microsoft hides this in such a stupid, arcane sequence of steps. You can shave a step or two off, depending on your system's configuration or your experience level, but this is a list of steps that should always work in Windows 7.

On the other point, the Web site for the utility you are harking claims that the software is free for a "throttled" version, and has the very small fee you mention for the "full throttle" version. It's up to you whether you wait a few more seconds for it to work, or pay the $3 for people doing good work. From looking at the FAQs, it sounds like the $3 might not buy you much, depending on the speed of the medium, except for the clean feeling of paying people for their good work.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: PASSPORT 500 USB STICK NOT RECOGNIZED - Solution
Posted: Fri Jan 17, 2014 5:10 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Thu Jan 02, 2014 2:48 pm
Posts: 7
Flat out, it doesn't work on the SanDisk USB thumb drives @ 32 GB (or smaller).
The formatting occurs, yes, and also in each format type: FAT, FAT32, NTFS, xFAT but the result is that the Fender (and FordSync) does not recognize the device.

Each format type did not resolve the situation.

So while I certainly don't have time, nor the patience for a pissing contest, or being lectured to about respect, the experience I have had is exactly as reported, which includes using all of the tools that Windows (XP, 7, 8, and 8.1) have to offer.

The drive manager (via mmc.exe) I'm very familiar with.

I've repeated the steps many times across different hardware and OS's (Windows XP, Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 8.1) with no change in the results.

I suggest that, if you're interested, purchase a 32 GB SanDisk Cruzer thumb drive and see for yourself. My preference is to take the discussion off-line. When you have results, message me and we can talk and we can compare results.

The general recommendation for the software that I have used to resolve this specific problem, is the only known answer to this problem that I've found to date.

[Update: 01/18/2014] Just found another brand of 32 GB thumb drive in the desk. It's a "Phantom Drives" [vendor] DataBank [type]. I formatted using the Windows 8.0 drive manager to FAT32 as recommended by Fender, and the device is not recognized in the Fender Passport 500 or our FordSync (both vehicles).

I did a low level format using the recommended software and the thumb drive is recognized and plays music on everything.


Last edited by narlo on Sun Jan 19, 2014 3:37 am, edited 2 times in total.

Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: PASSPORT 500 USB STICK NOT RECOGNIZED - Solution
Posted: Sat Jan 18, 2014 8:52 am
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

Joined: Wed Feb 16, 2011 7:24 am
Posts: 434
Clearly, I've upset you. I prefer to apologize publicly, in the same forum that I unintentionally subjected you to stress.

I don't have a 64GB FLASH drive that I'm not already using for other purposes, and my personal choice of operating systems for computing is Mac OS X, which has no problem formatting a drive to FAT32 and solving the USB drive problem. I had a couple of 4GB drives that were formatted to ExFAT and didn't work in the Passport, and I used Disk Utility (part of Mac OS X) to reformat to FAT32 and it easily fixed the problem.

I made the assumption that the problem was the partitioning in ExFAT, and the apparently false assumption that MS Windows could solve that problem with the procedure that I posted. Unwilling to sacrifice my 64GB FLASH drive to the cause, I didn't test it, since the procedure is right there, saying it should do what I've asked it to do, especially if I make sure I'm NOT doing a "quick format", which, stupidly, would partition, but not format, the drive.

It would not surprise me that if you ALMOST follow the procedure and execute the default "quick format" that it would fail. It honestly surprises me that doing the full format does fail.

I was foolish to assume that Microsoft's programmers were competent enough that their utility would actually do the work it claims to do. Silly me.

I've worked with PCs since 1987. I started working with Macs in the first half-decade of the 2000s. Each year, crap like this turns me more and more into the kind of Mac bigot I used to hate in the late 1990s.

I don't quite believe that Macs are perfect or that Windows is crap, but I do have a long list of things I can easily do on a Mac that I can't do at all in Windows (not because I don't know how, but because Windows doesn't do these things). You've just added one more thing to the list.

I sincerely apologize for doubting you.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: PASSPORT 500 USB STICK NOT RECOGNIZED - Solution
Posted: Sat Jan 18, 2014 11:07 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Thu Jan 02, 2014 2:48 pm
Posts: 7
Nah, you didn't upset me. Now Windows .... upsets me ... because we have to use another tool since they could not figure out that people actually need the ability to do real LLF (low level formatting) of USB thumb drives.

Some thumb drive manufactures add hidden blocks or partitions to their thumb drives in order to deliver software payloads when plugged into a computer. After a bit digging, it appears that these hidden blocks are responsible for devices not recognizing the USB thumb drive device.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: PASSPORT 500 USB STICK NOT RECOGNIZED - Solution
Posted: Sat Jan 18, 2014 9:24 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

Joined: Wed Feb 16, 2011 7:24 am
Posts: 434
Do you know if formatting a USB FLASH drive with the hidden blocks works on the Passport itself? The rather arcane button chords are described at the bottom left section on page 9 in the Passport Owners Manual (available as a .pdf on Fender's Web site, if you don't still have the manual).

Apple apparently considers auto loading software when you insert removable media to be a security risk, so OS X ignores all auto load stuff on the drives. This is one more reason malware is less common on Macs.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: PASSPORT 500 USB STICK NOT RECOGNIZED - Solution
Posted: Sun Jan 19, 2014 3:31 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Thu Jan 02, 2014 2:48 pm
Posts: 7
The Fender Passport 500 does not format the USB Sticks with the hidden sectors until they are LLF'd.

I had forgotten to document that step. It was the very first thing I had tried (without success), and all that happened was constantly blinking lights on the entire row (of buttons) dedicated to the USB.


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 10 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 7 hours

Fender Play Winter Sale 2020

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 1 guest


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to: