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[jpe]

I have the well documented Supercard problem of "not FAT format turn off GBA" only the CF cards I've been using were all FAT16 formatted and working fine before this issue occured. I've referred to previous posts with no success.

**I've gone through the steps of FAT formatting the cards under XP, tried default, 16k, 32k and 64k cluster sizes with no luck.

**I've tried the Supercard in another GBA (my usual device is a GBA SP).

** I've tried the CF cards in PC CF readers and they are fine (so fortunately no data loss).

**I've also tried formatting them on different readers and PCs which leads me to think my Supercard has fried.

**This happened a few hours after I did the 1.53 update which I don't know if it was a coincidence?

**Problem is I can't downgrade the firmware to test because I can't get the Supercard to see any of my CF cards.

Do you think my Supercard is toast? Any help would be really appreciated.

[mikesinclair]

I have the well documented Supercard problem of "not FAT format turn off GBA" only the CF cards I've been using were all FAT16 formatted and working fine before this issue occured. I've referred to previous posts with no success.

**I've gone through the steps of FAT formatting the cards under XP, tried default, 16k, 32k and 64k cluster sizes with no luck.

**I've tried the Supercard in another GBA (my usual device is a GBA SP).

** I've tried the CF cards in PC CF readers and they are fine (so fortunately no data loss).

**I've also tried formatting them on different readers and PCs which leads me to think my Supercard has fried.

**This happened a few hours after I did the 1.53 update which I don't know if it was a coincidence?

**Problem is I can't downgrade the firmware to test because I can't get the Supercard to see any of my CF cards.

Do you think my Supercard is toast? Any help would be really appreciated.

"not in FAT format turn off GBA" happend to me when I tried to use a 4G sd card . It works fine with 2G or smaller though. Try reading the forum post that says 4G card won't work. it may help. I know our problems are a little different. but the same message comes up on the screen.The supercard does have a self test mode but that doesn't help if you can't get to it. If all else fails order a new one. Make sure it is the same exact one as the one that you own, and then when you get it switch the two cards, and then send the broken one back,  And say that it didn't work when you got it. Then eithier get a replacement and then you will have two working supercards "one for back-up just in case something happens again" or you can try to get your money back.

[cory1492]

Formatting it in a different reader/writer may also help, if you or someone you know has one kicking around.

[jpe]

Thanks for your replies. I tried the SC with a variety of different CFs, formatted each card with FAT of differing cluster sizes on several different readers and in different PCs.

The odd thing is I had a 4GB card which worked fine, but then said "can't find CF" and smaller cards which worked fine then said "not FAT format" without changing a thing on them.

I came to the conclusion that my SC had simply given up and ordered a new one. It's arrived today so I'll let you know how I get on once I've gone home and tried it.

[Keroro]

We have the same problems here and here.
I couldn't try other CF yet, but I ordred another SC too.
(this thing start to cost me more $ than if I'd bought original games)

Can wrong CF cards damage the SC ?

[jpe]

OK, I'll give everyone my opinion having been through some VERY thorough troubleshooting.

SYMPTOM: CF cards which did work fine now say "not find the CF" or "not FAT format" depending on the card.

TROUBLESHOOTING: If you look through the thread, I've tried different CF writers, different PCs, different CF cards, different GBAs, different FAT cluster sizes and different firmware (when occasionally I get the SC to work).

SOLUTION: Hate to say this (and it probably doesn't apply to everyone) but the new SC I ordered works perfectly every time and is on exactly the same firmware... even reads the 64k cluster size 4GB CF and can see all 4GB of it (no partitions) just as the old one did before it went on the blink.

Incidently I've tried the old SC in an old GBA so been a little "rougher" with it then I normally would and by applying pressure to the SC in different directions can get it to work more often than when I just insert it - once it works it does so even when removing and inserting new CF cards. This leads me to think that it's down to poor electrical contact between the SC and the GBA. The new SC I received certainly seems like a tighter fit, although I wouldn't describe the old one as loose.

SUMMARY: I think that if you are sure you've formatted the card FAT, not FAT32 and still get this error then you have a faulty SC. As I say this probably doesn't apply to everyone, but after hours of trying all sorts it was simply the SC.

[zektor]

Perhaps a bad batch of Supercards? Has this problem been reported with the SD version any time previously? (I can't recall reading anything about this with that version)

I ordered and own two CF versions myself from Janda, and have not experienced (knock on wood) any problems like this. Then again, all I have been using are 256MB CF cards. Perhaps the larger cards damange the SC? I hope not, as I have a 2GB coming myself!