USB JumpDrive works great as backup media

Post by **Zaphod** » Tue Mar 22, 2005 5:18 pm

I got an email from a user who has done some research into this whole issue, and I asked him if I could share it with all you.

Mike Garmon wrote:The key is that SanDisk configures their USB drives to register as Removable Storage Devices. From what I was told some manufacturers configure their drives to register this way, and others are configured to register as Local Drives. I can't confirm it but I was told this feature does not depend on the operating system of the PC and will be consistent regardless of what operating system the computer is using. As you know, the Power Church Plus software will not allow the user to transfer files to a Local Drive. USB storage devices are the only method I have used to save and transfer files for some time now. The Power Church software was the only time I have ever encountered a problem saving files to a USB device configured as a Local Drive. But, fortunately the solution is simple. Just make sure to use a USB storage device that is configured to register as a Removable Storage Device. I only know that the SanDisk USB storage devices I bought basis that information do register as Removable Storage Devices on all our computers and work perfectly for saving and updating files. The Lexar USB devices we had registered as a Local Drive on all our computers and would not work with the Power Church software. I was told that all SanDisk USB devices are configured to register as Removable Storage Devices. USB storage devices from other manufacturers may be similarly configured but I don't have any information about them. Other Lexar USB storage devices may be configured differently but the 256K model we had always registered as a Local Drive. Hope this helps.

Kristi · Post by **Kristi** » Thu Jul 21, 2005 2:56 pm

I have been using my USB as a secondary backup to floppies (my CD quit backing up...anyway) since January. I love it.

Monday when I tried to backup, my PNY Attache 256 M flash was completely empty. Someone told me they will just wear out like floppies. Someone else said it must have gotten erased. I keep it in my purse and the ONLY thing I can think is that I had my cell phone on next to it.
Will a cell phone erase a flash?

I tried backing up on it again and it is working...but I don't trust it.

Kristi

Kristi · Post by **Kristi** » Thu Jul 21, 2005 2:58 pm

I have been using my USB as a secondary backup to floppies (my CD quit backing up...anyway) since January. I love it.

Monday when I tried to backup, my PNY Attache 256 M flash was completely empty. Someone told me they will just wear out like floppies. Someone else said it must have gotten erased. I keep it in my purse and the ONLY thing I can think is that I had my cell phone on next to it.
Will a cell phone erase a flash?

I tried backing up on it again and it is working...but I don't trust it.

Kristi

lincolnda · Post by **lincolnda** » Thu Jul 21, 2005 4:19 pm

Kristi, if you haven't done so yet, read posts on page 2 of this same subject, and you will see other's experiences with their USB drives getting erased by the program when they got filled up so that less than 3 MB freespace was left on their drives. Maybe this happened to yours, and it got formatted if you had almost filled it up.

jack@crossroads · Post by **jack@crossroads** » Fri Aug 26, 2005 7:19 pm

Hi! Great discussion! However, my V9 doesn't recognize my "F:" drive--my USB flash drive. Is there a set up/configuration I need to do? Any and all suggestions are/will be appreciated! thnx, ja

NeilZ · Post by **NeilZ** » Fri Aug 26, 2005 10:19 pm

jack@crossroads wrote:Hi! Great discussion! However, my V9 doesn't recognize my "F:" drive--my USB flash drive. Is there a set up/configuration I need to do? Any and all suggestions are/will be appreciated! thnx, ja

The main thing I always tell people is, before you start the program, make sure your thumb drive is installed and recognized by the operating system.

If the OS sees the drive, then when you start PC+ it should too when it starts.

lincolnda · Post by **lincolnda** » Sat Aug 27, 2005 12:41 pm

Jack, at the top of page three in this thread, Zaphod included an e-mail he received from user Mark Garmon, pertaining to why some USB drives aren't seen by the Powerchurch program. Maybe your drive is one that the manufacturer has registered to appear as a local drive, which he claims won't work, as opposed to a removable storage device, which should work.

jack@crossroads · Post by **jack@crossroads** » Sat Aug 27, 2005 1:18 pm

Yes, thanks to all who responded. I found a "deal" on Lexar 256M ($17 ea on closeout) thumbdrives--and yes--they act like non-removeable hard drives, and no--there is no way to make them act differently. I have contacted a local Win XP guru hoping he'll have a "work-around".

As we in aviation say, "keep the shiny side up and the greasy side down!" thnx, ja

lincolnda · Post by **lincolnda** » Sat Aug 27, 2005 6:34 pm

Too bad those great deals didn't work out so well. If you don't mind using a backup program external to Powerchurch to back up your data files, maybe could try SyncBack found on www.2Brightsparks.com. I was using that for awhile, with good results, and it doesn't care if you copy to local or removable drives, but opted to go back to using the backup program in Powerchurch since it works well with my 20Gb Lyra player, so don't have to exit the program to do my backups.

jeffkoke · Post by **jeffkoke** » Wed Aug 31, 2005 10:19 am

I inquired of Crucial about my Gizmo 1Gb USB memory stick. Here's their technical answer along with the POC:

The flag that controls whether the device is removable or not (the RMB) is
set in the firmware of the driver. Unfortunately it is set to non-removable
because, in essence, it is non-removable since the media is permanently
attached to the bus controller. I am unable to find a way to change this.

DARRYL HAWES
Technical Support Analyst
Tel: (800) 336-8896
Tel: (208) 363-5790 (outside US & Canada)
Fax: (208) 363-5501
mailto:crucial.support@micron.com

So, there you have it.

Jeff

dadams · Post by **dadams** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 12:38 am

I contacted Lexar support about changing my jumpdrive so that XP would recognize it as removeable and this is the transcript of the chat. Hope this helps someone.

Dale Adams: How can I change my 256k jump drive so that W XPand 98SE recognizes it as a removeable drive instead of a hard drive?

You are now speaking with Jey of Lexar Support.

Jey: Thank you for contacting Lexar. I will be assisting you today!

Jey: Hi Dale

Jey: May I know the part number of the JumpDrive which is in the rear side of the drive, starts with JD/PD with Rev?

Dale Adams: Nothing on the drive is legible

Jey: Okay, have you installed any software from the drive.

Dale Adams: I use the drive to transfer files often but I don't think I have installed any software from it

Jey: Okay, please take back of data in the drive and then try formatting the drive under disk management window in FAT32 file system.

Dale Adams: Will this erase everything, even the JDSecure part?

Jey: Adam, if you have installed the JDSecure part then it not possible to change the drive option,

Jey: It will displayed as a hard drive only.

Dale Adams: Can I uninstall the JDSecure?

Jey: Even though you uninstall the JDSecure, the drive will be listed as hard drive.

Dale Adams: Ok, that stinks. But thanks for your help.

Jey: You are welcome

Jey: Thank you

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