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Does Impact (lexar) USB Flash Drive work?
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Fahrvenugen
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1. Does Impact (lexar) USB Flash Drive work?
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I recently had the opportunity to pick up an Impact 256MB USB Flash Drive for a very reasonable price. When I plugged it into a Win98 box, it identified as a Lexar Jumpdrive, and when I did some further research, I found out that this unit is made by lexar, and uses the Lexar Jumpdrive drivers.

I've been now trying to get it to work under eCS without any luck. I've tried updating to the latest basic USB and USBMSD drivers, but it doesn't work. I've tried Chris Wohlgemuth's drivers too. With these the "USB Resource Manager" can identify the unit as a Lexar, but it still does not seem to work. I've also tried the MMPORTV1 driver, and still no luck.

Has anyone had any luck with this flash drive?

Thanks in advance,

Fahrvenugen

Date: 07 Jun, 2005 on 08:52
Cris
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2. Re:Does Impact (lexar) USB Flash Drive work?
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Hi,
if it is recognized by the resource manager you're already halfway through. I would suggest using DFSee to rebuild the MBR (destroying the previous partition table) and create a fresh new partition AND volume.
Note however that this MAY render it useless under windows.

Bye

Cris

Date: 07 Jun, 2005 on 09:51
tex
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3. Re:Does Impact (lexar) USB Flash Drive work?
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Cris (07 Jun, 2005 09:51):
Hi,
if it is recognized by the resource manager you're already halfway through. I would suggest using DFSee to rebuild the MBR (destroying the previous partition table) and create a fresh new partition AND volume.
Note however that this MAY render it useless under windows.

Bye

Cris


I have never had one problem with Windows recognizing any USB drive after I created a new Master Boot Record with the partition tables erased. However, after I doing this, I use LVM in eCS to create the new partition. Don't use Windows or Linux to create the partition.

David

Date: 07 Jun, 2005 on 16:00
Fahrvenugen
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4. Re:Does Impact (lexar) USB Flash Drive work?
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Thanks for the suggestions.

I've just tired re-partitioning as suggested without any luck. LVM and MiniLVM identify a problem with the partition table, but both say they can't write to the drive for some reason. DFSee just plain locks up if I try to start it up with the flash drive plugged into the USB. If I start up DFSee without the drive plugged in and then plug it in, it will then lock up. I have not yet tried the old fdisk from Warp 3 / 4. Maybe I'll give this a try next.

Just for fun I tried booting over to Win98 and using the Win98 FDISK to re-write its partition table and MBR. I was able to successfully do this, and then reformat the flash drive, but it still wouldn't work in eCS.

I'm wondering if there is just something wierd on the chip used in this Flash drive which is causing difficulty. Under Win98 it identifies as a 256 MB unit, but under eCS it sometimes would identify as 256 MB, other times identify as 512 MB. No matter what I did I could not get eCS to access the drive, or delete and re-create the partition and MBR.

It may be a unit which just doesn't work under eCS / OS/2.

Date: 07 Jun, 2005 on 23:15
Stuart
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5. Re:Does Impact (lexar) USB Flash Drive work?
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IS it a USB 2.0 drive, plugged in to a USB 1.1 port? I ask because I have had difficulties in this line myself. I bought a cheap 128Mb key drive (for €12.90 - just over 10 centimes [20 US Cents] per Mb!) but it was a USB 2 device, and my T20 only has USB 1.1, so no connection.

Stuart

Date: 08 Jun, 2005 on 01:09
tex
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6. Re:Does Impact (lexar) USB Flash Drive work?
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Fahrvenugen (07 Jun, 2005 23:15):
then reformat the flash drive, but it still wouldn't work in eCS.

I'm wondering if there is just something wierd on the chip used in this Flash drive which is causing difficulty. Under Win98 it identifies as a 256 MB unit, but under eCS it sometimes would identify as 256 MB, other times identify as 512 MB. No matter what I did I could not get eCS to access the drive, or delete and re-create the partition and MBR.

It may be a unit which just doesn't work under eCS / OS/2.


I have seen times when LVM could not destroy a partition. I don't know why LVM was paralyzed. At this time, I did boot to Windows and destroyed the troubled partition. I then booted to eCS and then used DFSee to again create a new MBR with the partition tables erased. Then I used LVM to create the new partition.

David

Date: 08 Jun, 2005 on 02:13
tex
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7. Re:Does Impact (lexar) USB Flash Drive work?
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Fahrvenugen (07 Jun, 2005 23:15):
Thanks for the suggestions.

I'm wondering if there is just something wierd on the chip used in this Flash drive which is causing difficulty. Under Win98 it identifies as a 256 MB unit, but under eCS it sometimes would identify as 256 MB, other times identify as 512 MB. No matter what I did I could not get eCS to access the drive, or delete and re-create the partition and MBR.

It may be a unit which just doesn't work under eCS / OS/2.


Important that you have the very latest USB devicers installed.

They should be version 10.145.

To find out, at a command prompt type

BLDLEVEL D:\OS2\BOOT\USBD.SYS

Build Level Display Facility Version 6.12.675 Sep 25 2001
© Copyright IBM Corporation 1993-2001
Signature: @#IBM:10.145#@ OS/2 USB Device Driver
Vendor: IBM
Revision: 10.145
File Version: 10.145
Description: OS/2 USB Device Driver

Date: 08 Jun, 2005 on 02:47
Fahrvenugen
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8. Re:Does Impact (lexar) USB Flash Drive work?
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last updated at 09 Jun, 2005 00:37 (1 times)

tex (08 Jun, 2005 02:47):

Important that you have the very latest USB devicers installed.

They should be version 10.145.

To find out, at a command prompt type

BLDLEVEL D:\OS2\BOOT\USBD.SYS

Build Level Display Facility Version 6.12.675 Sep 25 2001
© Copyright IBM Corporation 1993-2001
Signature: @#IBM:10.145#@ OS/2 USB Device Driver
Vendor: IBM
Revision: 10.145
File Version: 10.145
Description: OS/2 USB Device Driver


The mystery continues... Here's the combination that I've been able to have some success with so far.

IBM's USBD.SYS (Version 10.145) doesn't recognize this drive. It won't see the drive when it is plugged in. On the other hand the USBD.SYS from MMPORTV1.ZIP does recognize the drive when it is plugged in.

IBM's MSD driver (USBMSD.ADD) won't "see" the drive when used with the USBD.SYS from MMPORTV1. LVM / DFSEE / FDISK / etc won't see the drive as available. However Chris Wohlgemuth's MSD driver allows the flash drive to be seen on the system.

Using the combination of USBD.SYS from MMPORTV1 and Chris's MSD driver, I'm able to see the drive. DFSEE is able to repartition it, but VERY SLOWLY. Once partitioned, it runs slowly too - it took over 15 minutes just to format. To copy a simple 2 Kilobyte text file took 5 minutes.

On the other hand, performance under Windows 98 is quite fast, what I would expect. I was able to copy an 85 Meg file in about a minute and a half. Repartitioning and formatting the drive in 98 happens within seconds. This isn't bad flash memory unit.

I'm guessing it may be a USB 1.1 versus 2.0 compatibility issue under eCS. From what I can tell, this flash drive is USB 2.0. My desktop only has 1.1. Apparently this isn't an issue under win98, but is it possible that it may be an issue under eCS?

Anyways, I'll keep tinkering as time permits. Just thought you all might like an update.

If anyone does happen to pick up one of these little units and has a machine with USB 2.0 on it, I'd love to hear whether it works or not.

Date: 09 Jun, 2005 on 00:36
Kim
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9. Re:Does Impact (lexar) USB Flash Drive work?
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The system that you're trying to get this to work on together with OS2; what kind of chipset does it have (intel, sis, etc.)? Reason for asking is that I have had major problem to get either sis and via based system to run proper with usb under OS2. But, taking the harddrive with OS2 installed on it and mounted in an intel based system... well, then without having to change or add anything the system work flawless.
Date: 09 Jun, 2005 on 12:59
Fahrvenugen
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10. Re:Does Impact (lexar) USB Flash Drive work?
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This system is running on the Intel chipset.

It could be the chipset, I'm really not too sure. Right now the other computer that I could try this on (a machine I usually use as a file server - also Intel) has a dead power supply. Maybe I'll play musical power supplies and see if this will work on that system.

Date: 10 Jun, 2005 on 06:29
dmacias
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11. Re:Does Impact (lexar) USB Flash Drive work?
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Fahrvenugen (09 Jun, 2005 00:37):
On the other hand, performance under Windows 98 is quite fast, what I would expect. I was able to copy an 85 Meg file in about a minute and a half. Repartitioning and formatting the drive in 98 happens within seconds. This isn't bad flash memory unit.

I'm guessing it may be a USB 1.1 versus 2.0 compatibility issue under eCS. From what I can tell, this flash drive is USB 2.0. My desktop only has 1.1. Apparently this isn't an issue under win98, but is it possible that it may be an issue under eCS?


On my machines ( one desktop, one notebook )
Copying 4 files, total 144 Mbytes:
Transcend Flash drive, 256 Mb
- Win98: 17 seconds
- WinXP: 20 seconds
- eComStation 1.1: 35 seconds

Transcend card reader, SD card 256 Mb
- Win98: 35 seconds
- WinXP: 42 seconds
- eComStation 1.1: 72 seconds

Differences between flash disk and card reader is because card memory have low write speed

If under Win98 you copied one 85 Mb file in 90 seconds, then:
- You do not have USB 2.0 port in your machine (you say only have 1.1 ports, are you sure ? )
- and/or, you are not using your chipset driver for USB 2.0
(motherboard drivers)
- and/or, your flash disk is not USB 2.0 compliant
- and/or, your flash disk have slow memory
- and/or, USB 2.0 are disabled in BIOS Setup

To make work it in eComStation, I installed latest USB drivers from eComStation site (before that nothing worked):

Installation put this in my Config.sys (some lines are older):
-------------------------------------------
REM BASEDEV=USBUHCD.SYS
BASEDEV=USBUHCD.SYS
BASEDEV=USBUHCD.SYS
BASEDEV=USBUHCD.SYS
BASEDEV=USBEHCD.SYS
BASEDEV=USBD.SYS /REQ:USBUHCD$,USBOHCD$,USBEHCD$
BASEDEV=USBHID.SYS
BASEDEV=USBMSD.ADD /REMOVABLES:4 /V
REM BASEDEV=USBCDROM.ADD
DEVICE=E:\OS2\BOOT\USBKBD.SYS
DEVICE=E:\OS2\BOOT\USBMOUSE.SYS
REM DEVICE=E:\OS2\BOOT\USBCOM.SYS
DEVICE=E:\OS2\BOOT\USBPRT.SYS
DEVICE=E:\OS2\BOOT\USBRESMG.SYS
-----------------------------------------

As I understand, if your machine does not have USB 2.0 ports, this line are not enabled during installation:
BASEDEV=USBEHCD.SYS
After enabling USB 2.0 in BIOS, reinstallation of OS/2 USB drivers added that line

I added
/REMOVABLES:4
to enable all card slots when using card readers

I have tested many card readers and flash disks and all work in eComStation 1.1.
But performance between them are very different, even if all say they are "USB 2.0 compliant"

Allways choose USB devices ( flash disks, card readers, memory cards, ... ) with "write speed" of 5 Mbps or higher

Gracias,
David Macias

Date: 12 Jun, 2005 on 19:34
Fahrvenugen
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12. Re:Does Impact (lexar) USB Flash Drive work?
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David,

Thanks for the suggestions. I've double checked my config.sys file, the only main differences that I had is my system had the removables set to 2. Also I was missing the

DEVICE=E:\OS2\BOOT\USBRESMG.SYS

line. I've added that line, and as you have suggested I've tried upping the removables to 4. But this hasn't made any difference.

As for the USB 1.1 vs 2.0, I'm pretty sure this flash card is 2.0, however I am basing that information on Google searches. I can find no mention on the card documentation to either confirm or deny this.

As for the Motherboard in this system, it is an MSI 6163 - about 5 years old now. Here's a link:

http://www.msi.com.tw/program/products/mainboard/mbd/pro_mbd_detail.php?UID=113

I'm pretty sure the motherboard only has USB 1.1.

Copying the 85 Meg file? I just tried it again under Win98, and it took 1 minute, 45 seconds. A little over the previous 90 seconds, but I was testing on a different file last time.

In OS/2 / ECS - it still doesn't properly, even after having updated the config.sys to the values that you've suggested.

I do have another machine here which I know is USB 2.0, although it is not running ECS. I may swap the hard disk from my machine over to it, just to see if it is a USB issue or not.

Thanks for your suggestions!

Date: 13 Jun, 2005 on 08:15
dmacias
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13. Re:Does Impact (lexar) USB Flash Drive work?
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Fahrvenugen (13 Jun, 2005 08:15):
As for the Motherboard in this system, it is an MSI 6163 - about 5 years old now. Here's a link:

http://www.msi.com.tw/program/products/mainboard/mbd/pro_mbd_detail.php?UID=113


You can choose between these sentences
- "My motherboard is very old"
- "My flash disk is very new"

I tested in my third machine (PIV 1.6), which does not have USB 2.0 ports, only have USB 1.1 ports

Under eComStation 1.1, my USB 2.0 devices does not work in any way

Conclusion: your desktop hardware is too old for your USB 2.0 flash disk

Gracias,
David Macias

Date: 13 Jun, 2005 on 20:55
Does Impact (lexar) USB Flash Drive work?
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