Compact Flash Formatting Problem

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I've got a 12GB Sandisk Extreme III CF card that I can only seem to get 8GB out of. It's stuck in my PC (Win XP) through a 3-1/2" multi card reader, or in my camera (Canon 5D).

Formatting within the camera only yields 8GB. Running what I consider to be a normal Windows format (via My Computer, and right clicking) I can also only get about 8GB from it. Going through Control Panel / Admin Tools / Computer Management, I can see 2 partitions on the card (8GB formatted and 4GB unformatted) but I can't seem to get them to combine into one single formatted partition. There's just no real options under that method that I can find. I've got an old copy of Partition Magic, and it just doesn't even see the card at all.

Card came from Calumet Photo, trustworthy place IMO. Also with what I can see through the Control Panel, I'm pretty sure the card is in fact 12GB.

I've got a lot of PC build and troubleshooting under my belt over the years, and as easy as this seems like it should be, I'm just stumped. Please help!

 

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That wasn't so bad.

I pulled up a Western Digital program that came with a new hard drive a long time ago, and wrote 0's to the CF card. Then back to Control Panel to get a full 12GB partition formatted on it.

Of course when it went back in the camera it worked, but monkeying around to be sure, when I used the camera to format it, it dropped back to 8GB.

Then I stumbled across this: http://www.canon.co.jp/imaging.../eos5d_firmware-e.html Which is a firmware update released for the 5D a few weeks ago. Copied it to the card, updated the firware through the camera options, reformatted the card, and ta-da it's at 12GB like it should be.

Well, hopefully this helps someone else out some day.

 

[Gaurav Duggal]

I remember somethink like that happened with my !GB Kingston Flash Drive. I used a utilty made by Panasonic to format the card and it worked. I think it was called Panasonic SD Flash