CF Error - Help Please

[FlyingPointRoad]

I've had my D-30 for a couple of weeks now and could really use some help with a problem.

I keep getting a "CF ERR" message when I insert my CF card. I have two different 128MB cards and both cause problems. I've tried checking and formatting through Norton using my card reader with no luck.

If I keep pulling out the card and "tapping" it into place a couple of times, it'll work eventually.

Any thoughts? This is a pain.

Thanks.

[Kenmc]

I had this problem with my Olympus. It was really bad when the cards were empty and when they were completely full. Tech Support told me to do a "low level" format or a zero fill on the cards.
I downloaded DiscWizard and did both. The zero fill writes zeros in each data sector up to the capacity of the card and can fix some file system defects. The low level format does a track by track initialization fot the entire card/drive including bad sectors from what I have read.
This fixed the problem for me. Until, I formatted the card again using the card reader. I found that as long as I used the camera for formatting the cards and not the card reader/computer they did not have this problem. I just assumed that the camera had a problem with the "boot sector" area of the card when the computer did the job.
I only format and delete files off the card with the camera's interface. I have had any problems since I have stuck to this system. I Hope this helps...

[Kenmc]

The last line should read:

I have NOT had any problems since I have stuck to this system. I Hope this helps...

[cyclops]

Flyingpointroad,
I was wondering if you had solved this problem?

I have a D30, and a Nikon Coolpix 950. I have been buying Sandisk CF cards, and also have a 340MB IBM Microdrive. I have this problem with both cameras...I originally thought it was because I switched CF cards between both cameras, so I bought a 64MB and 128MB card for the D30.

I still have this problem with both cameras, I noticed, if I put the cards in and wait about 10 minutes (could be less, but it feels that long), in either camera they work just fine...no errors. The same is true for the Microdrive in the D30.
I tried reformatting on the PC, that didn't seem to help.

Weird.

[Kenmc]

FYI make sure you format the card with the FAT system and not FAT32 or NFTS. I am not sure about the D30, but most cameras really don't like it if the card has the wrong file system on it...

[FlyingPointRoad]

I think it's fixed. I basically followed the advice in the preceding post------I filled the card with data and then reformatted in the camera. Seems to work fine now.

[cyclops]

Thanks All,
I will give it a shot!

Happy New Year!!!

[sunto1]

kenmc, where do you get discwizard and how would you use it. I use windows xp and it has a ntfs file system.
Any help would be appreciated.