Introduction: Microdrive Madness: $15 Solution for Your Extra Microdrives
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Do you have no idea what to do with your extra microdrives, taken from old mp3 players, iPods, cameras, etc...?
Well, I have the most grand solution for you!
Step 1: Materials
- CF card reader. $14.99 at any computer store. Make sure it supports TypeII. Microdrives are TypeII, the thinner ones are TypeI. Just make sure it has the pins inside to attack to the holes on the microdrive.
CompUSA's selection
Newegg's selection
NexTag
- Microdrive, any GB, but it must be compatible with the CF reader.
CompUSA's microdrive
Step 2: Please Note
You probably will not get all of the GB out of that microdrive. It's like a HDD, if you buy a 300 GB one, you get like 280GB or something along those lines.
Secondly, Apple might have used a bit of the space on the microdrive to store data to make it function.
Below is a picture of my CF card,
See, that I have a capacity of 3.76GB. It will usually be less than what is actually advertised.
BUT, an easy solution to this is called, "formatting" the drive. Right click on the icon of the removable disk. Click format, then click "Start". It takes 45 seconds, and all the memory should be cleared.
Step 3: Plug Her In
Plug your microdrive into the reader, and you are on your way.
You can now transfer movies, files, pictures...etc to and from your CF card reader!
So, if you have any extra microdrives lying around, use them! They are a great source of extra removable storage!
30 Comments
15 years ago on Introduction
you can also buy typel(one l) and remove the top...basically cf sockets have their top empty
Reply 13 years ago on Introduction
I did this little mod to my walmart cheap 52-in-1 reader to let it read MicroDrives. I would have taken a pic but my camera is packed away, so heres a quick MSPaint drawing :D
15 years ago on Introduction
I'm replacing the HD in my laptop with a 20gb microdrive, just for fun.
Reply 15 years ago on Introduction
are those microdrives ide?pretty sure it is ide?
Reply 15 years ago on Introduction
Microdrives and Compact Flash are ATA compatible so you just need a 2.5" IDE adapter.
Reply 15 years ago on Introduction
ok then ps all cf cards arent ata compatible
Reply 13 years ago on Introduction
Yes they are, unless they are knock offs made by some company in Asia. The CF spec IS the same as PATA.
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
Whats the fun of that how about a 20GB CF Card ;-)
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
those are too expensive
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
I don't think so...
15 years ago on Introduction
But... I can buy a 4GB flashdrive practically for the price of that card reader alone.
Reply 15 years ago on Introduction
from where?
Reply 15 years ago on Introduction
Just watch the ads. Frys has 4G SD cards this week for $17.99. Look at http://salescircular.com every Monday.
Part of the beauty of this Instructable is that my SD card readers don't recognize anything larger than 1 gig. I have to plug my camera's 2G SD cards into the USB adapter to read them on my computers.
Just so you can be planning ahead, the 64G SD drives are expected out in early 2009.
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
Now its even Cheaper, I got a 4GB Flash drive for $14
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
Get a new reader and make sure its certified for SDHC and your larger cards will be read.
Reply 15 years ago on Introduction
maybe the reader is the problem, i have one and no problem to read up to 4 gb (i dont have others cards to test...)
Reply 15 years ago on Introduction
Basically it is the reader in combination with the drivers. I think the better reader manufacturers provide the updated drivers. This topic is pretty hot on many forums.
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
yea sure, but i think its a great idea because if you have a few microdrives, accquire some now and then, or whatever, you can use all of them just for paying for the reader. You can also get them in different sizes, or bigger ones than the flash drive. i.e., the classic ipods nowadays can be bought with like 400 gigs of storage.
Reply 15 years ago on Introduction
But... for those who modded their iPod, or other mp3 players, can use this solution!
15 years ago on Introduction
oops,I formatted a 13G with fat32 and it worked