Kodak dx6340 - Memory card requires formatting

Thanks for some suggestions.

THe problem that I am having is my sd card is not in the camera.
I get the same result if the card is in or out of the camera.

Seems like the camera is stuck trying to write to the card. Unsure how
to reset this.

Rich
 >> Stay informed about: Kodak dx6340 - Memory card requires formatting 

Batteries brought to a dead state. Restart camera, asked for set data
and time. No luck.
No batteries for 4 days, Restart camera, asked for set data and time.
Still no luck.
FM - read all of it, even the online manual. Still no luck.
called Kodak . Got some "genious" that walked me through putting my
card in and out. Still no luck... They asked to get it serviced.
Estimate = $290.00 CAD. (includes resetting the camera somehow)....
May as well buy a new one. Hoping somebody else has got something

Thinking of updating the firmware to see if this might help.
If cameras are anything like system boards, there must be a reset
switch / method somehow.
Rich
 >> Stay informed about: Kodak dx6340 - Memory card requires formatting 

On 20 Jan 2006 05:32:40 -0800, Itch wrote:

> HI. Hoping somebody can help.
> I bought my dx6340 camera 2 christmas' ago.
> Last Christmas, I bought an SD 1 gb card for the camera.
>
> Once I put my card in the camera, the camera prompted me to format it.
> I have not been able to proceed past this point.
> Even once I removed the card from the camera, now I get :
>
> Reading Memory Card [when camera gets turned on]
> Memory card requires formatting (continue) [when camera is ready]
> Formatting will delete everything on memory card (continue)
> Memory card is protected (reset switch on memory card)
>
> I seem to be stuck in this loop.

What happens if you insert a smaller card in the camera, either
the last one you used prior to getting the 1GB card or the much
smaller one that came with the dx6340 (assuming Kodak included one
in the box)? If you're still stuck in that loop with one of the
other cards then the camera is probably broken. If not . . .

Check your camera's manual to see if it specifies the card sizes
that can be used. Most manuals will have a table showing how many
shots you can get using different resolution settings for several
different card sizes. My guess, since your camera was manufactured
at least two years ago is that it wasn't designed to accept cards as
large as 1 GB and the manual won't have any references to 1GB cards.
 >> Stay informed about: Kodak dx6340 - Memory card requires formatting 

On Fri, 20 Jan 2006 16:29:33 -0500, ASAAR <caught.DeleteThis@22.com> wrote:

>On 20 Jan 2006 05:32:40 -0800, Itch wrote:
>
>> HI. Hoping somebody can help.
>> I bought my dx6340 camera 2 christmas' ago.
>> Last Christmas, I bought an SD 1 gb card for the camera.
>>
>> Once I put my card in the camera, the camera prompted me to format it.
>> I have not been able to proceed past this point.
>> Even once I removed the card from the camera, now I get :
>>
>> Reading Memory Card [when camera gets turned on]
>> Memory card requires formatting (continue) [when camera is ready]
>> Formatting will delete everything on memory card (continue)
>> Memory card is protected (reset switch on memory card)
>>
>> I seem to be stuck in this loop.
>
> What happens if you insert a smaller card in the camera, either
>the last one you used prior to getting the 1GB card or the much
>smaller one that came with the dx6340 (assuming Kodak included one
>in the box)? If you're still stuck in that loop with one of the
>other cards then the camera is probably broken. If not . . .
>
> Check your camera's manual to see if it specifies the card sizes
>that can be used. Most manuals will have a table showing how many
>shots you can get using different resolution settings for several
>different card sizes. My guess, since your camera was manufactured
>at least two years ago is that it wasn't designed to accept cards as
>large as 1 GB and the manual won't have any references to 1GB cards.

The problem there is that the manual may be behind the times, card
size-wise.
The camera may well access cards larger than were available when the
manual was written; and udually, the manual won't list any sizes that
weren't available then.
What's necessary is to find what sizes the camera will take now. The
help desk will be able to give that informqation, but, since they
don't usually volunteer information, the question has to be
specifically asked. When told to RTFM, just say the manual is not
available, and you need to know not what the manual says anyway, but
the actual capability to read cards.
Should work, but then...

--
Bill Funk
Replace "g" with "a"
funktionality.blogspot.com
 >> Stay informed about: Kodak dx6340 - Memory card requires formatting 

On Fri, 20 Jan 2006 15:16:55 -0700, Bill Funk wrote:

> The problem there is that the manual may be behind the times, card
> size-wise.
> The camera may well access cards larger than were available when the
> manual was written; and udually, the manual won't list any sizes that
> weren't available then.
> What's necessary is to find what sizes the camera will take now.

That's true, but I gave an answer based on my own experience. I
bought a 1GB card for my Fuji and the manual only listed card sizes
up to 512MB. But there's were differences. In my case, the 1GB
cards (xD) didn't exist at the time I bought the camera so it's
understandable that the manual wouldn't list 1GB cards. With the
dx6340 it's murkier because although it was designed one or more
years before the Fuji, 1GB SD cards were also available before the
1GB xD cards. Only if they are not mentioned in the dx6340's manual
will there be some question as to whether the camera is compatible
or not, and then some research will be required. Some manufacturers
have web pages that list the maximum sizes their cameras use. If
Kodak doesn't, that information will can be gotten either from
Kodak's tech. support or possibly in this ng from either the
official Ron or the semiofficial one.
 >> Stay informed about: Kodak dx6340 - Memory card requires formatting 

Itch wrote:
> HI. Hoping somebody can help.
> I bought my dx6340 camera 2 christmas' ago.
> Last Christmas, I bought an SD 1 gb card for the camera.
>
> Once I put my card in the camera, the camera prompted me to format it.
> I have not been able to proceed past this point.
> Even once I removed the card from the camera, now I get :
>
> Reading Memory Card [when camera gets turned on]
> Memory card requires formatting (continue) [when camera is ready]
> Formatting will delete everything on memory card (continue)
> Memory card is protected (reset switch on memory card)
>
> I seem to be stuck in this loop.
>
> If I connect my usb cable from my pc to the camera, I am able to read
> the internal memory.
>
> Is there a way to reset the camera? Does anybody know if there is a
> jumper or reset switch somewhere in the camera itself?
>
> help !!
>
> 27 rich at gmail dot com
>
Well, the clue is in the phrase 'memory card is protected'.
There is a small slide tab on an SD card and having it in the wrong
position prevents WRITING to the card. Formatting requires writing,
reading doesn't. Make sure to slide the little tab in the correct
position (marked on the label), and see if things improve. BTW, why did
you wait so long to ask this?
If sliding the tab securely to the unprotected position doesn't help,
you can get the card replaced by the manufacturer.
 >> Stay informed about: Kodak dx6340 - Memory card requires formatting 

Bill Funk wrote:
> On Fri, 20 Jan 2006 16:29:33 -0500, ASAAR <caught.TakeThisOut@22.com> wrote:
>
>> On 20 Jan 2006 05:32:40 -0800, Itch wrote:
>>
>>> HI. Hoping somebody can help.
>>> I bought my dx6340 camera 2 christmas' ago.
>>> Last Christmas, I bought an SD 1 gb card for the camera.
>>>
>>> Once I put my card in the camera, the camera prompted me to format it.
>>> I have not been able to proceed past this point.
>>> Even once I removed the card from the camera, now I get :
>>>
>>> Reading Memory Card [when camera gets turned on]
>>> Memory card requires formatting (continue) [when camera is ready]
>>> Formatting will delete everything on memory card (continue)
>>> Memory card is protected (reset switch on memory card)
>>>
>>> I seem to be stuck in this loop.
>> What happens if you insert a smaller card in the camera, either
>> the last one you used prior to getting the 1GB card or the much
>> smaller one that came with the dx6340 (assuming Kodak included one
>> in the box)? If you're still stuck in that loop with one of the
>> other cards then the camera is probably broken. If not . . .
>>
>> Check your camera's manual to see if it specifies the card sizes
>> that can be used. Most manuals will have a table showing how many
>> shots you can get using different resolution settings for several
>> different card sizes. My guess, since your camera was manufactured
>> at least two years ago is that it wasn't designed to accept cards as
>> large as 1 GB and the manual won't have any references to 1GB cards.
>
> The problem there is that the manual may be behind the times, card
> size-wise.
> The camera may well access cards larger than were available when the
> manual was written; and udually, the manual won't list any sizes that
> weren't available then.
> What's necessary is to find what sizes the camera will take now. The
> help desk will be able to give that informqation, but, since they
> don't usually volunteer information, the question has to be
> specifically asked. When told to RTFM, just say the manual is not
> available, and you need to know not what the manual says anyway, but
> the actual capability to read cards.
> Should work, but then...
>
Telling them that the manual is not available will get you a URL for the
manual online.... Nice resource, especially for camera shopping.
 >> Stay informed about: Kodak dx6340 - Memory card requires formatting 

"ASAAR" <caught.DeleteThis@22.com> wrote in message
news:nuk2t1hpplv1ps8ofvuuis2e2g7044fk4s@4ax.com...
> On 20 Jan 2006 05:32:40 -0800, Itch wrote:
>
>> HI. Hoping somebody can help.
>> I bought my dx6340 camera 2 christmas' ago.
>> Last Christmas, I bought an SD 1 gb card for the camera.
>>
>> Once I put my card in the camera, the camera prompted me to format it.
>> I have not been able to proceed past this point.
>> Even once I removed the card from the camera, now I get :
>>
>> Reading Memory Card [when camera gets turned on]
>> Memory card requires formatting (continue) [when camera is ready]
>> Formatting will delete everything on memory card (continue)
>> Memory card is protected (reset switch on memory card)
>>
>> I seem to be stuck in this loop.
>
> What happens if you insert a smaller card in the camera, either
> the last one you used prior to getting the 1GB card or the much
> smaller one that came with the dx6340 (assuming Kodak included one
> in the box)? If you're still stuck in that loop with one of the
> other cards then the camera is probably broken. If not . . .
>
> Check your camera's manual to see if it specifies the card sizes
> that can be used. Most manuals will have a table showing how many
> shots you can get using different resolution settings for several
> different card sizes. My guess, since your camera was manufactured
> at least two years ago is that it wasn't designed to accept cards as
> large as 1 GB and the manual won't have any references to 1GB cards.
>

FWIW from the FAQs on Kodak's web site:

Question:Is there a maximum size Secure Digital (SD) or MultiMedia (MMC)
memory card that will work in my Kodak EasyShare digital camera?
<<Prev Next>>

Answer: Answer last updated:07-13-05
Any Kodak EasyShare digital camera that accepts a SD or MMC memory
card can use any size card (such as 8 MB through 512 MB).

NOTE: We cannot guarantee compatibility with "high-speed" SD cards
such as xSD or Ultra-2 because these memory cards are designed primarily for
video or audio.




Regards,
John


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 >> Stay informed about: Kodak dx6340 - Memory card requires formatting 

On Sat, 21 Jan 2006 03:21:42 GMT, John Sheatsley wrote:

> FWIW from the FAQs on Kodak's web site:
>
> Question:Is there a maximum size Secure Digital (SD) or MultiMedia
> (MMC) memory card that will work in my Kodak EasyShare digital
> camera?
> <<Prev Next>>
>
> Answer: Answer last updated:07-13-05
> Any Kodak EasyShare digital camera that accepts a SD or MMC >memory
> card can use any size card (such as 8 MB through 512 MB).
> . . .

Unfortunately that's still too vague. This answer was
written/updated at least a year and a half, possibly two years or
more after the dx6340 was purchased, and may only apply to "current"
cameras. Also odd is that the upper range was limited to 512 MB.
Odd if *any* of Kodak's cameras at that date were able to utilize
1GB cards, that is. As I noted in a later followup, a more
definitive answer is needed, such as from Kodak's tech. support, as
the online answer provided by this FAQ doesn't answer its own
question convincingly. It could also be taken to imply that all
current and future cards greater than 512MB will also work with all
EasyShare cameras, such as 2, 4 and 8 GB SD cards. Very unlikely.


> NOTE: We cannot guarantee compatibility with "high-speed"
> SD cards such as xSD or Ultra-2 because these memory cards are
> designed primarily for video or audio.

So several years worth of conventional wisdom ("your camera may
not be able to take advantage of faster cards but they'll transfer
files faster in a card reader") is no longer valid, at least for
Kodak's cameras? If this is true (but I kinda doubt that it is),
then Kodak is obligated to provide much more detailed card
compatibility information, at least for any of their cameras now
labeled with the albatross known as "EasyShare". I wonder if any
other manufacturer's cameras are similarly limited?
 >> Stay informed about: Kodak dx6340 - Memory card requires formatting 

ASAAR wrote:
> On Sat, 21 Jan 2006 03:21:42 GMT, John Sheatsley wrote:
>
>> FWIW from the FAQs on Kodak's web site:
>>
>> Question:Is there a maximum size Secure Digital (SD) or MultiMedia
>> (MMC) memory card that will work in my Kodak EasyShare digital
>> camera?
>> <<Prev Next>>
>>
>> Answer: Answer last updated:07-13-05
>> Any Kodak EasyShare digital camera that accepts a SD or MMC >memory
>> card can use any size card (such as 8 MB through 512 MB).
>> . . .
>
> Unfortunately that's still too vague. This answer was
> written/updated at least a year and a half, possibly two years or
> more after the dx6340 was purchased, and may only apply to "current"
> cameras. Also odd is that the upper range was limited to 512 MB.
> Odd if *any* of Kodak's cameras at that date were able to utilize
> 1GB cards, that is. As I noted in a later followup, a more
> definitive answer is needed, such as from Kodak's tech. support, as
> the online answer provided by this FAQ doesn't answer its own
> question convincingly. It could also be taken to imply that all
> current and future cards greater than 512MB will also work with all
> EasyShare cameras, such as 2, 4 and 8 GB SD cards. Very unlikely.
>
>
>> NOTE: We cannot guarantee compatibility with "high-speed"
>> SD cards such as xSD or Ultra-2 because these memory cards are
>> designed primarily for video or audio.
>
> So several years worth of conventional wisdom ("your camera may
> not be able to take advantage of faster cards but they'll transfer
> files faster in a card reader") is no longer valid, at least for
> Kodak's cameras? If this is true (but I kinda doubt that it is),
> then Kodak is obligated to provide much more detailed card
> compatibility information, at least for any of their cameras now
> labeled with the albatross known as "EasyShare". I wonder if any
> other manufacturer's cameras are similarly limited?
>
Yes. Most cameras have some limits due to their implementation of the
FAT file system. Those limited to FAT16 aren't going to be able to use
cards in the 4GB sizes and above. At least they won't be able to use
all the memory, but the card may still format to the largest size that
FAT16 will support. Kodak's newer cameras will handle FAT32, and will
use the largest cards now available. Note that the speed of a card is
another matter entirely. Some may respond faster than the camera's
processor is able to acknowledge causing problems.
 >> Stay informed about: Kodak dx6340 - Memory card requires formatting 

Thanks for all the information, but why would the camera want to format
'memory' when there is no SD card put in the camera? Just internal
memory?

itch
 >> Stay informed about: Kodak dx6340 - Memory card requires formatting 

On Sat, 21 Jan 2006 03:01:43 -0600, Ron Hunter wrote:

>> So several years worth of conventional wisdom ("your camera may
>> not be able to take advantage of faster cards but they'll transfer
>> files faster in a card reader") is no longer valid, at least for
>> Kodak's cameras? If this is true (but I kinda doubt that it is),
>> then Kodak is obligated to provide much more detailed card
>> compatibility information, at least for any of their cameras now
>> labeled with the albatross known as "EasyShare". I wonder if any
>> other manufacturer's cameras are similarly limited?
>>
> Yes. Most cameras have some limits due to their implementation of the
> FAT file system. Those limited to FAT16 aren't going to be able to use
> cards in the 4GB sizes and above. At least they won't be able to use
> all the memory, but the card may still format to the largest size that
> FAT16 will support. Kodak's newer cameras will handle FAT32, and will
> use the largest cards now available. Note that the speed of a card is
> another matter entirely. Some may respond faster than the camera's
> processor is able to acknowledge causing problems.

Recent cameras should have no problem handling large cards, but
the OP's camera is an older model. I don't know when it was
designed, but in this case the dx6340 was purchase at two years ago.
Also, there are limits other than FAT involved with some cameras.
When checking before purchasing my 1GB cards I discovered a number
of cameras that could use cards up to and including 512MB, but were
incompatible with 1GB cards. That's why Kodak's FAQ mentioning
maximum sizes of SD cards "can use any size card (such as 8 MB
through 512 MB)" hasn't provided a definitive answer. How far back
to Kodak's "EasyShare" cameras go? Serious question - I don't know
the answer. If the go back 3 or 4 years I'd be very surprised if
they'd be able to access 1GB or 2GB cards. If they don't it's no
black mark against Kodak, as I wouldn't expect older cameras from
other manufacturers to have that capability. If they do, kudos to
Kodak!


> Kodak's newer cameras will handle FAT32, and will
> use the largest cards now available.

Notice that you've admitted to a loophole ("now available") that
is similar to the one that is a problem with the dx6340. FAT32
should be able to handle the largest cards we're likely to see even
10 years or more from now. But I think it very unlikely that even
the most recent of Kodak's high end cameras will be compatible with
32GB or 64GB cards. Even you, with so little time remaining among
us, will surely get to see cards that large. <g>


>>> NOTE: We cannot guarantee compatibility with "high-speed"
>>> SD cards such as xSD or Ultra-2 because these memory cards are
>>> designed primarily for video or audio.
>
> Note that the speed of a card is another matter entirely. Some may
> respond faster than the camera's processor is able to acknowledge
> causing problems.

Poor design? I'd be very interested in finding out which cards
are too fast for Kodak's cameras, and which other brands they might
work in. Oh, wait. The 1GB card I bought earlier this year is an
Ultra-II (I assume it's what Kodak's FAQ referred to as Ultra-2) and
it's definitely not too fast for my cameras, which are old enough to
have been superceded by newer models, and are still cameras, not
"designed primarily for video or audio". My guess is that whoever
wrote the part of Kodak's FAQ dealing with SD card speeds was an
inexperienced tech. writer that made an invalid assumption. Do you
know for a fact that SD cards exist that won't work in some cameras
solely because the cards are "too fast", or were you just assuming
that if it appeared in a Kodak FAQ it must be true?
 >> Stay informed about: Kodak dx6340 - Memory card requires formatting 

ASAAR wrote:
> On Sat, 21 Jan 2006 03:01:43 -0600, Ron Hunter wrote:
>
>>> So several years worth of conventional wisdom ("your camera may
>>> not be able to take advantage of faster cards but they'll transfer
>>> files faster in a card reader") is no longer valid, at least for
>>> Kodak's cameras? If this is true (but I kinda doubt that it is),
>>> then Kodak is obligated to provide much more detailed card
>>> compatibility information, at least for any of their cameras now
>>> labeled with the albatross known as "EasyShare". I wonder if any
>>> other manufacturer's cameras are similarly limited?
>>>
>> Yes. Most cameras have some limits due to their implementation of the
>> FAT file system. Those limited to FAT16 aren't going to be able to use
>> cards in the 4GB sizes and above. At least they won't be able to use
>> all the memory, but the card may still format to the largest size that
>> FAT16 will support. Kodak's newer cameras will handle FAT32, and will
>> use the largest cards now available. Note that the speed of a card is
>> another matter entirely. Some may respond faster than the camera's
>> processor is able to acknowledge causing problems.
>
> Recent cameras should have no problem handling large cards, but
> the OP's camera is an older model. I don't know when it was
> designed, but in this case the dx6340 was purchase at two years ago.
> Also, there are limits other than FAT involved with some cameras.
> When checking before purchasing my 1GB cards I discovered a number
> of cameras that could use cards up to and including 512MB, but were
> incompatible with 1GB cards. That's why Kodak's FAQ mentioning
> maximum sizes of SD cards "can use any size card (such as 8 MB
> through 512 MB)" hasn't provided a definitive answer. How far back
> to Kodak's "EasyShare" cameras go? Serious question - I don't know
> the answer. If the go back 3 or 4 years I'd be very surprised if
> they'd be able to access 1GB or 2GB cards. If they don't it's no
> black mark against Kodak, as I wouldn't expect older cameras from
> other manufacturers to have that capability. If they do, kudos to
> Kodak!
>
>
>> Kodak's newer cameras will handle FAT32, and will
>> use the largest cards now available.
>
> Notice that you've admitted to a loophole ("now available") that
> is similar to the one that is a problem with the dx6340. FAT32
> should be able to handle the largest cards we're likely to see even
> 10 years or more from now. But I think it very unlikely that even
> the most recent of Kodak's high end cameras will be compatible with
> 32GB or 64GB cards. Even you, with so little time remaining among
> us, will surely get to see cards that large. <g>
>
>
>>>> NOTE: We cannot guarantee compatibility with "high-speed"
>>>> SD cards such as xSD or Ultra-2 because these memory cards are
>>>> designed primarily for video or audio.
>> Note that the speed of a card is another matter entirely. Some may
>> respond faster than the camera's processor is able to acknowledge
>> causing problems.
>
> Poor design? I'd be very interested in finding out which cards
> are too fast for Kodak's cameras, and which other brands they might
> work in. Oh, wait. The 1GB card I bought earlier this year is an
> Ultra-II (I assume it's what Kodak's FAQ referred to as Ultra-2) and
> it's definitely not too fast for my cameras, which are old enough to
> have been superceded by newer models, and are still cameras, not
> "designed primarily for video or audio". My guess is that whoever
> wrote the part of Kodak's FAQ dealing with SD card speeds was an
> inexperienced tech. writer that made an invalid assumption. Do you
> know for a fact that SD cards exist that won't work in some cameras
> solely because the cards are "too fast", or were you just assuming
> that if it appeared in a Kodak FAQ it must be true?
>
My camera, the DX6440 is exactly like the DX6340 except for the lens,
and came out about the same time. I haven't tried to use a card larger
than 256 meg because I can't imagine the need for one larger as a 256
meg card will store over 300 pictures in the 4 mp resolution. I am
pretty sure that a 1 GB card would work, but such weren't common in the
SD format when the camera was released (2004). I suspect that no one at
Kodak imagined that sizes larger than 512 meg would be bought for these
cameras.

Whether or not the speed is significant or not depends on many factors,
such as the processor, and support chips included in the camera. I have
4 cards, and one of them is slow enough that when I do video, frames are
skipped. I suspect that a faster card would work better, not worse, but
also suspect that some cards might well be too fast for this type of
camera. All supposition on my part, since I don't have any way to test
this specifically.
 >> Stay informed about: Kodak dx6340 - Memory card requires formatting