> "JFG" wrote in <news:KQW%j.132546$TT4.41192@attbi_s22>:
>
> > Hello, group,
> >
> > If this question belongs in another ng, please redirect me.
> >
> > I bought an eight GB flash drive from a Chinese seller on ebay that turned
> > out to be a fake. The seller has since been eliminated from ebay but in the
> > meantime there are many like me who would like to make a little lemonade
> > from this lemon. The flash drive does work but beyond some point it stores
> > only garbage. It is a drive that has been reprogrammed to show 8 GB but in
> > reality is smaller. I didn't pay a lot for it so I'm not upset, but what I
> > would like to do is reprogram it to whatever its proper size is and use it.
> > I have tried Windows Disk Management and also Linux QParted but neither
> > shows the true size. Both show it to be 7.89 GB, but I assure you that this
> > is NOT the correct size. So here's the question: does anyone know of
> > software to reprogram it to only show its true size and format it in Fat 16
> > or 32? I'll appreciate any and all suggestions. JG
>
> Did you attempt to contact eBay to see if you were covered under their
> buyer protection policy, especially since the fraudulent seller got
> removed by eBay?
eBay or PayPal may try to help solve the problem *but* they may only solve
the *real* problem not the type of misunderstanding problem "JPG" claims.
IOW, 7.9GB is the real 8GB so there is no problem there, and the other thing
about partition, Linux is another story JPG may have to learn to work thing
out himself.
> "VanguardLH" <V@nguard.LH> wrote in message
> news:XqGdnXPLn7eY9N3VnZ2dnUVZ_h_inZ2d@comcast.com. ..
> > "JFG" wrote in <news:KQW%j.132546$TT4.41192@attbi_s22>:
> >
> >> Hello, group,
> >>
> >> If this question belongs in another ng, please redirect me.
> >>
> >> I bought an eight GB flash drive from a Chinese seller on ebay that
> >> turned
> >> out to be a fake. The seller has since been eliminated from ebay but in
> >> the
> >> meantime there are many like me who would like to make a little lemonade
> >> from this lemon. The flash drive does work but beyond some point it
> >> stores
> >> only garbage. It is a drive that has been reprogrammed to show 8 GB but
> >> in
> >> reality is smaller. I didn't pay a lot for it so I'm not upset, but what
> >> I
> >> would like to do is reprogram it to whatever its proper size is and use
> >> it.
> >> I have tried Windows Disk Management and also Linux QParted but neither
> >> shows the true size. Both show it to be 7.89 GB, but I assure you that
> >> this
> >> is NOT the correct size. So here's the question: does anyone know of
> >> software to reprogram it to only show its true size and format it in Fat
> >> 16
> >> or 32? I'll appreciate any and all suggestions. JG
> >
> > Did you attempt to contact eBay to see if you were covered under their
> > buyer protection policy, especially since the fraudulent seller got
> > removed by eBay?
>
> Thanks, Van, I haven't done that because the drive was so cheap to begin
> with. I don't know what I was thinking at the time. An 8 GB flash drive
> for less than $20 USD with free shipping just had to be too good to be true.
> The challenge is to reprogram it if possible. I'd settle for a 1 GB or 2 GB
> if that's the actual size. I'm hoping that a reader of the ng might have an
> idea about the reprogrammiing. Best...JG
Flash drive is very cheap these days so I won't suprise to see a slow 8GB
flash drive for $20. Even about a year ago when 8GB was the largest and was
still very expensive, I was able to get the fastest 8GB at the time for
around $46 when the same flash drive was selling $80-100+ from other online
stores.
"Joel" wrote in <news:ve01449jk675d7d8d023p4ls5gntdus9m5@4ax.com >:
> VanguardLH <V@nguard.LH> wrote:
>
>> "JFG" wrote in <news:KQW%j.132546$TT4.41192@attbi_s22>:
>>
>>> Hello, group,
>>>
>>> If this question belongs in another ng, please redirect me.
>>>
>>> I bought an eight GB flash drive from a Chinese seller on ebay that turned
>>> out to be a fake. The seller has since been eliminated from ebay but in the
>>> meantime there are many like me who would like to make a little lemonade
>>> from this lemon. The flash drive does work but beyond some point it stores
>>> only garbage. It is a drive that has been reprogrammed to show 8 GB but in
>>> reality is smaller. I didn't pay a lot for it so I'm not upset, but what I
>>> would like to do is reprogram it to whatever its proper size is and use it.
>>> I have tried Windows Disk Management and also Linux QParted but neither
>>> shows the true size. Both show it to be 7.89 GB, but I assure you that this
>>> is NOT the correct size. So here's the question: does anyone know of
>>> software to reprogram it to only show its true size and format it in Fat 16
>>> or 32? I'll appreciate any and all suggestions. JG
>>
>> Did you attempt to contact eBay to see if you were covered under their
>> buyer protection policy, especially since the fraudulent seller got
>> removed by eBay?
>
> eBay or PayPal may try to help solve the problem *but* they may only solve
> the *real* problem not the type of misunderstanding problem "JPG" claims.
> IOW, 7.9GB is the real 8GB so there is no problem there, and the other thing
> about partition, Linux is another story JPG may have to learn to work thing
> out himself.
I doubt the issue is about all of a perceived 0.1GB difference in
reported and marked capacity. "beyond some point it stores
only garbage" says nothing about WHEN the corruption occurs. Could be
at 4GB which is half the size of the marked size. The OP was vague on
just when corruption begins in the addressing range.
> Hello, group,
>
> If this question belongs in another ng, please redirect me.
>
> I bought an eight GB flash drive from a Chinese seller on ebay that turned
> out to be a fake. The seller has since been eliminated from ebay but in the
> meantime there are many like me who would like to make a little lemonade from
> this lemon. The flash drive does work but beyond some point it stores only
> garbage. It is a drive that has been reprogrammed to show 8 GB but in
> reality is smaller. I didn't pay a lot for it so I'm not upset, but what I
> would like to do is reprogram it to whatever its proper size is and use it. I
> have tried Windows Disk Management and also Linux QParted but neither shows
> the true size. Both show it to be 7.89 GB, but I assure you that this is NOT
> the correct size. So here's the question: does anyone know of software to
> reprogram it to only show its true size and format it in Fat 16 or 32? I'll
> appreciate any and all suggestions. JG
Might be a simple task to pop it open and see what chip(s) it's using.
> "Joel" wrote in <news:ve01449jk675d7d8d023p4ls5gntdus9m5@4ax.com >:
>
> > VanguardLH <V@nguard.LH> wrote:
> >
> >> "JFG" wrote in <news:KQW%j.132546$TT4.41192@attbi_s22>:
> >>
> >>> Hello, group,
> >>>
> >>> If this question belongs in another ng, please redirect me.
> >>>
> >>> I bought an eight GB flash drive from a Chinese seller on ebay that turned
> >>> out to be a fake. The seller has since been eliminated from ebay but in the
> >>> meantime there are many like me who would like to make a little lemonade
> >>> from this lemon. The flash drive does work but beyond some point it stores
> >>> only garbage. It is a drive that has been reprogrammed to show 8 GB but in
> >>> reality is smaller. I didn't pay a lot for it so I'm not upset, but what I
> >>> would like to do is reprogram it to whatever its proper size is and use it.
> >>> I have tried Windows Disk Management and also Linux QParted but neither
> >>> shows the true size. Both show it to be 7.89 GB, but I assure you that this
> >>> is NOT the correct size. So here's the question: does anyone know of
> >>> software to reprogram it to only show its true size and format it in Fat 16
> >>> or 32? I'll appreciate any and all suggestions. JG
> >>
> >> Did you attempt to contact eBay to see if you were covered under their
> >> buyer protection policy, especially since the fraudulent seller got
> >> removed by eBay?
> >
> > eBay or PayPal may try to help solve the problem *but* they may only solve
> > the *real* problem not the type of misunderstanding problem "JPG" claims.
> > IOW, 7.9GB is the real 8GB so there is no problem there, and the other thing
> > about partition, Linux is another story JPG may have to learn to work thing
> > out himself.
>
> I doubt the issue is about all of a perceived 0.1GB difference in
> reported and marked capacity. "beyond some point it stores
> only garbage" says nothing about WHEN the corruption occurs. Could be
> at 4GB which is half the size of the marked size. The OP was vague on
> just when corruption begins in the addressing range.
The 8GB reports as 7.9GB then it should be 8GB because most HD use KB=1000
instead of KB=1024
And about the garbage I will have to see to believe, because most vendor
won't waste their Possitive Feedbacks selling 1/2 the capacity. Or they may
cheat on $10,000 or $100,000 item *not* $20 item.
On Fri, 30 May 2008 20:08:59 GMT, "JFG" <jfg@bigmchsi.com>
wrote:
> My task is to find the right program
>or procedure to program it to its actual size. Someone in China has a way
>to program it incorrectly and if I knew how that was done I could maybe
>program it correctly. The header says it all, it's a conundrum. I'm having
>the fun of trying to crack the nut. Best, JG
>
It's PROM may not be EEPROM, you may not be able to just run
some windows(?) software to get the job done.
If possible to do so non-destructively, you might pop open
it's case and see if you can identify the chips, including
the PROM. Might be a tiny little 8 pin SOIC chip, or even
embedded into the controller IC itself, I really don't know
for sure. Once you have identified it, or that there isn't
one and have the controller ID from it's markings if
possible, then you might get a datasheet for it.
In other words unless you can track down someone who has
done this already and you know it's the same/compatible
drive, otherwise you are the pioneer and have to collect
some physical data about the electronics inside the shell.
On Fri, 30 May 2008 18:18:37 -0500, VanguardLH <V@nguard.LH>
wrote:
>"Joel" wrote in <news:ve01449jk675d7d8d023p4ls5gntdus9m5@4ax.com >:
>
>> eBay or PayPal may try to help solve the problem *but* they may only solve
>> the *real* problem not the type of misunderstanding problem "JPG" claims.
>> IOW, 7.9GB is the real 8GB so there is no problem there, and the other thing
>> about partition, Linux is another story JPG may have to learn to work thing
>> out himself.
>
>I doubt the issue is about all of a perceived 0.1GB difference in
>reported and marked capacity. "beyond some point it stores
>only garbage" says nothing about WHEN the corruption occurs. Could be
>at 4GB which is half the size of the marked size. The OP was vague on
>just when corruption begins in the addressing range.
At $20 delivered it would seem to be 2GB or smaller drive,
they couldn't make any money on this fraud otherwise.
> I bought an eight GB flash drive from a Chinese seller on ebay that
> turned out to be a fake. The seller has since been eliminated from
> ebay but in the meantime there are many like me who would like
> to make a little lemonade from this lemon. The flash drive does
> work but beyond some point it stores only garbage. It is a drive
> that has been reprogrammed to show 8 GB but in reality is smaller.
Can you use something like Format and mark off the bad areas? You may
need a third-party program because I believe Format complains and
quits if it finds too many bad sectors.
How about running Fdisk or another partitioning utility to cut down
the size?
$20 for 8GB is cheap but no longer that much cheaper than what major
brands sometimes cost. For example, here are current Fry's offerings:
"larry moe 'n curly" <larrymoencurly@my-deja.com> wrote:
>
>
> JFG wrote:
>
> > I bought an eight GB flash drive from a Chinese seller on ebay that
> > turned out to be a fake. The seller has since been eliminated from
> > ebay but in the meantime there are many like me who would like
> > to make a little lemonade from this lemon. The flash drive does
> > work but beyond some point it stores only garbage. It is a drive
> > that has been reprogrammed to show 8 GB but in reality is smaller.
>
> Can you use something like Format and mark off the bad areas? You may
> need a third-party program because I believe Format complains and
> quits if it finds too many bad sectors.
>
> How about running Fdisk or another partitioning utility to cut down
> the size?
>
> $20 for 8GB is cheap but no longer that much cheaper than what major
> brands sometimes cost. For example, here are current Fry's offerings:
>
> 8GB Emprex: $25 ($25 rebate)
> 2GB Emprex: $ 4 ($15 rebate)
> 16GB Corsair: $50 ($20 rebate)
I have the 8GB Corsair which was one of the fastest and I paid around $46
(special sale) for it over a year ago.
kony wrote:
> On Fri, 30 May 2008 18:18:37 -0500, VanguardLH <V@nguard.LH>
> wrote:
>
>> "Joel" wrote in <news:ve01449jk675d7d8d023p4ls5gntdus9m5@4ax.com >:
>>
>
>>> eBay or PayPal may try to help solve the problem *but* they may only solve
>>> the *real* problem not the type of misunderstanding problem "JPG" claims.
>>> IOW, 7.9GB is the real 8GB so there is no problem there, and the other thing
>>> about partition, Linux is another story JPG may have to learn to work thing
>>> out himself.
>> I doubt the issue is about all of a perceived 0.1GB difference in
>> reported and marked capacity. "beyond some point it stores
>> only garbage" says nothing about WHEN the corruption occurs. Could be
>> at 4GB which is half the size of the marked size. The OP was vague on
>> just when corruption begins in the addressing range.
>
> At $20 delivered it would seem to be 2GB or smaller drive,
> they couldn't make any money on this fraud otherwise.
I thought part of the fun, of this fraud, was using a chip which is
1/8th the proper size. So you could advertise an 8GB drive, and when
approached by the buyer, apologize and tell them it was an 8 Gigabit drive :-)
Just a harmless "units of measurement" error :-) That would probably
improve their fraud profit picture as well.
Re: Flash drive conundrum 
Linear Mode
