HELP - Can't write image to CF Card image.bin

[AAMFlyer]

I am setting up an Alix 3D2 and I am at the stage of trying to write the file image.bin to the CF card per the manual which says to use DiskImage. It does not work and I have tried two brand new Transcend 4gb Ultra Industrial Cards - same error on both.....

"Error #5 occured while writing to Disk at Sector 0"

I'm using DiskImage and the using the tab Write Image (not store image), choosing "Physical Disk" and the image.bin file - although that is not recognized as an image file, you have to show all files to be able to see and select it.....what am I doing wrong! Can I just copy this to the disk instead of using DiskImage.....? Do you need to format the CF card first in a different format? It seems odd that I would have gotten two bad CF cards?

Help!!!

[admin]

are you on vista or xp? xp works for sure.

You could also boot your pc with one of the linux live cds, that will give you a linux without installing anything on your harddrive. Then you can use "dd" from linux. That will also work for sure. I can help you with the exact commands, if you go this way.

[AAMFlyer]

I'm using Vista 64.... You'd have to walk me through the linux stuff as I'm not really familiar with it... I'll also check to see if I have a CF reader that will go with my xp machine - I have an xp machine - just need to find an adapter...

[admin]

easiest would be to use the xp machine, unless you have a linux live distro right at hand.

Please let me know, when I should guide you through the linux stuff.

[AAMFlyer]

I got a reader and will try it on my xp tonight...

But why does it not work on Vista - is it vista or the software DiskImage or is it something else....it worries me that I won't be able to do this in the future when xp goes away and my xp machine dies since it is already 5 years old....

Is there a different disk image software that it works with in Vista...?

I'll report back if it works - but would suggest you add the instructions on how to do it in the manaul and the fact that it doesn't work in Vista....and probably Win 7 when it comes out too!

Thanks!

[AAMFlyer]

Okay - it worked just fine in XP... I would definitely recommend adding this tidbit in the manual...and maybe other solutions or software too....as it doesn't make sense why it doesn't work in Vista.... Thanks!

Now I will add it to my Alix 3d2 sometime tomorrow and see how that goes!

Thanks

[admin]

The autors of DiskImage claim that it works on Vista. Unfortunately, I got info from some of the users of this forum that it does not.
The problem seems to come along with the "physical drive" mode we need. Looks like this is not working on Vista. Access to low level write routines is stronger capsuled in Vista than in XP, so it is very hard to get access to these from user space. Might be intended for additional security, but in our case it limits functionality.

For the future we still have Linux live distros as an option and next Windows might also handle that in another way.

[wfpost]

Vista allows to start a program in compatibility mode running it virtually as Windows XP.
diskimage then works with Vista!

[admin]

I did not know that. Thanks a lot!
This is brilliant news!

[AAMFlyer]

I just tried it in the Compatability mode - it didn't work for me....

[wfpost]

it works with Vista Ultimate on my Dell Notebook and a Kingston CF and a cardreader from shuttle.

Strangely, diskimage does not work with an two year old 1GB USB-Stick I wanted to write the first bootimage onto.
Neither on an XP nor a Vista machine is this USB-Stick recognized by diskimage.

An 1 GB USB-stick from SANDISK Cruzer works well under both Vista and XP.

My guess is that the combination of CF/Cardreader is very delicate from a diskimage viewpoint.

IMHO WINIMAGE is one of the best diskimage tools.
It can be used for 30 days free of charge:
http://www.winimage.com/
Can you try it?

Cheers,
Wolfgang