• What is CompactFlash CF Type I, CF Type II and CF I/O?
• What devices use Compact Flash?
• What are the differences between Compact Flash and Smart Media?
• What are the advantages of Flash Memory?
• The Format option on my camera is grayed out, and the Card Reader cannot access the drive.
• Why doesn't my camera show any pictures remaining, even though I'm using a new 128 MB or 256 MB CF Card?
• My camera wouldn't turn on. Why did this happen?
• Why does my camera sometimes take longer to get ready to take pictures than normal?
• I renamed the picture files on my CF Card and now I can't see them. Why?
• Why does my CF Card have less image capacity after I use it in another camera?
• How could I get a corrupted image on my CF Card?
• My CF Card is damaged. What should I do?
• Why can't I take a picture when I put my CF Card in the camera?
• How do I delete all of the pictures from my CF Card? Do I have to mark each one?

1. What is Compact Flash, CF Type I, CF Type II and CF I/O?
The only difference between CF Type I and CF Type II cards is the card thickness. CF Type I is 3.3 mm thick and CF Type II cards are 5mm thick. A CF Type I card will operate in a CF Type I or CF Type II slot. A CF Type II card will only fit in a CF Type II slot.

At 43mm (1.7") x 36mm (1.4") x 3.3mm (0.13"), the CF Type I card's thickness is less than one-half of a current PCMCIA Type II card. It is actually one-fourth the volume of a PCMCIA card. Compared to a 68-pin PCMCIA card, a CF card has 50 pins but still conforms to ATA specs. It can be easily slipped into a passive 68-pin PCMCIA Type II to CF Type I adapter that fully meets PCMCIA electrical and mechanical interface specifications.

At 43mm (1.7") x 36mm (1.4") x 5mm (0.19"), the CF Type II card's thickness is equal to a current PCMCIA Type II card. It is actually less than one-half the volume of a PCMCIA card. Compared to a 68-pin PCMCIA card, a CF card has 50 pins but still conforms to ATA specs. It can be easily slipped into a passive 68-pin PCMCIA Type II to CF Type II adapter that fully meets PCMCIA electrical and mechanical interface specifications.

2. What devices use Compact Flash?
Compact Flash cards are very small and light. But they can store an
impressive amount of data. They are particular suited for digital cameras, MP3
players, PDAs and computers.

3. What are the differences between Compact Flash and Smart Media?
Compact Flash cards are thicker than Smart Media. Both types work by
erasing, writing and reading in small blocks rather than at byte level so they
can deliver fast, reliable performance while allowing the user some flexibility.

4. What are the advantages of Flash Memory? Flash Memory cards have a solid state design (no moving parts) so they offer
much greater data protection than magnetic disk drives. The cards have low
power requirements and can withstand extremely rapid changes in
temperature and shocks.

5. The Format option on my camera is grayed out, and the Card Reader cannot access the drive.
This can happen when the CF Card is corrupt or broken. The card must be repaired or replaced. Please refer to our RMA in the "Return Policy" section.

6. Why doesn't my camera show any pictures remaining, even though I'm using a new 128 MB or 256 MB CF Card?
If you are using one of the new CF Cards that have capacities of 128 MB, or 256 MB, some digital cameras do not display Pictures Remaining properly. The camera countdown doesn't start until the number of pictures remaining is within the default range of the camera status display. For example, if you insert a 256 MB card in the Kodak DC240 Zoom Digital Camera, the DC240 shows "--" for Good / Standard until Pictures Remaining reaches 1999, and then the countdown proceeds normally. If you use either the 128 MB or 256 MB card in the DC215 Zoom Digital Camera, the status remains blank until 999 is reached, and then the countdown proceeds normally. The pictures are stored properly and can be retrieved from the card at any time.

7. My camera wouldn't turn on. Why did this happen?
A corrupt picture can cause the CF Card to affect the camera operation. To determine whether the CF Card is causing the problem, remove the Card and turn on the camera. If the camera turns on properly, reformat the CF Card to erase any corrupt pictures or files

8. Why does my camera sometimes take longer to get ready to take pictures than normal?
If you have a large number of pictures on the CF Card, it will take longer to get ready than it will if you have an empty Card.

9. I renamed the picture files on my CF Card and now I can't see them. Why?
If you attempt to use WINDOWS Explorer to change image file names while the CF Card is in the reader, the images may not be readable by the camera or the software, depending on the model of camera you have.

10. Why does my CF Card have less image capacity after I use it in another camera?
When you use the same CF Card in different cameras, there may be image files on the card that were not deleted, or templates on the card that are taking up space.
To regain the image capacity, copy all pictures and files onto your hard drive and then reformat the card. Reinsert the card into the camera and you will see that the full capacity is available.

11. How could I get a corrupted image on my CF Card?
To understand this, it may help to understand what happens inside your digital camera when you take a picture. When you press the shutter button, the camera collects millions of pixels that create the picture and digitally records that information. At that point, an assembly of this information is saved on your CF Card. If this process is interrupted in any way, the file on the CF Card is incomplete, and therefore corrupted.
You can cause an interruption by:

1. Turning off the camera before the image is completely written to the CF Card.
2. Using a battery at the end of its life.
3. Removing the CF Card before the image has been completely written.
4. Attempting to take a second picture before the camera has finished processing the previous one.
   Tip: Check to see that the image is displayed briefly on the back LCD immediately after it is taken.
   If you remember that your camera needs a short time and sufficient power to process each image, you can reduce or eliminate the chances of having a corrupt image on your card.

12. My CF Card is damaged. What should I do? If you can't access the CF Card by the camera or by the card reader, and it has worked in the past, reformat the card in a CF Card Reader. Remember, formatting a CF Card erases all of the pictures, borders, templates and other information on the card.

• Go to My Computer.
• Go to the drive that is specified as the card reader.
• Right-click on the drive letter.
• Go to Format.
• Select Full Format.
  Formatting the card eliminates corrupted pictures on the card. After formatting the card, try it again or try it in another camera or card reader. If reformatting the card does not solve the problem, you may need to replace the card.

13. Why can't I take a picture when I put my CF Card in the camera? The Card may be full.

• remove the card and install an empty one, or
• download and erase the images from the CF Card to make room for new images.

14. How do I delete all of the pictures from my CF Card? Do I have to mark each one? You don't have to mark each individual image in order to delete all images from the card, but each camera has a its own procedure to delete selected pictures or all pictures. See your camera User's Guide for details.