SD990 with two partitions. Not saving photos

Mauro900

« on: 06 / June / 2014, 23:02:53 »

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Hi:
Creating "bootable" SD cards with either "SDMInstML" and "stick" utilities, I always get two partitions for my SD990 (I have 8GB and 32GB cards).

The problem I have is that for some reason the scripts don't work. Even they launch, and they show they are taking photos, I don't get them saved. I was suspecting that maybe the scripts try to save the photos in the first partition, which offers quite small free space (It is meant only for the Boot).

With the last in mind I decided to try the "Firmware updated method": I formatted the card on the original Canon Menu (Which provides only one partition on my 32GB card, weird, as the SD990 is not supposed to work with cards this large), and copy the boot file and run CHDK.

In this case, the scripts work and save the photos.
What can be wrong here?
Should I modify the scripts when using more than one partition?

I would prefer to use the "boot method" to load the CHDK.

Thank you for any hints!

Mauricio

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waterwingz

11478

Re: SD990 with two partitions. Not saving photos

« Reply #1 on: 06 / June / 2014, 23:39:23 »

Quote from: Mauro900 on 06 / June / 2014, 23:02:53

Hi:
Creating "bootable" SD cards with either "SDMInstML" and "stick" utilities, I always get two partitions for my SD990 (I have 8GB and 32GB cards).

Sound like you are off to a good start. You can trust STICK to get it right.

Quote

The problem I have is that for some reason the scripts don't work. Even they launch, and they show they are taking photos, I don't get them saved. I was suspecting that maybe the scripts try to save the photos in the first partition, which offers quite small free space (It is meant only for the Boot).

They are almost certainly working and saving photos on the 2nd (large) partition.

Quote

With the last in mind I decided to try the "Firmware updated method": I formatted the card on the original Canon Menu (Which provides only one partition on my 32GB card, weird, as the SD990 is not supposed to work with cards this large), and copy the boot file and run CHDK. In this case, the scripts work and save the photos.

It should.

Quote

What can be wrong here?

The problem is most likely happening when you try to put the SD card into your PC. In order to boot, the small partition (the one with no pictures) must be designated as the "primary" partition. Your PC does not understand that SD cards can have more than one partition. So it just looks at the small primary partition where there are (of course) no pictures. You need to make the larger partition into the primary partition on your PC before you will be able to find the pictures.

There are several ways to do this but this is probably the easiest : wasp

An additional method is documented here : http://chdk.setepontos.com/index.php?topic=11531.msg113039#msg113039

Don't forget to make the small partition the primary partition again prior to returning the card to your camera.

Complete and up-to-date documentation about SD card preparation and use is always here : http://chdk.wikia.com/wiki/Prepare_your_SD_card

Quote

Should I modify the scripts when using more than one partition?

No.

Quote

I would prefer to use the "boot method" to load the CHDK.

Pretty much everyone wants that too once they try it.

« Last Edit: 06 / June / 2014, 23:44:15 by waterwingz »

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Ported : A1200 SD940 G10 Powershot N G16

Mauro900

Re: SD990 with two partitions. Not saving photos

« Reply #2 on: 07 / June / 2014, 00:02:06 »

Thank you for your prompt and complete message.
I really appreciate it

However, I must say that the problem I'm having is not related to my computer not showing the photos. Actually I'm able to see both partitions (I use a Mac, not a Windows) and checking the folder where the pictures should be stored is empty (Well, there can be files, the ones that I take not using scripts, but not the ones generated from the scripts, that is why I suspect of them).

I double checked the content of the folder with the own camera. Also, I have tried enabling/disabling the RAW write.

Thank you!

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waterwingz

11478

Re: SD990 with two partitions. Not saving photos

« Reply #3 on: 07 / June / 2014, 01:45:29 »

Quote from: Mauro900 on 07 / June / 2014, 00:02:06

Well, there can be files, the ones that I take not using scripts, but not the ones generated from the scripts, that is why I suspect of them.

Okay .. restart. What scripts? What procedure do you use to load and run those scripts?

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Ported : A1200 SD940 G10 Powershot N G16

waterwingz

11478

Re: SD990 with two partitions. Not saving photos

« Reply #4 on: 07 / June / 2014, 01:54:43 »

It looks like reyalp has dealt with this situation before ( dual partition not storing pix & user using a Mac ) : http://chdk.setepontos.com/index.php?topic=2972.msg32726#msg32726

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Ported : A1200 SD940 G10 Powershot N G16

Mauro900

Re: SD990 with two partitions. Not saving photos

« Reply #5 on: 07 / June / 2014, 14:04:12 »

Thank you again.

After reading your references I decided to opt for the manual creation of a 32GB SD card at:
http://chdk.wikia.com/wiki/FAQ/Mac

It worked using the exact build of CHDK and the scripts I was testing before. They save the photos on the bigger partition and work like a charm.

Then I guess there is something wrong on the SDMInst and Stick utilities for this particular camera.

Thank you for your kind help!

« Last Edit: 07 / June / 2014, 14:06:44 by Mauro900 »

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zeno

Re: SD990 with two partitions. Not saving photos

« Reply #6 on: 07 / June / 2014, 18:14:14 »

I'm at a loss to explain why the card prepared by STICK didn't work properly. From what you say, when CHDK auto-booted but you were not in Alt mode running a script, pressing the shutter button DID take a picture. If that is the case, I can't see what could be preventing a 'shoot' command in a script from taking a picture.

Or am I mistaken and using a card prepared by STICK you couldn't take photos at all when CHDK auto-booted?

If you still have the STICK log (it's a file called sticklog.txt which will be in the same folder as STICK) then please email it to me and I'll take a look.

daveATzenoshrdlu.com

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A570, S100, Ixus 127
Author of ASSIST, STICK, WASP, ACID, SDMInst, LICKS, WICKS, MacBoot, UBDB, CFGEdit