trouble creating a dual partition boot card

waterwingz

12138

Re: trouble creating a dual partition boot card

« Reply #10 on: 09 / February / 2019, 07:39:57 »

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Quote from: Mlapse on 09 / February / 2019, 03:41:57

years back the chdk method was actually the only method i could trust not to muck up my computer.
now i feel that it is becoming the other way 'round.

This may just be a long dormant issue with how the process is now described in the Wikia page.

When I created that page long ago by consolidating from many separate web write-ups, forum entries, "how to's", and other wikia pages, I knew a lot less about CHDK than I do now. When I get access to my older cameras again in a few weeks I will try to fix it.

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Ported : A1200 SD940 G10 Powershot N G16

Mlapse

583
S95 S110

Re: trouble creating a dual partition boot card

« Reply #11 on: 09 / February / 2019, 08:09:06 »

If I found inconsistancies in behaviour I usually just stop using that specific function....see my move to stick.
Most of the times there is more than one way to take a picture........why was i thinking about cats and looking for a knife?

Because chdk is a fantastic piece of software and I can't thank all that helped making it what it is enough.

So if you are in favor of stick maybe it's just smart to remove the possibility in chdk than to fix old, almost abandoned code.
i'm not 100% convinced since my primairy system is still not allowing stick to read the volume

You could only leave set boot flag for single partition cards, that works without fail.

« Last Edit: 09 / February / 2019, 08:26:53 by Mlapse »

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waterwingz

12138

Re: trouble creating a dual partition boot card

« Reply #12 on: 09 / February / 2019, 08:24:09 »

Quote from: Mlapse on 09 / February / 2019, 08:09:06

If I found inconsistancies in behaviour I usually just stop using that specific function. Most of the times there is more than one way to take a picture........why was i thinking about cats and a knife?

True - STICK (and to a lesser extent CHIMP) is good enough that the use of other methods of installing CHDK have fallen off considerably.

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So if you are in favor of stick maybe it's just smart to remove the possibility than to fix old, almost abandoned code. i'm not 100% convinced since my primairy system is still not allowing stick to read the volume

When zeno released STICK, much of the need for the Prepare your SD Card page went away. But STICK needs Java to work so not all PC's can used it. And with each OS update (Windows, Linux, or MacOS) there seems to be a new security wrinkle that knocks STICK down for a while.

I created Prepare your SD Card originally because I was frustrated with all the dispersed and disparate existing documentation - much of which was incomplete, obsolete, non-specific, misleading and in some cases just plain wrong. With the help of @reyalp and others, we fixed mistakes on that page as they came up until eventually things seemed stable. Fixing one more is not a big deal - I see now what is wrong and could change the write-up today, but I would rather test it personally prior to publication.

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You could only leave set boot flag for single partition cards, that works without fail.

You might be surprised at the problems people have following that method.

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Ported : A1200 SD940 G10 Powershot N G16

Mlapse

583
S95 S110

Re: trouble creating a dual partition boot card

« Reply #13 on: 09 / February / 2019, 08:41:07 »

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I created Prepare your SD Card originally because I was frustrated with all the dispersed and disparate existing documentation

and it helped me and a lot of others, it is comprehensible and works....at least most of the times

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You might be surprised at the problems people have following that method.

for those, read my tagline and try again

...sorry I seem to be in a cheeky mood.

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frustration is a key ingredient in progress

Mlapse

583
S95 S110

Re: trouble creating a dual partition boot card

« Reply #14 on: 09 / February / 2019, 10:09:07 »

i have rewritten the prepare your sd card, but i could only upload doc and not odt, so i made a pdf.

if you think this is a good idea, i could rewrite the whole piece, but since stick knows if it needs 2 partitions or not I think that one guide for all cams would work. You might see this as a quick-start guide.(i also can do it with pictures)

if it is incorrect or incomprehensible at some point, let me know.

https://dl.orangedox.com/prepareyoursdcard

« Last Edit: 22 / September / 2021, 13:00:13 by Mlapse »

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waterwingz

12138

Re: trouble creating a dual partition boot card

« Reply #15 on: 09 / February / 2019, 12:36:54 »

Quote from: Mlapse on 09 / February / 2019, 10:09:07

You might see this as a quick-start guide.(i also can do it with pictures)

I was actually thinking much the same thing - a quick start guide that is linked from the top of the Pepare your SD Card page? Maybe add a link for a "Quick Start Guide" to the notice box that suggests using STICK or CHIMP. There are a couple of little clean-ups I could suggest for your write-up but maybe I'll let you get things created and add some edits later? (You can back them out if you don't like them - I won't be offended in the slightest).

If you do create a new wiki page then you just need to export your ODT as plain text, cut and paste that into the wiki page, and then use the wiki editor to format it?

Incidentally, there are at least three "quick start" type guides already saved on the wiki - all written by new users who were completely certain they could do a better job than the existing documentation in describing the necessary steps . (Not to mention all the youtube videos and personal blog pages out there.) They all turn out to describe the steps that work for their single camera model and PC configuration but are not much use if you had a different setup. Good, clear, simple, usable documentation is not easy to create.

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Ported : A1200 SD940 G10 Powershot N G16

Mlapse

583
S95 S110

Re: trouble creating a dual partition boot card

« Reply #16 on: 09 / February / 2019, 13:08:02 »

suggestions are welcome, edits too....i've done that a dozen times today already, so you might want to hold your thought for a while before you do that.
wrote it in a short time and only verified the method on 2 cams (one fat16 boot, dual partition, one fat32 boot).
i am not the kind of person who goes adding wikipages on his own, but thanks for the invite to do so.

and maybe mine is no better than what is available, i just never came across it.
have written my fair share of working instructions for very large companies i thought i could add some value here, so see for yourself if you think it is any good.
however, i won't be offended in the slightest if it ends up unused, but expect at least a link on the top of that page to a very clear instruction then

and i do think that a good instruction is possible for preparing your SD card that coveres all cams, since this does not involve the cam, but a computer.
i should however verify the method on linux and ask somebody to check it in macOS., so the explanation can have a fork for those users if needed.

« Last Edit: 09 / February / 2019, 13:51:38 by Mlapse »

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waterwingz

12138

Re: trouble creating a dual partition boot card

« Reply #17 on: 09 / February / 2019, 13:47:25 »

Quote from: Mlapse on 09 / February / 2019, 13:08:02

i am not the kind of person who goes adding wikipages on his own, but thanks for the invite to do so.

I can do it for you but please feel free to create & edit away!

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and maybe mine is no better than what is available, i just never came across it.

http://chdk.wikia.com/wiki/CHDK_quick_install_Guide
http://chdk.wikia.com/wiki/One_Page_Ultra-Quick_Users_Guide
http://chdk.wikia.com/wiki/CHDK_in_Brief
http://chdk.wikia.com/wiki/Using_SDMinste_to_Create_Dual_Partition_SD_cards
http://chdk.wikia.com/wiki/CHDK_Dummies_Guide_2nd_Edition
http://chdk.wikia.com/wiki/CHDK/Installing_with_Cardtricks
http://chdk.wikia.com/wiki/FAQ#Q._How_can_I_make_the_CHDK_program_load_automatically_at_startup.3F

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have written my fair share of working instructions for very large companies i thought i could add some value here, so see for yourself if you think it is any good.
however, i won't be offended in the slightest if it ends up unused, but expect at least a link to a better instruction then

Sorry - I was really not trying to discourage you. Getting people to write documentation for CHDK has been one of our bigger challenges.

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and i do think that a good instruction is possible for preparing your SD card that coveres all cams, since this does not involve the cam, but a computer.

While using STICK hides some of the details from people. the FAT16 and dual partitions limitations often come back to bite people in the butt.

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Ported : A1200 SD940 G10 Powershot N G16

Mlapse

583
S95 S110

Re: trouble creating a dual partition boot card

« Reply #18 on: 09 / February / 2019, 13:55:03 »

no worries, you can't discourage me this way..in that line of work i have been occasionally threatened physically by people who later came to thank me.
so i can handle some abuse

...and to me this wasn't even close to that.
i will read them and make changes to my edits or suggest one of the guides available.
first thoughts:
http://chdk.wikia.com/wiki/CHDK_Dummies_Guide_2nd_Edition
seems to start with something close to what i was going for and has some valuable adds i could use.
and
http://chdk.wikia.com/wiki/CHDK/Installing_with_Cardtricks
might be of interest if i start writing an instruction for other methods.

and i wanted to elaborate on Fat16 and dual boot in the last part where i try to tackle problems, but i first have to encounter or be made aware of those to be able to do so.

« Last Edit: 09 / February / 2019, 14:16:15 by Mlapse »

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frustration is a key ingredient in progress

Mlapse

583
S95 S110

Re: trouble creating a dual partition boot card

« Reply #19 on: 09 / February / 2019, 15:31:39 »

After some edits, this is what I came up with so far. Tested for windows only.

CHDK: preparing your SD card

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If java is not installed and you have no possibility to install it, this method is not for you, go to http://chdk.wikia.com/wiki/Prepare_your_SD_card for alternate options

The best booting method depends on your specific demands and capabilitys.

The firmware update method means that you will have to follow a camera specific set of button presses to load the software each time you start the camera.

The card lock method allows you to start the camera automatically in CHDK with the on/off switch and, if set, can automatically start or restart a script you are running.

CARD LOCK METHOD
For camera's produced after 2011 only 1 partition in FAT32 is needed.
Go to Step 1: getting the correct build.
If you are not sure, read on.
Older camera's can only boot from FAT16 partitions.
FAT16 is limited to 4GB max.
If you want to use a pre 2011 camera these are your options to use CHDK:
1) You use the firmware update method and use cards of any size supported by your camera, formatted in FAT, FAT32 or exFAT.
2) You use card locked 4GB or smaller cards, during a shoot you exchange them if one is not enough.
3) You use a card locked SD card with 2 partitions, one FAT16 to boot from and one FAT32 for scripts and pictures.

Trouble creating a dual partition card on Windows?

Use Stick to download the correct package for your cam: Step 1
Format the card in exFAT (default)
Unpack the full version of your build to the card
Insert the card in your cam and use the Firmware update method
Use the <ALT> key to activate CHDK and then [MENU]
Select miscellanious, SD card, make dual partitions
Place the card back in your windows machine and only format the small partition to CANON_DC with FAT
Copy all files except the CHDK folder to the CANON_DC partition
Use Stick to complete installing CHDK on the 2nd partition
Optionally you can copy the files that were not included on the second partition there. This is only usefull if your card might get stuck on the second partition.

Step 1: getting the correct build:
1) download stick http://www.zenoshrdlu.com/stick/stick.html
2) and if not installed yet, download java http://www.java.com/en/download/manual.jsp
3) install java, unpack stick
4) get a picture from the camera you want to enhance with CHDK
5) for Windows: start stickx.cmd from the unpacked folder, For Linux open.... and for macOS use .......
6) browse for the picture and let it download the appropriate package after it identifies your camera.
if you have done this before you do not have to download again, but click 'USE IT'.
when stick can't identify your model see the last chapter of this instruction:
'Trouble with getting stick to work?'

Step 2:
Configuring any SD card to load CHDK via the firmware update method
1) unpack the downloaded build from the stick folder to your SD card.
2) insert the SD card in your camera and use the firmware update method described for your model.
For most models this means starting up in PLAY mode, accessing the MENU and use firmware update at the bottom of the settings page.
After that press the SHUTTER button to start the camera with CHDK loaded.
Some models only have the firmware update method available in the MENU by starting the camera normally instead of via the PLAY button.

Configuring any SD card to load CHDK via the card lock boot method
1) use 'continue to install step' in stick.
2) if under install tasks it states that the card must be partitioned to autoboot you have an older model camera and a larger than 4Gb SD card.
if you do not want to work with dual partitions, close stick and configure your card for the firmware update method. Or insert a <4GB card and try again.

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Be aware
Windows before version 10, Mac and Android can't read dual partitions natively and you need third party software or CHDK running on the camera to swap partitions in order to acces your pictures or add scripts.

3) press 'Install CHDK' and remove and insert the SD card as many times as it asks.
4) lock the card and insert it in your camera, if all has gone well CHDK will autoboot when the camera is started.

Step 3: What now?
if you have little experience with CHDK or haven't looked up your specific model to see how to start script or functions in CHDK, go to <link-page:First steps in CHDK>

Making a dual partition card suitable for reuse as a single partition card
if locked, unlock the card and put the card in the camera
format the card

Trouble with getting stick to work?
Can't analyse picture or find autobuild: check your firewall settings and internet connection
Still can't find your camera? Check http://chdk.wikia.com/wiki/For_Developers
if your camera is ported.
Stuck in this instruction: write what happened https://chdk.setepontos.com/index.php?action=post;msg=139420;topic=13689.10
Use Chimp or vers.req methode to identify the correct build and download the appropriate build.
Can't acces SD card volume: haven't figured that one out myself
Use Chimp instead

Links to other methods and instructions:
http://chdk.wikia.com/wiki/Prepare_your_SD_card
http://chdk.wikia.com/wiki/CHDK_Dummies_Guide_2nd_Edition
http://chdk.wikia.com/wiki/CHDK/Installing_with_Cardtricks

seperate page:
First steps in CHDK
press the defined <ALT> key for your camera to enter CHDK mode. The <ALT> key is usually either the PLAY or MODE button. however, some cameras use the PRINT, ALT, DISP, VIDEO, HELP or FACE button so you might have to try different buttons to find the right one.
when in <ALT> mode you see in the bottom left corner 'no script' or whatever script is automatically loaded.
if you are unsuccesfull look up the method for your canon model here. http://chdk.wikia.com/wiki/For_Developers
press the MENU button in <ALT> mode to access the CHDK configuration menus.
press the FUNC/SET button to bring up the scripting menu.
press the shutter button in <ALT> mode to run the currently loaded script.
exit <ALT> by pressing the <ALT> button again. Override settings and onscreen display option will stay enabled while you are back in normal Canon mode.
if the card is <4GB or you have a modern camera you can change the firmware update method to the card lock boot method by navigating to: <ALT>menu>miscellaneous>sdcard>make card bootable.
please be sure to set the card to the locked position before you start the camera.

« Last Edit: 22 / September / 2021, 13:06:51 by Mlapse »

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