40D Firmware Update and CF Cards

At the website for the 40D Firmware Update (http://web.canon.jp/imaging/eosd/eos40d/eos40d-

firmware-e.html), it says to use a CF card "64MB or more, 2GB or less". I have two 40Ds to upgrade here

at my office and only 4GB CF cards. I realize cards are cheap, but purchasing anything at this company is

a drawn-out and painful process, and I'm reluctant to spend my own money for the company's cameras.

 

What would be the problem, if any, with using a 4GB card for this? Is there a legitimate reason for limiting

the size of the card for a firmware upgrade?

 

Dave Rosberg

Englewood, CO

I'd be sure to follow Canon's instructions precisely if you don't want the risk of having to send cameras in locked up with failed firmware updates. The reason is likely to be that the operating system used during the firmware update (probably essentially still based on DOS) simply can't handle addressing of devices larger than 2GB - while the 64MB lower limit relates to the needed space for the upload.

A failed update case reported here...

 

http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00NWK3

I used a 4G Sandisk Extreme III with no problems at all...

4GB card worked fine for me, too. Format it first, in the camera.

I actually had a problem a few weeks ago where a brand new 4GB Extreme III card was used and failed resulting in my losing over 400 images. I posted this awhile ago asking if I could recover the images. Anyway, the problem was that the pictures recorded to the card but when I went back to view them on the camera (a brand new 40D) I kept getting "File not found" and a yellow exclamation mark. I swore it was the cards that failed but now I feel it was the camera. I returned my 4GB cards and got 1GB cards. I am doing alot more switching now but I feel more confident. Be on the safe side and don't put all your eggs in one basket. Get rid of your 4GB cards and get 1GB or 2GB cards.

Marc,

 

If you lose files from one of your 1GB cards will you then revert to 512MB cards? I'm just wondering how far I should take this.

Sounds like you may have been better served getting <a href="http://www.datarescue.com/photorescue/">Photo Rescue</a>

Dave sorry I cant add anything to help your issue/query but I have ordered a 40D and a 8 GB storage card plus a 2 GB card.

 

Just wondering if it is a glitch specific to your camera Dave.

 

I am surprised this post hasnt resulted in a load of posts either confirming your sitiation is a rareity or if this is a known issue with bigger storage cards.

 

I will keep an eye on this post as a newbie to digital.

 

Hopefully you will get some answers soon.

I've only had my 40D about a week, but I'm using 4GB cards previously used in my 5D and 1D MKIIN without any problems at all. I don't do the things the firmware update fixes, so haven't bothered with that.