Another of A2's gifts was a Transcend Jetflash JF220 8 GB USB Flash drive - TS8GJF220
In order to use it with Linux and the iBook, had to run through some hoops because of its integrated finger-print reader. First, tried the partitioning techniques suggested in places like here, but fdisk on linux just showed the drive as having 10 MB. Learned that this was the "public" partition, and that I would have to repartition the drive's "public" and "private" areas using the Repartition tool given on CD, which works only on Windows. And for that to work, I have to go through a Wizard and submit my fingerprint! Struggled for a while with the fingerprint, since the sensor seemed to be sensitive to orientation (or maybe my finger-prints are not well-defined). Got through after 10-20 tries. After the repartition, when I made the "private" area the minimum possible 50 MB and the rest as "public", the iBook and Linux recognize the 7.5 GB space in the drive without any problem.
Now I have to try the Windows method of disabling auto-insert notification to prevent the fingerprint software from running in Windows. Unfortunately, the Win98 method doesn't work with XP. The fingerprint stuff is in a partition which is recognised as a CD-ROM - formatted cdfs. Can't even remove it.
Edit: Did the autoplay disabling with the Group Policy method mentioned here and as a comment here.
I would say that if you intend to use this product under Linux then you are wasting your money. Essentially all you are buying is a USB stick the full capacity of which you cannot use and in order to use the drive at all you have to mess about configuring it in a Windows system.
ReplyDeleteAll this for the privilege of paying a bit more.
No thanks.
I agree with all of the above. I had a Windows system and lost about two hours getting the memory in a useful state. Win 2000 refused to see 8GB, so I had to repartition to 4GB public and 4GB private. (No way to get 5GB public!)
ReplyDeleteThe provided software works sometimes, so you can access your private data, other times it doesn't.
Lateley I resolved all issues it the JF220 by switching to Mac OS, what made all security features completely useless since the stick contains only Windows based encryption software.
For me it was a bad choice, besides the initial price, the hours lost in repartitioning, trial and error sessions made it a *really* expensive product.
Anyway, I use it in the described configuration; 7,5GB are still useful and not throwing it away is more environment friendly.