Floppy disks and disks have been replaced by new storage media - flash drives. Compact, roomy, they make work more comfortable. The flash drive fully complies with modern requirements. Almost all equipment is designed to work with it. It’s already difficult to do without it. But it has a number of disadvantages that create unnecessary obstacles in working with technology. This is especially noticeable in the case of a car radio - it is impossible to install the firmware or read the music. Without music, the car loses some of its comfort.
What format should the flash drive be?
The main problems of the carrier
If a machine doesn't work, it needs to be repaired. But if the radio does not work, it is not a fact that it is the one that needs to be repaired. There is a high probability that the flash drive is actually faulty. But there is no need to buy a new one. Everything is easy to fix.
A flash drive, as a storage medium, has an expiration date and a reserve of performance. This is the first thing to consider during operation. The more actively it is used, the greater the degree of wear. However, even when it lies somewhere and no one uses it, problems can arise. The flash drive will be demagnetized and everything written on it will be lost. If the flash drive stops displaying the recorded information, does not open, and is completely impossible to use, even though you bought it a long time ago, it means that the expiration date, the serviceability reserve, has expired. It's time to buy new media.
But this is not the only difficulty.
The equipment into which the flash drive is inserted has its own operating system, just like a computer is equipped with Windows or Vista, for example. The radio is no exception. Whether it is Pioneer or Sony, its operating system should work with the storage medium, with the information on the storage medium, without any problems or difficulties. It doesn’t matter what company the equipment was made by. The coherence of interactions is guaranteed by a data systematization scheme - a flash drive format.
Thanks to this systematization, the radio tape recorder reads recorded information, plays music, and so on. But during the firmware update, for example, it reads the information incorrectly, not as it should, or doesn’t read something at all. After the firmware it works even worse or other errors appeared. Most likely, the media format is not suitable. A logical question arises: what format of flash drive is needed for the radio? How can I change it?
How to format a USB drive
In order to format a flash drive, you need to do the following:
- First of all, we connect the drive to the computer and copy information from it, if possible, since after formatting all data will be completely and irrevocably deleted.
- Next, find the flash drive in the “My Computer” menu, right-click on it, find it and click on the “Format” item.
- After this, a notification will be displayed on the screen stating that during the formatting process, all data from the flash drive will be deleted. Click the "OK" button, and then select the necessary formatting parameters: file system - FAT32, cluster size (choose depending on the size of the stored data - the larger the data, the higher the indicator), volume label (in fact, this is the name that will be used flash drive later). Click the “Start” button.
To start the formatting process, click the “Start” button
Video: proper formatting of a flash drive
If, after formatting, the car radio still refuses to work correctly with the connected USB drive, then most likely the problem is not in the flash drive, but in the radio itself. This means that you will have to visit a service center, where specialists will be able to diagnose it and, if possible, fix the problem.
By recording your favorite audio tracks onto a flash drive, you can enjoy them in your car at any time. If the correct device is selected, music files will play without problems. And the instructions described above will help not only write data onto the media as quickly as possible, but also solve the most common problems when using it in a car.
Source: autoclub.su
How to format a flash drive
First, it’s worth understanding what formatting is. This is facilitated by a certain procedure for handling information - the format of a flash drive. Formatting involves changing the file system. This cannot damage the flash drive and radio. But this can erase all data if it is on the flash drive.
Programs or command line
Many useful programs allow you to change the original formatting and select the current one. The easiest way to format the media is using a computer. True, often people who are not too close to programming still prefer to format using additional programs. Which is better is a moot point.
To change formatting using a computer, you must follow this algorithm:
- Connect the flash drive to the computer.
- Go to the “My Computer” section.
- Remember the volume letter of the flash drive (it is indicated in brackets next to the name of the media).
- Open the command line (go to the “Start” menu, enter “cmd” in the search bar, select “cmd.exe”, click “Run as administrator”).
- Enter the command “format /fs:FAT32 F/v”.
"Format" means formatting. "Fs" is the file system that is used for formatting, and FAT32 is the name of the format. Instead of FAT32, you can register any other format into which you want to convert the flash drive. “V” is its name, which should have been remembered before (point 3). The original format can be read by simply hovering the cursor over the flash drive icon, right-clicking and selecting “formatting”. This way you can change the volume name. But changing the format is not. You need a command line or a special program.
- Having written the command in the command line, you need to press “enter”.
- A message will appear: “insert a new disk and press “enter” - you need to press “enter”.
- Message: “volume label..” – press “enter” again.
- "Format complete."
- Now you need to exit the command line: enter the “Exit” command and return to standard mode.
The photo has all the clues, there will be no problems. After this procedure, the flash drive is 100% ready to work in a new, more current mode. The radio will easily perceive the information and be able to use it.
Volume
To be honest, the supported volume is growing every year, but a very, very large number of standard and purchased media centers and radio tape recorders play small volumes, which are strictly described in the user instructions. If you have this standard head unit (like I do), then you can find this information in the “user book” for the car. That is, first we read the instructions, everything is there in black and white, but there are situations when it is lost (or the dog ate it). Then you need to select.
You know, in my practice there were cases when even 4 GB were not supported, the device wrote that “invalid format” or “not supported”, a maximum of 2 GB was needed. Therefore this advice.
Before you buy a flash drive, take a large one from your friends, and it is already 8 GB and try to install it, if it works great, if not, then take a smaller one and try again, so you will find your format. For example, I have a maximum of 16GB, 32 is no longer readable.
If you analyze many devices, then take 4GB for a large number - this will be enough! For both old and new. YES, and for such a volume you can download just a lot of songs, you will listen for about 3 - 4 days without stopping, so this is not a little at all.
Which flash drive to choose
To listen to songs, select a flash drive that matches the parameters of the device playing music. The characteristics of the device can be found in the operating instructions.
The cheapest flash drive for a radio will not last long in most cases. You can extend the service life if you do not frequently re-record the music.
The price of inexpensive media can start from 200 rubles. The cost will depend not only on the quality and manufacturer, but also on the memory capacity of the gadget.
You can select media from the following models:
How to record music onto a flash drive to listen to in the car:
- Connect the flash drive to your PC or laptop and open it through “My Computer”.
- Using the copying method, we transfer previously prepared files or directories to an external drive. At the same time, do not forget that a complex hierarchy of folders can create an error when reading a flash drive, so it is advisable not to create many subfolders.
- After copying is complete, you must safely remove the flash drive without damaging the file system. To do this, right-click on the icon and select “Safely Remove Hardware”.
Based on the above, we can draw conclusions that will help you choose the right flash drive for your car radio and use it:
- FAT32 file system format;
- the volume should not exceed 8 GB;
- MP3 or WAV file format;
- use Latin characters in the names of files and folders;
- write files to the root directory or to a folder that is located in the root directory.
Possible problems with recorded flash drives
Despite the fact that the process of copying audio tracks to a flash drive is extremely simple, car radios can produce various errors if something was done wrong. Pioneer car radios are especially famous for this, which sometimes even refuse to read the drives installed in them.
Error 23
On the radio display, error 23 is marked as ERROR-23. Most often this problem occurs on Pioneer radios. The reason for its appearance is that the installed drive is formatted in one of the FAT systems, while the radio “understands” only the NTFS system. Solution: reformat the drive from FAT to NTFS as described above;
ERROR-PROTECT
The ERROR-PROTECT message is displayed by the radio immediately after installing the flash drive. This error occurs because the files copied to the flash drive are protected by Windows Media DRM. Despite the fact that such files have the .wma extension and the Windows system itself recognizes and plays them perfectly, the car radio may not be able to do this, since its firmware does not have the necessary software.
Solution: convert protected files from wma to mp3 format using the Format Factory converter program.
- the latest version of the program is downloaded from the developers’ website and installed on a personal computer;
- after double-clicking on the program shortcut, the user will see a start window in which he can select the final audio format. In this case it is mp3;
MP3 format is selected in the upper left corner of the program
once the final format is determined, a second window opens in which the user can add files for conversion to the program;
The files to be converted are selected and moved into the program using the “Add file” button
the third window will allow the user to specify the folder in which the received mp3 files will be saved;
Program window where you can specify the destination folder for the converted files
- Once the file storage location has been determined, the user can only click the “OK” button. The conversion of files from wma to mp3 will begin, which may take several minutes (it all depends on the power of the computer and the number of tracks being converted);
- It is necessary to conduct a thorough inspection of the USB port of the car radio. Foreign objects often get into this port: threads, hairs, ordinary dirt. All this may well cause a short circuit in the USB port and lead to an error;
- If no signs can be found, you must carefully study the instructions for the flash drive, paying special attention to the current consumption. This figure is usually indicated at the end of the instructions and it should not exceed 500 mA (this is the current limit for most USB ports on car radios). Even a slight excess of this figure can cause a CHECK-USB error;
- if it turns out that the flash drive requires a current exceeding 500 mA for normal operation, you should purchase a new flash drive whose current consumption does not exceed the specified mark;
CHECK-USB
The CHECK-USB message appears on the car radio display immediately after inserting the flash drive into the USB port. This error indicates that there is a failure somewhere in the USB power system. Perhaps this happened due to a short circuit in the port itself. Or perhaps the drive is consuming too much energy.
