The VGP-MCA10 is a PC Card (PCMCIA) adapter that supports MS MS Pro Multimedia SD and SmartMedia flash memory cards. I ordered one weeks ago and when I finally got around to opening the package, thought it was defective. Returned it and got the replacement last week.

Has anyone had any problems with this card? I works fine on SmartMedia and no problems with Sony branded Pro or Pro Duo. It won’t recognize a Sandisk stick.

There are no drivers, WinXP immediately recognizes the adapter when it has memory installed. With the SmartMedia or the Sony memory a new drive is available in explorer. With the Sandisk all the system sees is a drive controller. The adapter obviously sees the stick since, when empty, XP doesn’t even see it.T

I spent two hours getting passed through three support levels. The last one tried to convince me that it worked with Sony sticks so nothing was wrong… that I needed to call Sandisk as it was their (and my) problem.

I’m having a hard time buying this as nowhere does it say it’s for Sony branded products only. It didn’t seem to matter that these same non-sony sticks work fine in the DSC-T1 camera and the MS port on the TR. We’re not talking old tech here, one stick is a 2GB MSPro the other a 512MB Pro Duo. Geeze, the D*MN thing is supposed to even read plain old memory sticks.

The device is so new that Sony support doesn’t have any information on it, although it’s on the SonyStyle site. I picked one up primarily for the SmartMedia as I still have a few gadgets that use them. Nevertheless it’s going back due to Sony’s insular arrogance. Too bad, it’s nicely made and has the VAIO logo.

mine worked fine with 512mb SD (sandisk), 1gb memory stick pro(sony) and 512mb memory stick pro duo(sandisk)..all i have is memory sticks and SD cards..couldn’t test others..

I hate it when people say that.   :cry:

That’s really strange. This is two in a row with the same symptom for me. Mine ended up on backorder about the time they were announcing the new bigger faster sticks. I wonder if I got a revision change.

Have you used it under WinXP SP2? You checked it out when you got it, but If you’re like me you normally use the TR’s MS port. Would you mind double checking? I’m grasping at straws here.  :cry:

I really don’t think the problem is XP SP2. It ignores the empty card, sees SmartMedia, Sony Pro & Pro Duo and assigns a drive letter. Sandisk wakes up the card but all XP sees is a drive controller.

Just to make sure I’m not (more than normally) nuts, I just double checked them all again. In the adapter, the MS port and the T1.

i had sp2 running prior to purchasing the VGP-MCA10. just checked it again and i got scared for a moment because windows didn’t auto detect it right away. i was like wtf!! i remove/re-insert it again..it’s working fine. wheww. this was done with sandisk 512 pro duo and sony 1gb pro.

Thanks, linc. I called Sandisk and got a much more knowledgable tech. He, at least, knew the adapter existed. Sony support had to go to SonyStyle and look up the part number before they’d beleive me.

He said they’d not tested this particular unit but that there were other Sony adapters that had timing difficulties with faster media. All I can think of is that this unit is so new that they’re making firmware revisions on the fly. Regardless, this thing is going back and I’m getting the Sandisk 6-in-1 SDAD-67-A10. He said this will handle Pro media. At least if I have a problem with it I only have one manufacturer to yell at.

never buy sandisk stuff. it’s cheap build quality, buy sony stuff only, i know u pay more, but u get what u r paying for.

‘Never had a problem with Sandisk media. I really don’t think I’m having one now.

I paid for a PCMCIA flash card adapter specified to support Memory Stick, Memory Stick Pro and Memory Stick Pro Duo media. It doesn’t, yet the media works in two other Sony devices. I clearly didn’t get what I paid for.

[quote author=“dbs”]‘Never had a problem with Sandisk media. I really don’t think I’m having one now.

Same here. Any media I purchased from SanDisk has been good…a bit slower, but good. Lexar I had some reading issues with, one of my original Sony MS had a connector problem (from being used so much).

Erik

[quote author=“tifosiv122”][quote author=“dbs”]‘Never had a problem with Sandisk media. I really don’t think I’m having one now.

Same here. Any media I purchased from SanDisk has been good…a bit slower, but good. Lexar I had some reading issues with, one of my original Sony MS had a connector problem (from being used so much).

Erik

I’ll take “a bit slower” over Sony’s prices any day. BTW, they’ve had their professional line for a while and there’s a new even faster stick, 18MB/Sec.

http://www.sandisk.com/retail/ext3-msp.asp

[quote author=“dbs”]Never had a problem with Sandisk media.

+1

[quote author=“gAmEs0n”]never buy sandisk stuff.

+1

bought a cruzer mini drive and copied a lot of files on it and it gave problems while reading some of them.

Just received a Sandisk SDAD-67-A10 6-in-1 PC Card adapter. It cost $10 less than the Sony unit. Instead of being pretty and saying VAIO, it has outlines of the supported cards showing proper insertion. Most important, it works.

I use the Lacie multi card adapter .. 8 in 1 with support for microdrive !  Only 10 quid !

[quote author=“dbs”]Just received a Sandisk SDAD-67-A10 6-in-1 PC Card adapter. It cost $10 less than the Sony unit. Instead of being pretty and saying VAIO, it has outlines of the supported cards showing proper insertion. Most important, it works.

i picked up one too because the vgp-mca10 will not work with my sandisk 1gb ultra II sd card. btw, you are not alone with the card problem. it turns out the adapter (vgp-mca10) does not support memory cards with capacity of 2GB or greater.