19
Figure 4-5 The Options Window, Utilities Tab
The
Utilities
tab allows maintenance of the SSABR G2 unit’s flash memory. The
Reset Flash Memory
button will reset the contents of the connected SSABR G2 unit. Normally, after a successful download of
the audio data, the CDU will automatically reset the contents of the SSABR G2. This feature is to be used
ONLY if the current recorded audio residing on the SSABR G2 unit is not needed and an image file is not
required.
RESETTING THE SSABR G2 IS
FINAL AND THE AUDIO
CANNOT BE RECOVERED
ONCE IT IS ERASED.
The
Format Flash Memory
button will perform a format operation on the flash memory of the attached
SSABR G2 unit. The format operation will not only reset the flash memory but will systematically test each
location within the flash memory to identify “blocks” of the flash memory that may be bad. When the flash
memory chips are received from the factory they contain a small number of bad “blocks”. The memory is
formatted before each unit is sold to identify the location of these initial bad blocks. Over time, as the flash
memory is used, it may develop other bad blocks. To insure that these are identified and isolated so that
audio will not be recorded on them, a format operation needs to be done periodically (approximately every
100 uses [downloads]). Each bad block that is identified is marked and restricted from use in future
recordings. If greater than 5% of the flash blocks are identified as bad
1
, a message will appear during the
format operation instructing you to return your unit to Digital Audio Corporation for repair. Formatting
the memory may take as long as several hours.
1
The unit may still be used, but the record capacity will be reduced.
