Secret Partition
 

When I transferred files to my new 4GB S1 MP3 player, my Windows XP operating system reported file system errors after I put more than about 3 CDs on the drive. So, I used the MP3 disk tool to reformat the flash drive. With no secret partition, the disk tool gave an error. Then, I input a finite secret partition. The disk tool reformatted the drive, but now the capacity is 241 MB (when the XP sytem had originally reported a capacity of 4GB). I have tried several different methods to reformat the drive but with the same result.

How do I undo the action of the MP3 disk tool? Is there a software tool that will detect the actual physical memory and restore the parameters in the boot sector to their proper values so that the flash drive can be reformatted?

Sounds like your player had a hacked memory chip. By formatting the player you have removed the hack and now your player is showing it's true memory size of 256MB less memory taken up by the players firmware.

This is why you were getting error reports, any files transferred over the chips real size are written to memory that does not really exist. This is a common scam with these players, if you browse the forums you will find many posts on others who have been deceived by unscrupulous sellers.

To be sure you would need to open the player and check the memory chip serial number. There is a thread on how to identify the capacity of Samsung and Hynix memory chips here:
http://www.mympxplayer.org/samsung-a...rs-vt1692.html

Where did you purchase the player?

Dear tadad1,

You are exactly right. The memory chip is:
Hynix HY27UF082G2A, which has a capacity of 256MB.

ebay Item number: 290129564097

seller: breezecloud
email: breezecloud@hotmail.com

deburgess , i'll suggest you file a claim against the seller via paypal as you probably paid much more than you would for this supposedly 4GB which turned out to be 256MB only.

My anger towards the seller may have been misdirected. BreezeCloud provided a full refund. Here is his response:
"I never want to cheat people. I have too many item come supply by my wholesaler, it is very difficult to check every single unit, I hope you can understand. If I always sell fraud item, everyone will leave negative feedback, right? I will try my best not to sell hacked items in the future."

I wish there were a way to get at the actual hackers who perpetrated this fraud.

Re: Secret Partition
 

Hi deburgess.

Don't believe the seller.

Sellers, not manufacutures sell hacked players. He ordered them as 256mb and then put the hacked file on the player.

The response you got from BreezeCloud is part of the scam. Yes, I know you got a refund and thats all a part of the scam as well.

Very few people will contact the seller when they find out the player is hacked and very few people know about hacked players.

So when a buyer contacts the seller saying the player is hacked, the seller responds with a very polite "I'm so sorry, I had no idea" email. They are hoping you won't be angry and leave any comment about the player being hacked on ebays feedback page. If no one knows, they can keep the scam going.

Don't believe the seller. BreezeCloud knew exactly what they were doing.

Breezecloud only has 56 players listed. It only takes 20 seconds or so to reformat a player and check it once you know how to reformat. BreezeCloud knows exactly what's going on. He/she is selling hacked players.

Dear Ashley_rb,

You may be right. However, when I reported to BreezeCloud that I was encountering file system errors, he suggested that I reformat the drive.

Re: Secret Partition
 

Hi deburgess.

Did BreezeCloud give you the instructions on how to reformat the player or give you a link on how to do it? What exactly did BreezeCloud say to you? Its important because it will give us clues as to what BreezeCloud is up to.

By seeing what BreezeCloud said we may be able to match him/her to a prievous ebay id. Hack sellers don't change much. They stick with the same script. They only thing they may change is the description and even then some don't.

On june 8 stevek1871 said the player was hacked in BreezeClouds feedback. BreezeCloud blamed the manufacture by saying " Thank you for the information,I will talk to my wholesaler asap. And I will give you full refund, after I check it." The rating was mutually withdrawn.

BreezeCloud knew his players were hacked and yet still says to you he doesn't have time to check them all. He now only has 51 items on eBay.

If BreezeCloud was concerned about hacked players he/she would check each one before shipping it. He/she has the time to pack it and ship it, therefore he/she has the time to check it. No excuses. Zero tolerance.

Sellers listing hacks have only one goal: keep it quiet. They will do whatever it takes to achive that goal.

If you don't want to post publically what BreezeCloud said to you, you can email at ashley_rb@yahoo.com

Initial reply from BreezeCloud:

"please format the player, that can fix the problem."

(As you know, in the process of formatting the drive, I uncovered the hack.)