[Peeweelinux] CF Problem

[Stefan Willmert]

Hey guys,
This isn't specifically a PWL problem, but i'm hoping with everyone's
experience in cf cards, someone may have run across this issue.

I have an advantech board, which uses a CF card for the system. I load the
filesystem and partitions onto the cf card from a desktop computer using a
cf Card reader. I then insert the cf card into the advantech board, and
occasionally, notice that one file may inadvertantly become a block device
file. (Marked with a 'b'). This doesn't always happen, and only seems to
happen when first creating the card. Once things are booted on the advantech
board correctly, it always works correctly.

file on CF via Advantech board
brwxrwxrwx            1, 2  Apr 1  2003 mymodule.so
file on CF via CF Card Reader
-rwxrwxrwx		  300567  Apr 1  2003 mymodule.so


I have noticed an inconvenient way of fixing the problem.
Scenario:
	Load CF card from desktop machine.
	Boot card from Advantech board.
	Notice a particular file has become a block device file.
	Shutdown system.
	Mount partition on CF card from my desktop machine using a CF card reader.
	copy (not move) the offending file (*Note: the file appears correctly when
mounted through the CF Card Reader on my desktop)
	remove original file
	rename copy to original file name.
	boot card from advantech board.
	All is well!

I suspect something about a file residing on a particular sector that
doesn't get read correctly when mounted through the advantech board? I'm
trying to learn about how files are stored on disk, etc, to see if there is
a way to repair it.

I have been hunting for information regarding this problem with no luck.
Advantech suggested trying a different brand of cf cards as the chipsets may
be different than what they have tested. I have tried a few so far, with no
luck. I'll keep trying brands they have suggested.

Anyone else ever have an issue like this?
Any suggestions on repairing the block device file automatically?
Can Anyone with disk file experience explain what changes may occur to cause
a file to become a block device file?

This bug is really starting to get to me. Any suggestions anyone may have
would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you

-stefan willmert