2 GB USB Card Gift

335 S · 12-13-2010, 08:03 AM

Just received a thank you mailing from BMWNA that included a credit card with a USB 2GB drive insert. Drive has the usual promo stuff, but the letter said I can use it as a portable storage device. Well, it turns out to be read only.

Anyone else able to use it?

Prince_of_Persia · 12-13-2010, 08:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 335 S

Just received a thank you mailing from BMWNA that included a credit card with a USB 2GB drive insert. Drive has the usual promo stuff, but the letter said I can use it as a portable storage device. Well, it turns out to be read only.

Anyone else able to use it?

I haven't received anything yet but make sure if there is a lock switch, switch it off. Or try formatting it .

mkoesel · 12-13-2010, 09:30 AM

Maybe I am just being daft, but how does a USB drive fit into a credit card?

335 S · 12-13-2010, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prince_of_Persia

I haven't received anything yet but make sure if there is a lock switch, switch it off. Or try formatting it .

How do I format a USB?

335 S · 12-13-2010, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mkoesel

Maybe I am just being daft, but how does a USB drive fit into a credit card?

It's unusual, but the unshielded tongue slides into channels on the face of the card. I'll attempt a phone shot.

335 S · 12-13-2010, 09:46 AM

Credit card size.

cmk227 · 12-13-2010, 09:59 AM

I got one but have not used it yet.

mkoesel · 12-13-2010, 10:01 AM

Interesting, thanks for the pics. Never seen anything quite like that. It appears that it is not a USB standard connector, but instead a custom lower profile one without the metal surround.

From the pics, it doesn't look like there's any mechanical write protect switch.

Possible Hero · 12-13-2010, 10:42 AM

The typical USB stick has a metal protective covering around it. The one you have it just the actual connector within. It works the exact same, just easier to break.
If you would like to format it the step differ depending on if you have a PC or MAC. Nothing google can solve though!

Format a USB on a Mac

Format on a PC

jeffnnj · 12-13-2010, 11:09 AM

I have THIS from my Alpina rep.....

saeedg48 · 12-13-2010, 11:14 AM

looks cool, I want one.
if you have a mac use disk utilities and re-format the drive then you can used it..

Disk Utilities, select your USB drive then select Erase.

335 S · 12-13-2010, 12:36 PM

Thanks to everyone for your responses. Looks like the drive is locked. My other USB flashes let me format, but with the BMW drive in, the menu doesn't show a Format option. Shame, because it says 2GB, and is a nice music backup for the glove bow.

I'll just have to sell my E93 and get a 599 GTO. I hope I can find one in stock.

BayBayBay · 12-28-2010, 04:08 PM

How long did you have to wait for it? I purchased my car earlier in December off the lot and still have not received this.

persian54 · 12-28-2010, 04:11 PM

i want one

James T. Kirk · 12-29-2010, 10:15 AM

Here's how it works.

On the drive it has a two sectors:
1) CD-ROM drive
2) Open folder

You won't be able to erase the CD-ROM info, but you can use the open folder to store anything you want. Mine has a 1.84GB net capacity.

It's super cool. I have the little USB chip on a string on my keychain. I put the card part away with my paperwork.

llis · 12-29-2010, 10:32 AM

I could not figure out why I would want to install BMW bloatware onto my computer, or why a teensy 2GB flash drive is supposed to be all that useful, or how that little piece of plastic was supposed to be convenient. So it went into the trash. Did I miss out on something?

James T. Kirk · 12-29-2010, 10:49 AM

Wow. That's too bad you threw it away. I'm sure an enthusiast would have given you something for it.

The chip never required you to install anything on your computer. It ran a little presentation native to the chip.

The rest of the drive is just cool to transfer songs or personal documents, etc. Just a novelty device.

dpsfm3 · 12-29-2010, 11:29 AM

Got mine the other day...haven't used it yet though...

llis · 12-29-2010, 12:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by James T. Kirk

Wow. That's too bad you threw it away. I'm sure an enthusiast would have given you something for it.

The chip never required you to install anything on your computer. It ran a little presentation native to the chip.

The rest of the drive is just cool to transfer songs or personal documents, etc. Just a novelty device.

Well, given that thumb drives with many times the capacity are only a few bucks, I did not see the value as a storage device. And something about the copy implied that there would be some app to install itself -- that's what corporations do -- and all too often you have to have some decent haxxor chops to get that stuff off. If BMW had clearly stated that no software would be installed, I would have taken a peek at least. But I don't put mystery things into my computer.

saeedg48 · 12-29-2010, 12:12 PM

no but seriously where's mine?

White Shark · 12-29-2010, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by persian54

i want one

+1

mdosu · 12-29-2010, 01:22 PM

you mean, you had to apply for the credit card? or it's not a credit card?

12-13-2010, 08:03 AM	#1
335 S Vile and Depraved 31 Rep 368 Posts Drives: 2011 E93 M3 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Catatonic State iTrader: (0)	2 GB USB Card Gift Just received a thank you mailing from BMWNA that included a credit card with a USB 2GB drive insert. Drive has the usual promo stuff, but the letter said I can use it as a portable storage device. Well, it turns out to be read only. Anyone else able to use it?
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12-13-2010, 09:30 AM	#3
mkoesel Moderator 7516 Rep 19,368 Posts Drives: No BMW for now Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Canton, MI iTrader: (1)	Maybe I am just being daft, but how does a USB drive fit into a credit card?
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12-13-2010, 09:46 AM	#6
335 S Vile and Depraved 31 Rep 368 Posts Drives: 2011 E93 M3 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Catatonic State iTrader: (0)	Credit card size. Attached Images
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12-13-2010, 09:59 AM	#7
cmk227 Major 120 Rep 1,379 Posts Drives: Goal: Another ///M Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Garland, TX & Northern England iTrader: (2)	I got one but have not used it yet. __________________ 14 Lexus GX460 & 14 Lexus ES300H 14 BMW 528d Touring Estate - UK Previous M's: 11 BMW M3 JZB ZCP 6MT, 02 BMW M3 Conv 6MT & 02 BMW M3 Coupe 6MT
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12-13-2010, 10:01 AM	#8
mkoesel Moderator 7516 Rep 19,368 Posts Drives: No BMW for now Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Canton, MI iTrader: (1)	Interesting, thanks for the pics. Never seen anything quite like that. It appears that it is not a USB standard connector, but instead a custom lower profile one without the metal surround. From the pics, it doesn't look like there's any mechanical write protect switch.
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12-13-2010, 10:42 AM	#9
Possible Hero Private 0 Rep 50 Posts Drives: 2009 Honda Civic Si Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Canada Alberta iTrader: (0)	The typical USB stick has a metal protective covering around it. The one you have it just the actual connector within. It works the exact same, just easier to break. If you would like to format it the step differ depending on if you have a PC or MAC. Nothing google can solve though! Format a USB on a Mac Format on a PC __________________ Working my way up to an M3
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12-13-2010, 11:09 AM	#10
jeffnnj Second Lieutenant 14 Rep 281 Posts Drives: 2011 E93 M3 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: NNJ, USA iTrader: (0)	I have THIS from my Alpina rep..... Attached Images __________________ 2011 M3 Convertible, Alpine White/Black Novillo Leather 2008 550i Sport, Platinum Gray/Natural Brown (retired) 2006 550i Silver Gray/Black (retired) 2002 M3 Convertible Titanium Silver/Black(retired) 1998 328i Convertible Arctic Silver/Gray(retired)
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12-13-2010, 11:14 AM	#11
saeedg48 Brigadier General 343 Rep 3,574 Posts Drives: Porsche 991.1 GT3 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Newport Beach, CA iTrader: (1)	looks cool, I want one. if you have a mac use disk utilities and re-format the drive then you can used it.. Disk Utilities, select your USB drive then select Erase. __________________ 2015 Porsche 991.1 GT3 2015 F80 M3 -- Individual; Space Grey
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12-13-2010, 12:36 PM	#12
335 S Vile and Depraved 31 Rep 368 Posts Drives: 2011 E93 M3 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Catatonic State iTrader: (0)	Thanks to everyone for your responses. Looks like the drive is locked. My other USB flashes let me format, but with the BMW drive in, the menu doesn't show a Format option. Shame, because it says 2GB, and is a nice music backup for the glove bow. I'll just have to sell my E93 and get a 599 GTO. I hope I can find one in stock.
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12-28-2010, 04:08 PM	#13
BayBayBay Private 5 Rep 73 Posts Drives: 2011 E92 M3 - MW, ZCP, DCT Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: San Francisco, CA iTrader: (0)	How long did you have to wait for it? I purchased my car earlier in December off the lot and still have not received this.
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12-28-2010, 04:11 PM	#14
persian54 Lieutenant General 923 Rep 15,818 Posts Drives: M760/G83M4 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: The Valley, SoCal iTrader: (298)	i want one __________________ From E93 335i to E89 Z4 to E93 M3/E89 Z4 to E350/SL550
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12-29-2010, 10:15 AM	#15
James T. Kirk Captain of the Enterprise 101 Rep 1,424 Posts Drives: 2011 1 Series M Coupe Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Alpha Quadrant, Sector 001 iTrader: (0)	Here's how it works. On the drive it has a two sectors: 1) CD-ROM drive 2) Open folder You won't be able to erase the CD-ROM info, but you can use the open folder to store anything you want. Mine has a 1.84GB net capacity. It's super cool. I have the little USB chip on a string on my keychain. I put the card part away with my paperwork. __________________ 2011 1 Series M Coupe VO M3 vs 1M Comparo Review 2011 M3 E90 DCT ZCP (sold) * 2010 335i Sedan (sold) 2005 M3 Convertible (sold) * 2003 325i Sedan (sold)
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12-29-2010, 10:32 AM	#16
llis octane chick 79 Rep 1,187 Posts Drives: ex-M Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Colorado iTrader: (1) Garage List 2013 BMW M3 ZCP [10.00] 2003 BMW M5 [0.00]	I could not figure out why I would want to install BMW bloatware onto my computer, or why a teensy 2GB flash drive is supposed to be all that useful, or how that little piece of plastic was supposed to be convenient. So it went into the trash. Did I miss out on something?
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12-29-2010, 10:49 AM	#17
James T. Kirk Captain of the Enterprise 101 Rep 1,424 Posts Drives: 2011 1 Series M Coupe Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Alpha Quadrant, Sector 001 iTrader: (0)	Wow. That's too bad you threw it away. I'm sure an enthusiast would have given you something for it. The chip never required you to install anything on your computer. It ran a little presentation native to the chip. The rest of the drive is just cool to transfer songs or personal documents, etc. Just a novelty device. __________________ 2011 1 Series M Coupe VO M3 vs 1M Comparo Review 2011 M3 E90 DCT ZCP (sold) * 2010 335i Sedan (sold) 2005 M3 Convertible (sold) * 2003 325i Sedan (sold)
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12-29-2010, 11:29 AM	#18
dpsfm3 M enthusiast. BMW CCA member. 13 Rep 156 Posts Drives: 2011 M3 E92 7MDCT AW loaded Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: San Francisco, CA iTrader: (0)	Got mine the other day...haven't used it yet though... __________________ 2011 ///M3 e92 7MDCT 19", Alpine White, Black Leather/Carbon, Loaded 2005 ///M3 e46 6MT 19", ZCP, Carbon Black, Black/Alcantara seats (sold, but not forgotten!)
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12-29-2010, 12:12 PM	#20
saeedg48 Brigadier General 343 Rep 3,574 Posts Drives: Porsche 991.1 GT3 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Newport Beach, CA iTrader: (1)	no but seriously where's mine? __________________ 2015 Porsche 991.1 GT3 2015 F80 M3 -- Individual; Space Grey
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12-29-2010, 01:22 PM	#22
mdosu Banned 314 Rep 8,496 Posts Drives: Double Vanos'd Civic-M3 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: San Francisco iTrader: (6)	you mean, you had to apply for the credit card? or it's not a credit card?
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