WASP -Windows App for Swapping Partitions

Thanks to Werner Bloos there is a German version of WASP here.

WASP is a Java application that lets you switch partitions on SDM and CHDK dual partition cards. If you don't have Java installed, here is the official download site (for Mac OSX, Windows and Linux).

Canon cameras introduced before 2011 can only autoboot SDM or CHDK from a FAT16 partition and the maximum size of such a partition is 4Gb, so larger cards have to be partitioned into a small FAT16 partition containing DISKBOOT.BIN and a large FAT32 partition containing scripts, fonts etc as well as photos.

While Mac OSX and Linux lets you see both partitions simultaneously, Windows will only show the active partition. To boot SDM or CHDK the active partition has to be the FAT16 one, but to transfer photos to the computer the active partition has to be the FAT32 one. The purpose of WASP is to make it easy for Windows users to switch between partitions.

The two images below show the same card with either the FAT16 or FAT32 partition active.

Downloading and Installing WASP

Download the WASP zip file and unzip it. You'll get a folder called 'wasp' which you can relocate anywhere you fancy. Inside the folder are the following files:

'wasp.jar' - the java executable
'wasp.bat' - a bat file for Windows XP and Vista
'waspx.cmd', 'elevate.cmd' and elevate.vbs' - command files and script for Windows 7 and 8 (see below)
'asseng32.dll' and 'asseng64.dll' - dynamic link libraries containing java native methods for Windows (32-bit and 64-bit versions).

Notes

Switching changes the information in the boot records so the card must not be locked (read-only).
The card has to be removed and replaced for Windows to recognise the new active partition. WASP will tell you to do this and refresh the display automatically.
Under the covers WASP issues commands and makes API calls that require administrator privileges under Windows 7 and 8. If you run WASP when logged on as a general user, without admin permission, WASP will diagnose the problem and display the message:
```
  WASP needs Administrator permission - start it by double-clicking WASPX.CMD
```
On a 64-bit system, even if you are logged on as an Admin, you will have to start WASP using WASPX.CMD, otherwise WASP will display the message:
```
   WASP needs permission to analyse disk
```
If you see this message, or are running a 64-bit Windows system, terminate WASP and double-click the WASPX.CMD file. This will display a dialog allowing you to temporarily 'elevate' yourself to Admin level by selecting a user account with these privileges. WASP will then run properly.
if you have problems, send me the log file (wasplog.txt).

Version History:

version 1.0 - July 4th 2013 - initial release

Extra Features:

WASP has some extra features that can be enabled by changing its properties file, "wasp.properties", (which you will find in the same folder as the app once you've run it). These features are:

the ability to specify the maximum size card the app will handle via the 'maxsize' property. By default the properties file contains the line:
```
maxsize=64000
```
which sets the limit at 64000MB or 64GB. Changing it to 128000 would make the limit 128GB.
the font name, size and boldness used for text. By default the properties file contains the lines:
```
fontname=SansSerif
fontsize=12
fontbold=NO
```
but fontname can be set to "Serif", "Monospaced", or the name of any of the installed fonts, such as "Century Schoolbook". You can see the names by typing the command "fc-list" or by looking at Edit/Preferences/Fonts & Colours in the Text Editor.
The properties file also remembers the size of the window ('height=...' and 'width=...').

Comments, suggestions and bug reports welcome. Dave@zenoshrdlu.com.

All my apps are freeware, but if you've found them useful and would like to thank the author, you can make a donation (for example £1, €1 or $1) to show your appreciation for the many hours spent working on them!

For other SDM and CHDK-related stuff of mine, see here and here.