hardrive

[sparks2]

Hi all, please forgive me if this is a silly question as I know very little about this subject I removed the hardrive from a laptop that had given up the ghost
I fitted in a USB external box. My big question can I format in FAT32 to use it with my AZbox
Thanking you for reading
sparks2:confused:

[echelon]

depends on the size of the drive as fat32 had a 32 gig limit

[sparks2]

depends on the size of the drive as fat32 had a 32 gig limit

Thanks for the very quick reply the total size is 88.4 GB Is there any other solution to my problem?
sparks2

[echelon]

I would have thought the box would format the drive

[sparks2]

I would have thought the box would format the drive


I have it format in NTFS and the box does not recogized it in the USB please advise
sparks2

[FME_fta]

Was the HDD working ok when the laptop died?
Is that USB HDD recognized on a PC?
Azbox might not have enough power in USB to feed some 2.5" HDD (specially some WD).

See if the HDD have some pins (for jumpers) to slow down the start up spining power, this way it will use less power on the start and azbox might be able to feed it.

Azbox can only record to a FAT32 or linux (EXT2, EXT3) HDD, you can format in FAT32 on a partition with more than 32GB (not with the build in window's format tool), but the files will be limited to 4GB, you will not to have for example to have an mkv with 8 GB on that HDD with FAT32.

EDIT: I posted at "23-08-2010, 11:21 AM" and the previous post was at "23-08-2010, 12:45 AM" ?????

[PsiDOC]

Use the box check if it can see the HDD hardware.
If it can use the box to format the drive. Recommend a native linux partition using EXT3 and if you want to read the EXT3 partition when it is plugged into the USB on your windows PC there is a free utility called EXT2FSD that you can install that will read and write linux partitions in windows.

PSi

[kebien]

I know for a fact azbox can read from NTFS USB HDD,since I hook up my WD with plenty of movies and have no problems playing them and recognizing the drive.
The purpose was stated before : movies are in most cases bigger than 4 gb and NTFS has no size limit.
The only drawback is the azbox cannot record to this drives.
Beside,there is also NO PROBLEM to format a USB HDD to FAT32 of any size,have some USB 350gb that formated ok.

[Giga]

windows has fat32 issue, not fat32 by itself. If you need to format large partitions in fat32:
use one of these: Fat32format 1.05 & Win GUI fat32format (https://www.satpimps.co.uk/showthread.php?t=111179) <= click here

[echelon]

windows has fat32 issue, not fat32 by itself. If you need to format large partitions in fat32:
use one of these: Fat32format 1.05 & Win GUI fat32format (https://www.satpimps.co.uk/showthread.php?t=111179) <= click here

this was originally in the pc section , not the azbox section , but I moved it later as I realised it may need to be done in ext3 from the azbox , or whatever an azbox does

hence that is why it should be in the azbox section and not the pc section

[Giga]

was only replying on the fat32 issue and its limitations. Running a fat32 320 GB usb hard disc.
Don't know either what whatever an azbox does. Other boxes do write the recordings in segments 1.540.096 of 1.540.096 kB and the second part has extention .001 next one .002 and so on.

[sparks2]

Hi,Sorry for posting in wrong section.You guys are great,it gives an old sceptic like me renewed faith in mankind.Thanks again it is only a hobby for me and I am taking up your time
Can I try to answer your questions Yes HD was working in laptop I formated with windows it did't give me an option for FAT32 (now I understand thanks to you)
I put some files on the HD to see would the AZbox read them but box did't see the USB drive opened the box again and can't see any jumpers I can remove

[echelon]

Hi,Sorry for posting in wrong section.You guys are great,it gives an old sceptic like me renewed faith in mankind.Thanks again it is only a hobby for me and I am taking up your time
Can I try to answer your questions Yes HD was working in laptop I formated with windows it did't give me an option for FAT32 (now I understand thanks to you)
I put some files on the HD to see would the AZbox read them but box did't see the USB drive opened the box again and can't see any jumpers I can remove

if its a sata hdd it wont have any jumpers

and its HDD for Hard Disk Drive , not HD

HD is High Definition not hard drive

you dont seem to appreciate that a linux box uses ext and not fat and not ntfs

its a HDD that can be used in various systems , but you mimited it when you chose to use windows

and it could be a power issue as mentioned earlier

[Giga]

over 320 GB USB hard disk mostly require an external power supply if it has a connection for it: check its manual, could be a second usb port on the USB drive or a power supply jack. Only use power supply that came with the drive or use the recommended one from the manual. Seen already different voltages on these usb external hard disc's. (not the hard disk itself)

[FME_fta]

I guess its an USB feeding problem, can you hear the HDD making weird sounds?
(its trying to start but doesn't have enough power to do it)

You can revolve this problem by using an active (with power supply) USB HUB and connect that external HDD in it.
(azbox works fine with USB HUBs)

[sparks2]

Hi, Thanks again there are lots of things I don't understand about this subjest (I understand very little) I try to gain a little each day thanks mostly to your forum.
I formatted the drive in FAT32 and NTFS but AZbox USB didn't see either,so I followed your sugestion about the power issue I have a split USB lead and powered the HDD from my laptop and magic away we went so you guys were right again (as always) Is there a neater solution SHE won't allow any more gagets on the worktop Would a different firmware effect the USB voltage I am using 0.9.50006
sparks2

[Giga]

it is not the voltage on the USB port (5 volt), it is the loading that is an issue here : maximum 500 mA, so don't think it is software related.

[FME_fta]

If your 2.5" USB box have dual connections (one for power, the other for data + power) as Giga said you can connect both to the 2 USB ports that azbox have, that way azbox can feed the HDD by its one.
(this is assuming that the 2 connectors are USB)

[pr2]

Hello,

If your HDD is working fine on your PC but not on your Azbox, simply purchase a small externally powered USB hub and place it between your Azbox and your HDD.
So it will be the USB Hub that will provide the power supply and not the Azbox and it should work.

For the formatting:
- in FAT32 AZbox will be able to read and write
- in NTFS Azbox will only read the content
- in ext2 Azbox will be able to read and write

If you format your HDD from the Azbox (it is possible from the Storage menu) it will be formatted into ext2. But if your PC is Windows you will no longer access your HDD since by default Windows is not able to read ext2 partition type. ext2 is a Linux formating style.

You can read ext2 disk on Windows but then you will need to install extra software (driver) on your PC do to so.

Pr2