Database Users

[Q] Connecting with external hard drive

Hi
How do I connect an exernal hard drive to Acer A500 and can see and use the content of the hard drive ?
tsand

Hi,
All i've needed to do is connect via USB and then use my file explorer (ES file explorer) to navigate to mnt, then select USB storage. If you use Astro, it should show as USB storage at the left of the screen.
simples

You'll just need to make sure the external HD is FAT or FAT32 formatted. Stock A500 won't see NTFS drives...

Magicspell said:
You'll just need to make sure the external HD is FAT or FAT32 formatted. Stock A500 won't see NTFS drives...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And if you have an NTFS formatted drive, you can get Drive Mount from the Market free.

Funny really, when I had stock rom on it recognised the NTFS drive straight away. Didn't need drive mount... It was 4.031.26, HC 3.2...
Not sure where it came from, I'm in Oz but I got a refurb off Ebay...

ultramag69 said:
Funny really, when I had stock rom on it recognised the NTFS drive straight away. Didn't need drive mount... It was 4.031.26, HC 3.2...
Not sure where it came from, I'm in Oz but I got a refurb off Ebay...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, I know. It's hit and miss. Drives me crazy sometimes. 1 stock rom needs it, where the other doesn't (3.2). Flash a cooked kernel, it see's it, flash another version of the same kernel, it doesn't see it. Last night flashed Drellisde's new version of his kernel, and it works again! Go figure.....
Bottom line, if it don't mount your NTFS, use Drive Mount, pretty simple really.

ultramag69 said:
Funny really, when I had stock rom on it recognised the NTFS drive straight away. Didn't need drive mount... It was 4.031.26, HC 3.2...
Not sure where it came from, I'm in Oz but I got a refurb off Ebay...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi! Same problem here and couldn't figure out what it was until seeing this thread.
Stock my external drive was recognized right away, but now 3 roms in, all of a sudden it is not!
Thanks for the help guys I'll look up drive mount again.

Life Saver
JumboSlim said:
Hi,
All i've needed to do is connect via USB and then use my file explorer (ES file explorer) to navigate to mnt, then select USB storage. If you use Astro, it should show as USB storage at the left of the screen.
simples
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks buddy - was going a little bonkers trying to find the directory for the USB!

[Q] how to connect the hdd?

hi
i have acer a500 and i have 4.0.3 stock without root and i try to connect my hdd wd NTFS and i see nothing on root explorer or es file explorer or..oi file manager..
what i'm wrong with?
thanks

I7210I said:
hi
i have acer a500 and i have 4.0.3 stock without root and i try to connect my hdd wd NTFS and i see nothing on root explorer or es file explorer or..oi file manager..
what i'm wrong with?
thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It could be a number of things.
First of all, what is the hd you are connecting?
Is it a portable?
Some work and some don't.
A portable HD that does work will draw power from the A500.
When you plug it in you will hear it spin up and the light will flash on it, indication it is being read.
If the light comes on and then immediately goes off then the drive wont work because it probably requires more power.
Also in your file manage it will come up as usb.
And if it does work you nedd to let the A500 read it before opening your file manager.
It will be ready to see in the file manager when the light stops blinking.
Some have found the following to work on some tablets.
Freecom Mobile Drive Classic II 500gb
Seagate GoFlex 1TB
500 gb Freeagent Go
Samsung S2 Portable 640 GB
LaCie's 500GB Rikiki
WD 500G Passport Elite
WD myBook 500GB
WD Elements Portable SE 500GB
Seagate FreeAgent Go Flex 1TB
Seagate FreeAgent GoFlex 500 GB
freeagent go 250gb
maxtor basics portable storage 500GB
Transcend 320gb Storejet external HDD
Iomega 500GB Select Portable
Toshiba Canvio USB 2.0 500 GB
To keep a master list I added from other posts below:
Toshiba Canvio USB 2.0 1TB

Add Transcend 320gb to the list. (NTFS SATA)
Also WD Elements 1Tb (ext power required)

Also add Samsung s2 1Tb and Hitachi Touro 1Tb too, both NTFS sata...

i connect wd essential se 750GB
http://wdc.com/en/products/products.aspx?id=430
it sounds that it works also it shows the light but i can;t see anything
now i'm with 4.0.3 but before i was with 3.2.1 and it works well
so i think the problem maybe with the 4.0.3

someone can help please?

I7210I said:
someone can help please?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I will hook my hdd later and see if it works and where it shows up, and get back with you.
mine worked fine, and shows up under mnt/usb_storage

I7210I said:
someone can help please?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can advise, that sometimes, on HC, I would have to plug and unplug the USB connector several times before it would work. You might try that.
Also, I use File MAnager HD, and just select External Storage.

Add 2tb wd

still no success with it...what else i can do?it can be problem with version?

I7210I said:
still no success with it...what else i can do?it can be problem with version?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No answer for you mate. Try getting DriveMount from the market, and see if that gets it going. Really shouldn't need it, but in the past, some tablets had to use it for NTFS.

I7210I said:
still no success with it...what else i can do?it can be problem with version?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
At this point try another drive.

i tried another hdd and it works ..the other one is also NTFS -WD Elements

I7210I said:
i tried another hdd and it works ..the other one is also NTFS -WD Elements
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Glad you got it working, if possible I would reformat the one that did not work and give it a try again.

Anyone having a Seagate goflex free agent 1TB can access it through USB on a500?
EDIT: Ok, can access it. Had some problems with the cable earlier..

NTFS is related to Microsoft licensing and Android doesnt have the neccessary license to work , most fat 32 drive will work with no problems , if you have root there are ways around the licensing issues , you might try something like this :
NTFSMount.apk
To use the NTFSMount app,you need root you should follow the instructions below;
- Install APK
- Connect HDD
- Launch app
- Select device
- Click Mount
http://*******/282572/get-ntfsmount-apk

Please use the Q&A Forum for questions &
Read the Forum Rules Ref Posting
Thanks ✟
Moving to Q&A

can you upload again the
NTFSMount
?
and maybe it will help for you that what i did for the version
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1646042

someone can help me please??
if ther's need to re format the tab again i will do it i need that option for the hdd

Just ordered 64 GB USB Stick for OTG connection

hi,
i just wanted to ask if a 64 GB stick is supported by this device.
i mean ... we could connect a hard drive to it ... to i thought 64 GB should be no problem?
am i right ? otherwise i will discard the order right now
thanks

B-Man2005 said:
hi,
i just wanted to ask if a 64 GB stick is supported by this device.
i mean ... we could connect a hard drive to it ... to i thought 64 GB should be no problem?
am i right ? otherwise i will discard the order right now
thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah USB Sticks are compatible with the OTG.
Ensure you have the app StickMount
Hope this helps.

B-Man2005 said:
hi,
i just wanted to ask if a 64 GB stick is supported by this device.
i mean ... we could connect a hard drive to it ... to i thought 64 GB should be no problem?
am i right ? otherwise i will discard the order right now
thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have used a 64GB stick, but I had to format it NTFS. eXFAT didn't seem to work.

mmarquis said:
I have used a 64GB stick, but I had to format it NTFS. eXFAT didn't seem to work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
NTFS is newer and better anyway (Right? )

yes but NTFS only works with nexus media streamer right ?
if i remeber the appname right

B-Man2005 said:
yes but NTFS only works with nexus media streamer right ?
if i remeber the appname right
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm able to use ES File Explorer to explore the stick and use the files on the stick with various applications. For example, HD MKV video files play perfectly with MX Player.
Only problem with NTFS and Android is that it is read only, can't move files from N7 to the stick. Would be nice for nandroid backups and whatnot. Unless there is a new way I just don't know about..

I'm using a Generic Play.com 64Gb usb stick and it works fine with my OTG cable...

[Q] help using external hard drive

Hello all.
I have a quick question about using an external hard drive with my nexus 10. I bought a Fantom Drives desktop style external (with power adapter) to use with my macbook air, my girlfriends win7 laptop, and my nexus 10. I prepped the tablet by rooting it and installing StickMount because I read that was the only way to write to usb storage.
When I plug up the external with my usbOTG cable, it recognizes it and it shows up in Androzip, but none of the files that I put on it from windows show up, and also it will not let me write to it from the tablet either. When I try to write to it (a very small photo), it says "Could not move folder due to system restrictions". I have tried reading and writing to the drive from the tablet with it formatted in NTFS and also with it formatted in exFAT.
Am I just out of luck and the drive will not work with my nexus, or are there any other troubleshooting options I can try? Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

jonmike13 said:
Hello all.
I have a quick question about using an external hard drive with my nexus 10. I bought a Fantom Drives desktop style external (with power adapter) to use with my macbook air, my girlfriends win7 laptop, and my nexus 10. I prepped the tablet by rooting it and installing StickMount because I read that was the only way to write to usb storage.
When I plug up the external with my usbOTG cable, it recognizes it and it shows up in Androzip, but none of the files that I put on it from windows show up, and also it will not let me write to it from the tablet either. When I try to write to it (a very small photo), it says "Could not move folder due to system restrictions". I have tried reading and writing to the drive from the tablet with it formatted in NTFS and also with it formatted in exFAT.
Am I just out of luck and the drive will not work with my nexus, or are there any other troubleshooting options I can try? Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try converting the drive to fat32. It should read and write well then!

c1oud said:
Try converting the drive to fat32. It should read and write well then!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unfortunately wont FAT32 cap at 4gb? Also, forgive my ignorance but what can I do to format it in FAT32 because my only format options in windows were exFAT and NTFS.
Thanks for the reply!

jonmike13 said:
Unfortunately wont FAT32 cap at 4gb? Also, forgive my ignorance but what can I do to format it in FAT32 because my only format options in windows were exFAT and NTFS.
Thanks for the reply!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
got it to work!! used the Verbatim fat32 format tool. It recognizes all 2 terabytes of space and reads and writes on the nexus 10. Thanks so much for the help!! Very pleased to be able to use my new external with the tablet. Now I just have to play the waiting game for my new Macbook Air to show up

jonmike13 said:
got it to work!! used the Verbatim fat32 format tool. It recognizes all 2 terabytes of space and reads and writes on the nexus 10. Thanks so much for the help!! Very pleased to be able to use my new external with the tablet. Now I just have to play the waiting game for my new Macbook Air to show up
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nothing at all! The downside of fat32 is that indeed there is a limit for the size of an individual file. You can't write files bigger than 4gb. Also if you try a custom kernel with ntfs support you will be able to read from ntfs but not surely write..!

c1oud said:
Nothing at all! The downside of fat32 is that indeed there is a limit for the size of an individual file. You can't write files bigger than 4gb. Also if you try a custom kernel with ntfs support you will be able to read from ntfs but not surely write..!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can sometimes do NTFS-write. It's not unheard of. The downsides of FAT32 are also a lot worse than what you described: it's significantly more prone to corruption and doesn't handle unexpected ejections nearly as well because it's not journalled, and has no support at all for permissions. But for performance and convenience reasons, it really can't be beat at the moment.

Rirere said:
You can sometimes do NTFS-write. It's not unheard of. The downsides of FAT32 are also a lot worse than what you described: it's significantly more prone to corruption and doesn't handle unexpected ejections nearly as well because it's not journalled, and has no support at all for permissions. But for performance and convenience reasons, it really can't be beat at the moment.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can write and read with my note 2. However i tried with stock kernel ntfs and nothing happens. I think that in terms of speed ntfs is also faster.

c1oud said:
I can write and read with my note 2. However i tried with stock kernel ntfs and nothing happens. I think that in terms of speed ntfs is also faster.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Should have clarified. It's a kernel support thing.

Hard drive shown as corrupt

Guys I am having a problem with my HP 1 TB hard drive. When I plug it in my phone using otg there is a notification saying that "your hp hard drive is corrupt, tap to fix " which takes me to a format manu.
Of all the file managers available , only es file explorer is able to read the contents but writing operations are not allowed.
The otg cable is fine because I can use all my USB drives without any problems
The HDD itself is not corrupt as I can read/write on it using my PC/laptop
Note: when I first bought the HDD it was working normally on my phone ( it was blank back then) but then I had to format it to FAT32 for it to work with my PlayStation 3, after then I again formatted it to NTFS and transferred around 200 GB of movie and series in it and here I am.
Any help is appreciated

Android does not support NTFS natively.

uicnren said:
Android does not support NTFS natively.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Like I said when I first bought it was working fine ( I didn't check if it was NTFS but it must be because hdd's normally come as NTFS )
Sent from my Nexus 6P using XDA Labs

I had the same issue w/SanDisk 128 dual USB. Download 2Tware's Fat32Format (CNET has it) or a similar, third-party app and format the drive in FAT32. Hopefully, that'll fix your issue as it did mine.