Database Users

[Q] Direct usb connection

When connecting any external storage or card reader with usb cable direct to my Iconia A500 tab, Astro Manager states on usb storage "directory is empty". This happens with all 4 storage units I have tried this with. What is wrong? Anybody? Thanks a million.

Are your devices formated FAT32? Stock Iconia will not recognize NTFS filesystems. Just a thought.

I get the same thing with my drives which are formatted with ext3. My sd cards which are FAT32 are read fine with a card reader.

FAT32 is the only thing I've tested and it works. It's amusing that a linux based OS has ext support removed. Guess tablets don't need >4GB files.

I downloaded the A500 User Manual yesterday and read through it. The Manual states that USB drives need to be formatted for either FAT or FAT32 to be read.
----
Doc Kinne
Somerville, MA

muqali said:
FAT32 is the only thing I've tested and it works. It's amusing that a linux based OS has ext support removed. Guess tablets don't need >4GB files.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I thought it strange that ext wouldn't be supported...but what do I know.

butterflygirl said:
I thought it strange that ext wouldn't be supported...but what do I know.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Apparently more than the moron engineer at Acer who thought to not include modules for ext and NTFS.

I connected a ntfs160 GB USB hdd to my a500 and it worked out the box. Also I was able to tether my desire using wifi. I don't understand why people are having to mod to do this.
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA App

[Q] Trouble mounting usb hdd and usb question :-)

Have a old 60gb external USB 2.0 hdd - formatted fresh using FAT - drive tests fine.
Cannot seem to get my a500 to use it - tried the "drive mount" tool from the market and I see my hdd under unmounted devices, when I try to mount it I get "driver for sda1 failed to load".
Running 3.1 early release, rooted.
One more question I had about USB - can I plug a powered or unpowered USB hub into the a500 and use both external keyboard / mouse at the same time?
(Edit: issue resolved. For some reason a full format using FAT produced a bad volume, whereas a full ntfs format worked like a charm. Next step: powered USB hub and I am gonna be so happy)

old drive
Is it in a old drive bay.some of the older external drive bays take alot of power. If it has a external power adaptor you might have to use it pluged iin. And trybto have your tablet pouted into power outlet as well.it helps with my 3.5 500 gig drive bay

Check
Yup - it's a older model and requires external power, which was plugged in - as well as the tab.
Formatted drive using Windows 7 - FAT was not a option, only exFAT or ntfs. Did full format.
Mount utility sees the drive - just cannot mount it. Might try a reformat from a older system and see if that helps.

entropy.of.avarice said:
Have a old 60gb external USB 2.0 hdd - formatted fresh using FAT - drive tests fine.
Cannot seem to get my a500 to use it - tried the "drive mount" tool from the market and I see my hdd under unmounted devices, when I try to mount it I get "driver for sda1 failed to load".
Running 3.1 early release, rooted.
One more question I had about USB - can I plug a powered or unpowered USB hub into the a500 and use both external keyboard / mouse at the same time?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try formatting to ntfs, then use this to mount it. Works with my 750 gb external drive and it shows up under memory in settings. Also, yes both types of USB hubs, should work.
OK so I'm new and I can't post a link to Mega upload, but I can PM you the link if you like.

dogbots159 said:
Try formatting to ntfs, then use this to mount it. Works with my 750 gb external drive and it shows up under memory in settings. Also, yes both types of USB hubs, should work.
OK so I'm new and I can't post a link to Mega upload, but I can PM you the link if you like.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You nailed it - works like a charm. Thank you very much - going out of town soon, really need the storage.
Now if I could just *find* my damn USB hub

Which software you guys use for formating the hdd??....which format you guys use....?...can I use pupply linux for formating the hdd??
Sent from my XT720 using XDA App

vari9 said:
Which software you guys use for formating the hdd??....which format you guys use....?...can I use pupply linux for formating the hdd??
Sent from my XT720 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am doing this on a rooted a500 running the early release of 3.1 - just used my Windows 7 desktop to format the drive as NTFS - using a free software package from market called "drive mount" which can mount lots of different devices. If you are not rooted - pretty sure the USB drive has to be FAT file system for it to work.
Sure, you can use Linux for the format - plenty of freeware tools for Linux that will do this for you in a nice GUI setting

I was planning pn using the gparted partition manager on puppy linux..........is it good enough?......and will my hdd suffer memory loss when I format it to fat32??
Sent from my XT720 using XDA App

vari9 said:
I was planning pn using the gparted partition manager on puppy linux..........is it good enough?......and will my hdd suffer memory loss when I format it to fat32??
Sent from my XT720 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Generally reformatting a drive will delete all data on said drive. Would recommend backing it all up, formatting it - and restoring it.
Do you have root on your Iconica? If so - you should be able to mount the drive pretty much regardless of what format it is in - what type of file system is it?

I haven't rooted my device......and I meant free memory loss.....would the hdd size decrease??
Sent from my XT720 using XDA App

can i connect an ex hard drive to my s4?

hi i tried to connect an ext to ym s4 otg cable its broken and i ahve to put it in special position to work im getting new one toamrrow
but when i connect my hdd pwoers turn on hear the sound (got WD My passport 1tb AND mybook 1tb! it says blank or,,, storage is it coz ntfs format? should i format it? to fat32 or anythign if do do does it slow or anythign my harddrive:?

I woud like to know answer to thise too.
Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk 4 Beta

Yup, if the phone says blank drive or unsupported format, it's probably in NTFS. You can format it to either FAT32 or exFAT.
Fat32 doesn't slow down your disk, but you have a 4gb file limit which is annoying if you have HD Movies or other large files.

what u mean by 4gb limit? each file?!

btw i dont wonna use that a got a 32gb sony flash and i can use it IF i got out of storage or some times for diffrent uses just wonna know

kamranhaghighi said:
what u mean by 4gb limit? each file?!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Each file has a max size limit of 4GBs. I have a couple of 3 hour videos which are about 7GBs each.

btw i can split them whit windwos movie maker!

kamranhaghighi said:
btw i can split them whit windwos movie maker!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know, but I like to have everything in as few files and folders as possible. Just my personal idiosyncrasy.

me too

btw i hope they add ntfs support in the other versions

Or you could use one of the multitude of apps on Play that allow you to mount NTFS-formatted drives. Chainfire's StickMount works pretty well for me on the S4 (requires root).

kamranhaghighi said:
hi i tried to connect an ext to ym s4 otg cable its broken and i ahve to put it in special position to work im getting new one toamrrow
but when i connect my hdd pwoers turn on hear the sound (got WD My passport 1tb AND mybook 1tb! it says blank or,,, storage is it coz ntfs format? should i format it? to fat32 or anythign if do do does it slow or anythign my harddrive:?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi all, iv tried mounting my wd passport 1tb to s4 i9500 5.0.1 via otg but the app plugin stops working for some reason i dont know. Iv read that it is only achievable with rooted phones for i9500 but that was sometime ago now..
Does any one know an efficient way to do this now with an unrooted phone?
Or if i need to root phone to open this wd 1tb ext hdd, what specific mods work best?

doublegood said:
Hi all, iv tried mounting my wd passport 1tb to s4 i9500 5.0.1 via otg but the app plugin stops working for some reason i dont know. Iv read that it is only achievable with rooted phones for i9500 but that was sometime ago now..
Does any one know an efficient way to do this now with an unrooted phone?
Or if i need to root phone to open this wd 1tb ext hdd, what specific mods work best?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
wow that was years ago! i got rid of that phone for a nexus 4. I loved it
anyway
I suggest that you try to use es explorer if you still have it. it can recognize NTFS unlike the stock browser

kamranhaghighi said:
wow that was years ago! i got rid of that phone for a nexus 4. I loved it
anyway
I suggest that you try to use es explorer if you still have it. it can recognize NTFS unlike the stock browser
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah shes an oldie lol, in the last year iv destroyed 3 phones due to tough working conditions so i cant afford to keep replacing nicer new phones I'll try es explorer as you suggested.. so far iv tried total commander with the paragon ums plugin, that does pick up smaller usb drives ie. My 16gb transcend stick. Other reports mention to root & cm11 does the job.
Anyway I'll give es explorer a shot and report back :good:
---------- Post added at 10:14 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:40 AM ----------
doublegood said:
Yeah shes an oldie lol, in the last year iv destroyed 3 phones due to tough working conditions so i cant afford to keep replacing nicer new phones I'll try es explorer as you suggested.. so far iv tried total commander with the paragon ums plugin, that does pick up smaller usb drives ie. My 16gb transcend stick. Other reports mention to root & cm11 does the job.
Anyway I'll give es explorer a shot and report back :good:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok tried. Es explorer at first recognised the wd passort 1tb ext hdd but wasnt able to read any files showing 0% after i still tried to open the folder but phone crashed.
Not sure if the cause was due to only 35% battery life or a clash of paragon ums plugin wanting to start up too?
Unless someone has better ideas i might just use a pc to transfer the files from the wd 1tb to the smaller recognisable 16gb usb. Or use the pc to copy in the phones micro sd.
If i go the root option for i9500 5.0.1 to use otg with the wd 1tb ext hdd what flash files are most suited?

Connecting external hd to 16gb shield problem

Hi all
I have bought a Seagate Expansion portable hard drvie 1tb usb 3.0
I connected it to my 16gb shield tv and with one usb it doesnt show up under settings and then plugged in to the other it states wrong file system or is empty.
I have formatted hd with exfat and ntfs. Es file explorer can see the hd under ntfs and play the files no problem through es file.
Anyone got any other further suggestion please?
Thanks for any help

Format as MBR exFAT
Format as MBR exFAT. Worked for me.

isisescul said:
Format as MBR exFAT. Worked for me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for replying - how would I do that please?

joe90bentley43 said:
Thanks for replying - how would I do that please?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Got it going after a low level format - i think there was a hidden partition maybe
Thanks for the help

Glad it worked!

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.