Formatting 500G HDD for SV4

[Davros]

Hello All,

Just got the Starview 4 after using a Eurovox MAX for the last 2Y 9M. A friend and I set it up in no-time at all, using the idiots set-up guide.

My problem is with a HDD. Before getting the box I read quite a bit about formatting a HDD for use with the Starview. Originally I bought a 1TB drive to use with the SV but then decided to utilize a 500G drive (Maxtor) that I had lying around. Unfortunately, I use Vista that not only has the FAT32 limitation but is restrictive on the formatting programs that you can use with it. I did not think this would a major problem as I used the DOS command:-

FORMAT [DRIVE]: /FS:FAT32

However, after 6 hours it told me that "The volume is too big for FAT32". I then tried FAT32FORMATTER without any luck. When my friend came to help me set-up the SV earlier (being in a wheelchair I find it hard to get to the back of componenents) he tried using SWISSKNIFE, on XP PRO, to format the drive, unfortunately he had to leave before the format was complete so took the drive with him.

On reading the SV manual I see that the box will format your USB stick/HDD. I was wondering what is the best way to get over the FAT32 32G barrier on Vista (Ultimate)? Will the SV4 work with a 500G drive? Is it better (if it will format a 500G drive) to do the format straight from the SV4?

Thanks for reading the message.

[ninjawithoutapen]

The box can format it for you which shouldn't cause any problems, but do not plug in or remove the HDD while the Starview is turned on, this can cause major problems, talking from experience!!

Hope this helps.

[Davros]

Thanks. I read about not plugging/unplugging the HDD whilst the box is on.

As it would be difficult for me getting to the USB slot (I intend do video editing on the P.C. so want to be able to plug the HDD into the P.C.), I was thinking of running a USB extension lead to make it easier for me, admittedly this was before I read about the plugging/unplugging problem, would having an extension lead connected to the SV4, without the HDD connected a the other end, cause a problem?

Yes, I would turn the box off before (un)plugging the HDD.

[Davros]

Thank you, that is what I was hoping.

[Davros]

Yes, I was meaning a powered HDD on just a USB extension cable.

That gets me thinking (that is usually a sign for you to go and take your purple pills <g>), if I was to use a powered HDD, as opposed to a memory stick, would turning the drive off negate the need to power-down the SV whilst (un)plugging the HDD?

[ninjawithoutapen]

sorry i couldn't tell you about that one mate, not sure if turning the power off on HDD would just be the same as removing it.

There will be more instruction on this website somewhere.

Hope this helps

[montyburns88]

hi, i use a 160gb external drive costs about 35 delivered from *bay and i find it does work quicker than my WD500Gb which stopped working when 320Gb full on sv4. The 160Gb hard drive also is powered direct from usb so reducing energy consumption. Just passing on my experiences for all..hope it helps..
I find that with this lower memory it doesnt ask to be formatted each time it is removed/ replaced into the usb connection.
I also use a free GOM player to watch the recorded .ts file on my pc/ laptop. G**gle it...

[Davros]

Well my friend brought the 500G drive back earlier today but the SV would not even look at it, going into the USB menu we could not get to the format section. I think that was because after all the programs we have tried it was in a RAW state; I would have thought that would have been the best state to start the format from.

He took it back with him and after giving it a QUICK format with XP, which gave it the NTFS structure, was able to get SWISSKNIFE to start a full FAT32 format.

I moved some recorded stuff off my 16G pen drive and tried playing the .ts files on the my Vista machine. They played straight off using Media Player (classic) which was installed when I installed the K-LITE codecs, but my two preferred media players, ZOOM PLAYER and VLC, would have nothing to do with the files even after renaming them to AVI and MPG files; VLC not playing the raw .ts format did surprise me as that is supposed to play the majority of media files even without the correct codecs being installed. I will try that player you suggested, thanks.

My next experiment is going to be to see whether Nero Vision 4, my preferred authoring tool, will work with the .ts files.

Thanks for your reply.

[ninjawithoutapen]

Strange that VLC doen't play, let us now how you get on.

Good luck

[Davros]

Well I tried a Nero Vision 4 and although it would see the files straight off, without the need for me to give it the wild card *.*, it would not load them.

It has been suggested to me to try ConvertXtoDVD, but when I tried that a few yeas ago, as an alternative to Nero Vision, I never really liked it. I will try Adobe Premier which I think I have installed. If that does not natively load the .ts files then I will try converting them to .avi files and do it that way.