PROBLEMS with GoFlex Seagate 3TB and WD TV Live

WD Legacy Products WD TV Live & Live Plus
1

Hi !

I an WD TV Live user and recently i got the new 3TB GoFlex Seagate.
The hard disk it is perfectly visible in my WD TV Live but only part of the content it is readable.
I see all folders but most of files are not playing.

All those files are perfectly playing in my 2TB Hard disk.
The entire 3TB Hard disk it is playing in my Windows.

Some solution?
I have not checked if files are playing reading using LAN (connecting hard disk to my computer and accesing form LAN…I think it would works, not checked yet).

Someone knows if it could be solve with a new Firmware Update?

I have my wd tv live with the last 1.03.42 Firmware updated.

thanks in advance!

isacumi

2

i think recently a user posted that the WD Live only take up to 2TB

3

tedtd wrote:

I asked WD about this and their only comment was that the Seagate brand could not be tested/verified by them. On asking them what would happen if WD made a 3TB drive I got a reply about different controllers or something - basically, it sounds like it’s a big issue to make these larger drives compatible. The sub-optimal solution I’m using at the moment is accessing the Seagate drive via Network sharing (I have the TV Live media player). That brings other problems of its own (right now, the files and folders are all showing correctly but nothing will play) but its the only option available at present.

Guy_K wrote:

 

The gen 1 WDTV can’t support volumes over 2TB due to a driver limitation. The later WDTV products do not have this limitation. However, we have not tested the Seagate 3TB drive, so I can’t guarantee compatibility with it.

4

Let me get this straight – you can SEE all the files properly but you can’t play them?  What happens when you select one of them and try playing it?  And you are attaching this drive locally via the USB port, right?

I don’t think this is a disk size limitation – the Live doesn’t have that problem and the fact you can see them pretty well rules out a size issue – but I’m guessing it has something to do with your files.

5

Yes, I can see all files but i can play only  a few ones.

If i try play it is said something like “file unsopported”. If i try copy or move using wd tv live i recive same message. something like if those files doesn’t be accesibles.

i am connected the hard disk using USB port.

If i copy those files in toher hard disk they are played perfectly.

i read about 3tb hard disk have different structure so maybe it could be the reason…my doubt it is if a new firmware could solve the problem.

Thanks in advance for your help, mkelley

6

Well, it could very well be that the file you’re trying is NOT supported.

I doubt the format of the 3TB drive has anything to do with it, but that’s still a possibilty.

Please go download MEDIAINFO utility at http://mediainfo.sourceforge.net

Use that program to examine one of the files the WDTV will not play, and tell us the TEXT OUTPUT of one of the files.

7

if i copy those files in the pc to other hard disk or pen drive they play perfectly. So i think it is not a problem of the files.

8

Just for grins and chuckles try reformatting that drive (as NTFS).  Then only copy one movie over that wouldn’t play before and give that a try.

9

I’d just like to add that if you have content on the HDD already and it’s not in NTFS format, rather than an out-and-out re-format you can actually *convert* the format to NTFS.

However, mkelley is most likely far more learned than I regarding this matter so a full format may make some difference - I’m not sure. I thought I’d mention it in case you’d prefer to keep media/files on there - you could still format as a last resort, of course.

I’m amazed you’ve managed to have the files displayed too. My Seagate is a STAC 3000200 model and, apart from one time when the USB light briefly lit up before vanishing for good, it’s never shown any signs of being connected/recognised at all.

The OP’s firmware is curious - 1.03.42? My player has 1.0.21 but any time I try an update it says it is up-to-date?

10

1.03.42 is the advertised Beta.    1.02.21 is the latest “Production” release.

11

Just a quick update regarding my situation (as RoofingGuy has quoted a post of mine), the networking issue was resolved by unplugging the WD TV Live player and re-starting it. I’ve since experienced other similar hanging issues that needed the same method of resolution.

I had a single file that the player did not like, and any attempt to play it rendered every other file unplayable until I physically powered down the player and re-started it.

I’ve since (discovered and) found the updated (Beta) firmware 1.03.42  that gets bandied around for a short time - all very Stonemason Secret Society-like (!)  - and tried it on my TV Live.

A couple of things to note pertinent to this particular discussion:

  1. The STAC3000200 still refuses to be recognised by the TV Live

  2. The files on another, smaller, drive that I tried all came up as ‘file unsupported’ (mkv files). Playing a single avi file cured the player of this particular hiccup.

To the OP - can you please confirm which model of the GoFlex HDD yours is? I noticed that there is a STAC3000100 in existence - I was wondering if you had this model - mine is the 3000200 edition of the GoFlex.

While meddling with things I also got the USB light to light up very briefly, once again. I’m certain I’m using the correct power adaptor for the HDD but was wondering if I should try slightly upping the voltage, using a switchable power supply, as it almost seems like the drive is underpowered, despite it being mains-connected. This sounds rather far-fetched but if anyone thinks it has a chance of helping as opposed to blowing up the new HDD, please let me know!

Finally, regarding the query I originally put WD’s way, this was their final response regarding the matter:

_Thank you for contacting Western Digital Customer Service and Support.

Please be informed that, after having your case reviewed by our seniors, they have provided the following information.

The issue can be caused by the controller, or by the volume of the drive. But we cannot test this or cross reference it, as we do not have this hardware nor this size.

We can only recommend the use of a different drive, with the media player.

If you have any further questions, please reply to this email and we will be happy to assist you further.

Sincerely,_

The recent contributions by ‘Guy_K’ offer more encouragement than the above response, I think :slight_smile:

12

Thanks, TonyPh12345.

I found the Beta firmware prior to reading your post, but I appreciate your clarification - I didn’t know there were Beta firmware sets available.

Unfortunately it’s not helped my case at all - the GoFlex Stac3000200 or whatever it’s called won’t be recognised at all by my player. :frowning: