Trying to play music files from extermal drive to receiver?

[Grador]

The drive I have used is a 2Tb drive formatted with with NTFS and was formatted within windows 7.

Thanks to pengs experiment, we can say this is your problem. The drive needs to be formatted FAT32.

 

[jp_over]

HTPC = home theater personal computer... basically just a PC hooked up via HDMI to the AVR with the TV as a "monitor". Keep us posted on your progress.

BTW, after trying the AVR native streaming and WD live (a streaming product), I just went with this: Echo II - Using Intel Core i3/i5/i7, Value performance

Definitely, there are cheaper options but the wife and I both agreed this was a great investment as we use it every single day for music, NETFLIX, etc.

 

[adwilk]

The Thermaltake gadget he mentioned is simply an external "dock" for internal drives... More than likely formatted NTFS and the dock is not network capable. Fairly useless in the application unless connected to the PC and then shared/ set up to stream.

Perhaps I just haven't spent enough time with the AVR streaming options... the ones I have TRIED to use are less than stellar.

 

[Budabear]

Agree, that's what we are trying to get him to do, use the DLNA feature of his AVRs to stream all his music files via network. I have no trouble getting the AVR and all my other devices to stream from any of my PCs (desktop and laptops). The only limit I encounter is that Flac files don't work this way but will work via USB thumb drive.

I somewhat understand what your telling me to do. I do not know what the DLNA feature is but I guess if I can manage a log into my computer I would be able to access the files from there. However, if I could get around having to also use my computer that would be much better. This is why I was trying with the external hardrive and dock.

If my only option is to use my PC then I will figure that out and go that route for the time being. Do I need to reformat my drives to FAT32 for use from the PC to AVR?

 

[Budabear]

Thanks to pengs experiment, we can say this is your problem. The drive needs to be formatted FAT32.

Cool, if I format the drive to FAT32 and hook it up to the AVR via USB will that solve the problem?

 

[Budabear]

HTPC = home theater personal computer... basically just a PC hooked up via HDMI to the AVR with the TV as a "monitor". Keep us posted on your progress.

BTW, after trying the AVR native streaming and WD live (a streaming product), I just went with this: Echo II - Using Intel Core i3/i5/i7, Value performance

Definitely, there are cheaper options but the wife and I both agreed this was a great investment as we use it every single day for music, NETFLIX, etc.

Thansk Joe!

 

[adwilk]

Its not your only option- as far as music goes.. the aforementioned WDTV Live is a great gadget.. it will allow you to plug your HD's into it and play through it interface via HDMI, Optical, or analog. Great gadget, easy to setup.. it will also play uPnP and DLNA streams and those are easy to setup as well.. Runs about a hundred bucks. Has played every audio format I've asked it to. Also plays netflix and local/shared video.

 

[adwilk]

Can anybody confirm that the AVR is capable of recognizing a 2TB drive?

 

[Budabear]

Ok, tomorrow I will reformat my drive using FAT32 and try again. That is the simplest option and the best way to go if it actually works. I even have a Denon wifi iPod dock hooked up and can't stand the way that sounds. So, hopefully the FAT32 will do the trick. If not I will figure out how to access my PC through the denon since it is visible. It there when I go into network for online music but its just not accessible.

Will post the results of the FAT32 test tomorrow.

Thanks!

 

[Budabear]

Its not your only option- as far as music goes.. the aforementioned WDTV Live is a great gadget.. it will allow you to plug your HD's into it and play through it interface via HDMI, Optical, or analog. Great gadget, easy to setup.. it will also play uPnP and DLNA streams and those are easy to setup as well.. Runs about a hundred bucks. Has played every audio format I've asked it to. Also plays netflix and local/shared video.

Ill also keep this in mind.

 

[Budabear]

Can anybody confirm that the AVR is capable of recognizing a 2TB drive?

I will try both 1TB and 2TB drives. Will be more work for the 1TB as its on my PC as system drives.

 

[Budabear]

Apparently FAT32 is not an option within Windows 7, only NTFS for drives under 2TB's and NTFS and exFAT for drives above 2TB's. Does anyone know if exfat will work in place of FAT32?

 

[Grador]

Apparently FAT32 is not an option within Windows 7, only NTFS for drives under 2TB's and NTFS and exFAT for drives above 2TB's. Does anyone know if exfat will work in place of FAT32?

It should, exfat is the format that flash drives use.

 

[adwilk]

Well, don't reformat the 1tb if its the primary for your PC.. that is a lot of work and there are some downfalls to FAT32 as a system drive- it won't handle files larger than 4gb... Worst case- (a quick google search couldn't confirm that the AVR is capable of 2TB- although I'm to assume it is) you could always partition the 2TB to sizes the AVR does recognize.. blah blah..

Streaming to the AVR now from your PC should work if sharing is set up correctly...

 

[Budabear]

It should, exfat is the format that flash drives use.

I already formatted the drive and through files on there. I can't really try it till tomorrow since my wife is sitting here with me watching a great British series on TV using my AVR. LOL

 

[Budabear]

Well, don't reformat the 1tb if its the primary for your PC.. that is a lot of work and there are some downfalls to FAT32 as a system drive- it won't handle files larger than 4gb... Worst case- (a quick google search couldn't confirm that the AVR is capable of 2TB- although I'm to assume it is) you could always partition the 2TB to sizes the AVR does recognize.. blah blah..

Streaming to the AVR now from your PC should work if sharing is set up correctly...

I have a few 1TB drives on my PC that I can always use if worse comes to worse. Although your idea of a partition is perfect. I could partition the 2TB into two 1TB drives. My last choice will be streaming from my PC but if all else fails that will have to work.

 

[adwilk]

Format SOMETHING into exFAT.. At least that might give you insight into a real solution. exFAT is what I use for video, brfolders, music storage now exclusively.. its dang near a universal large library storage solution

 

[adwilk]

Seriously.. If you don't want to stream from your PC.... get some hardware that will allow you to plug a hard drive into.. boxee.. wdtv.. roku... etc.. The interfaces are all good.. easy t'o use... The workarounds can be a pain.. just get a device that automates what you're after..

 

[Budabear]

Format SOMETHING into exFAT.. At least that might give you insight into a real solution. exFAT is what I use for video, brfolders, music storage now exclusively.. its dang near a universal large library storage solution

Ok, I've tired the 2TB drive partitioned into two 2TB drives formatted with FAT32. Still didn't work.

 

[Budabear]

Seriously.. If you don't want to stream from your PC.... get some hardware that will allow you to plug a hard drive into.. boxee.. wdtv.. roku... etc.. The interfaces are all good.. easy t'o use... The workarounds can be a pain.. just get a device that automates what you're after..

I have a Roku XD that I've never used, how can I set up the system using that? The only interface the Roku has is HDMI and the only interface on the drive dock is USB.