Can't see new 3TB Seagate GoFlex Options

[double-g]

Being the original poster, just got back from a trip, I finally followed up with WD support, we'll see what they say.

[WDUser]

Their official forum doesn't seem to provide any solutions. If WD Support can (I'd be very surprised), do let us know as well.

[double-g]

Well, I got the most useless answer, to look at this URL for list of supported devices:
http://wdc.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/wdc.cfg/ph...hp?p_faqid=3805

[WDUser]

As expected from WD 'Support', I must say.

I'm still waiting for someone with this drive to delete the existing single 3TB partition, then repartition the drive into 2 parts and format using NTFS 512 byte sectors. Hopefully at least the first <=2TB partition should show up, so if nothing else that's a temporary 'fix' in that the movies to be watched can be moved to this partition, and those already watched can be moved to the other invisible one. But of course only if this works...

Note that this procedure (deleting and then repartitioning) will not harm your drive and your data needs to be backed up elsewhere anyway before doing it. Far easier of course for someone with a relatively empty 3TB drive to attempt this, since it'll take ages to move <=3TB of data out and back in later, and of course one might not have that much free space available elsewhere.

[nongratA]

Hello,

I am also in the same situation, purchased a 3TB goflex and i have the WD Live version....

1. first i tried to shrink the 3Tb partition, which i did, but i had a partition of 2tb, and the rest of it i could not use it anymore! so basically my hdd was 2tb

2. i deleted everything, and i noticed that i cannot format in mbr mode, only in GPT mode i can make a 3tb partition or less.

Anyway in GPT scenario seems that is not working at all.

Any other ideeas?

[WDUser]

If the players supported GPT, then forget 3TB, they wouldn't have any troubles with HDDs even 16EB in size.

I was able to format my 2TB HDD as a single partition using MBR mode with no problems whatsoever. Delete all existing partitions, then create one 2TB and one 1TB partition using MBR mode, and NTFS formatting using defaults (i.e. 512 and not 4096byte sectors). You can also play it safe and create 2 x 1.5TB partitions using MBR mode again and NTFS defaults. At least the first 2 or 1.5TB partition should be visible to the player (please test and let us know). The second partition (above the 2TB limit) will not be visible to the player, so you can only access it via your PC and possibly use it to store movies you've already watched, or your other media/personal data etc. This is the best you can do for now.

[nongratA]

How to you format in MBR mode, into two partition of 1.5 because on my windows 7, the last 700G, did not let me modify at all..

Regards

[WDUser]

Do you have any data on the drive already? Best thing to do is back it up elsewhere first. Then go to Disk Management (Start > Run > diskmgmt.msc), delete all partitions on the drive. Once it shows up as 100% unallocated space, right click and create a partition with size 1.5 or 2 TB (1.5 or 2 x 1024 MB). At some point Windows should ask you if you want to create an MBR or GPT partition, so select MBR. Quick format (full format is very slow and not required) the partition as NTFS with all defaults selected and be sure to assign a drive letter. Next you can right-click on the remaining unallocated space in the drive and create a second partition using all the space available. Quick format as before and you should be done.

[BillV]

I know this is an old topic but what was the outcome?

I bought a Drobo storage unit with 4 bays (each 1TB drives) and originally formatted it as a single 4TB partition. The WD player (gen 1) would not see it. When I split it up into 2x2TB partitions, the WD player had no problems seeing and playing anything.

[WDUser]

As per the post in the Announcements section, officially no drive over 2 TB is supported. Also, don't try it or you might lose data according to WD.

[Yukex]

Does anybody know if the firmware has been update or if someone did find out the way for this to work?

I found others websites that actually splitting the hard drive to 2 partition may work, but it is just too much of trouble. Trying to take the files out and put them back on. In addition, I found in B-rad.com has some goods tips about having different firmware, but nothing for this device to able to recognized 3T in general.

And Actually I have 2 (3TB) and I will try to do it. Lucklly it would work. But tranfering data to one to another is gona take me days.. let see

[Rev Drew]

nope, if you split it, you are still taking a chance.

http://wdc.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/5875

not worth it to me, I will continue to buy cheap 2TB drives and use them in my HDD docks

[WDUser]

Also, b-rad's firmware is based on the official one, so if the latter blocks access to > 2 TB drives, the former can't do anything about it.

[Yukex]

This is what i did

First able, I have the HDTV 1 gen. I had to try but it did not work. I format the drive and make two partitions with 4k, using windows and Acronis Disk Dirct. Also in the format window with windows 7, I try to do a quit format changing the bits to 512k, but either of those do not work. Still, this crappy system will not recognized it. Therefore, I went to WD firmware update and I saw that for the WDTV live there is a new firmware 03, 2011 but is lock to usb hard drives, supporting more than 2 TB. So until this company decides to give it up. There is no way to make this work. Unless someone come with the idea of hacking the firmware and unlock the USB portion to able to see hard drives more than 2Tb.

In addition, yes is better to have 2TB hard drive but 3TB is more nicer, so now I have two 3TB that would need to connect it thru my computer to see it in my TV with network connections, because my usb devices in my TV also won’t work for this hard drive.

[max_247]

I dont know it have a My Book Essential 3 TB External hard drive + 2 TB same make + usb wireless attached to my WDTV Live and all works fine on my through the HDMI on my TV.

I think they have released new firmware for it to become compatible, or just the WD 3TB HDD works fine

[WDUser]

I think they have released new firmware for it to become compatible, or just the WD 3TB HDD works fine

The bold part's true. See here for more: http://wdc.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/5875

[hurricane51]

I have a thread going on this same issue ( http://wdtvhd.com/index.php?showtopic=30816 ) and an ongoing thread with WD SUpport. I have a feeling that it's going to come back to using THEIR product, the MyBook. The last two versions of firmware have "supported" 3TB drive, but so far it appears that only the MyBook works.