Blu-ray and DVD Players/Recorders

[kbachelder]

As I mentioned in another thread I'm planning on buying an NS-WBRDVD very soon. 

From what I've read here on the forums it sounds like I should plan to pickup a USB flash drive to give me some additional functionality such as playing my own video files and the ability to use BD-Live.  I see suggestions and gotchas posted in several threads so I thought I'd start a thread especially for the newbies like myself. 

If this isn't appropriate please let me know or the admins can delete this post.

Feel free to correct me but from what I've read so far it sounds like a memory stick design is likely better than trying to use a hard drive (i.e. WD Passports, etc.) design.

The drive can NOT be formatted as NTFS so it needs to be formatted as FAT, FAT16 or FAT32.

Sounds like 2GB or 4GB sizes might also be a good size to use.

It also sounds like folks are having better luck with certain brands over another so I'm looking to hear what specific brands/units are working for folks.

Thanks again,

Kevin

[fhall1]

I'm using a SanDisk Cruzer 4GB....works fine to play .avi files

[RAD]

I tried a BestBuy Geek Squad 4GB stick, it would start out OK but then the player would say it was removed and then reinserted, I hadn't touched it. Exchanged it for a PNY 4GB, that works fine.

[232power]

I use a CORSAIR 128GB USB 2.0 Flash Drive  with FAT32 .. I had to use the USB extension cable that came with it, seems like some Flash Drive does not plug in all the way, and that cause the device not to work well.

Also note FAT32 will support up to 2 TB (2,000 GB) and a max file size of 4 GB or smaller, to read more

about FAT/FAT32 and NTFS file system check out MS site:

http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/choosing_between_ntfs...

NOTE: I use my Linux box to Format in FAT32 when formating Flash drives bigger than 32GB, 

Windows limit format size of 32GB .. this is NOT a FAT32 limit, only a Windows limit, use a Linux box

and you can Format up to 2TB in FAT32..  Hope that helps..

Message Edited by 232power on 12-11-2009 07:43 AM

[kbachelder]

I grabbed a PNY 4GB stick at Best Buy for about $15 and it works great.

I also picked up a NS-WBRDVD unit yesterday and so far so good.

Kevin

[zuva2rex]

From what I can determine the NS-WBRDVD USB only supported (up to) FAT32 and 32GB or less.  I tried a FAT32 format utility (Windows) to format a 100GB powered drive as FAT32 and the NS-WBRDVD  does not recognize it.  I partitioned it to 32GB and FAT32 and it works fine.  I also tried ExFAT from Microsoft and same thing.  I also tried ExFAT on the 32GB partition to see if I could get around the 4GB file size limitation but ExFAT is not recognized.

So I guess I'll find a 32GB USB drive and have to split my >4GB files up to watch.

Insignia really needs to come up with a resolution to the FAT32 file size limitation and recognizing a >32GB drive.

A way to network it so videos can be streamed from the network would eliminate this.

[mdavej]

FWIW, I'm using a 160GB drive (all 160GB on one partition) on mine with no problems. I haven't tried any 4GB files, but I wouldn't expect them to work.

[zuva2rex]

What did you use to format the 160GB?  FAT32 I assume?  I use a PC but have access to a MAC if that would work.

[mdavej]

FAT32 on a PC. But it was tricky. I have Vista which can't format FAT32. I used one of the first freeware app I could find, which is a command line app called fat32format. I don't know how it breaks the 32GB barrier, but it worked for me.

[zuva2rex]

Thanks.  I actually tried that but didn't work.  I tried it again after your post and the player recognized the drive so all is well.  I've tried so many things, maybe I just got confused.