1TB SDD - Needed a powered Hub to work correctly.

Device: Z10

Source: Retail

Firmwear: V10.10.54

Storage: V10.10.21

MyTVOnline2: 10.10.60

Connection with Provider: Shows ID/MAc registration.

Box connected with: Ethernet (100 mbs)

SDD: Lexar 1TB, formatted as NTFS on a friend's Windows PC. Used Disc Management, Single Volume wizard as explained in the pinned thread "External Hard Drive". My iMac says the drive is NTFS. I cannot confirm whether Master Boot Record (MBR) or GUID Partition Table (GPT). My understanding is that GPT is backwards compatible.

Have read both the Formuler article on "Formatting an external storage device" and this forum's pinned thread "External Hard Drive".

My wife wants to record some programs so I need a working external device that MyTVOnline2 can use as the DVR storage hardware.

Here’s my testing so far.

Z10 Box - no updates required on either Firmware, Storage software or MyTBOnlineV2 application.

Scenario 1

Z10 Box Powered Off - Attach SDD. Start via remote - Goes to first start up screen for the TV Box (Z10 Logo) but hangs there. Normally it would continue to another start up of Coloured Logo being spelled out then some bouncing coloured pips below the logo. The remote transmits (red flash on the remote but the box is totally frozen up and sometimes the box will even turn off its power indicator (light off). I am forced to pull the Z10 power plug to get things to shut down.

Between attempts / scenarios, I do a restart without the SDD attached by reconnecting the Z10 power plug and then after successful boot, do a proper restart using the remote. I then either power off or place in standby using the remote.

Scenario 2

TV Box in Standby - attach the SDD. Use the remote to Start. I am immediately into the main screen. After waiting a few seconds (10?), I get an indication on the main screen of an external storage device ( just below Time). Using the remote, I moved to TV Box Settings - Device Preferences - Storage. It shows both the internal 5GB and the external 1TB SDD (named Z10SDD while I formatted it). Checking the SDD Storage - I show Misc 0GB, Available 1TB. No other markers of file types (cache, etc.) shown for the SDD. I can also either "Eject" or "Format". I do not format since the guidance is to use an external PC.

Backing out of settings, I can use the "Media Files" app to check both the internal and SDD for "all files". Both drives are listed, can be opened and have a similar number of named folders, though there are some differences. Folder names in most cases are identical. The SDD has a specific folder that I added during formatting called “wallpapers” which is empty.

After exiting the Media Files app, I try to start the MyTVOnline2 app. The screen greys out and the Z10 box hangs. I’ve waited at least a minute with no change on the greyed out screen. The Z10 box no longer accepts commands from the remote. To shut the box down, I need to pull the power plug.

So any suggestions on problem cause and correcting the situation?

Cheers

Bob

So, about 60 views and no replies?

I was hoping that someone from Formuler (SAM - the forum admin perhaps) or another knowlegable party would help.

Does no one have a suggestion on what the problem is and a possible solution?

I had the SDD reformatted to NTFS again using the Master Boot Record setting in case that was the problem.

Initially, it solved the start from Power Off state but no longer. After start up, the SDD would show as a storage device in Settings but attempting to use either MyTVOnline 2 or the Media Viewer would cause the Z10 to hang and not respond to the remote.

After powering down by pulling the plug, I checked the SDD on my iMac where I can read the disc but not write to it. It shows that the Android folders, similar to the internal storage on the Z10, have been loaded to the SDD.

The SDD is now causing a hang on start up from Power Off state at the initial Z10 screen.

As before, anytime I've had a hang and had to pull power, I've removed the SDD, powered up, waited for a restart, then shut down using correctly using the remote.

If I leave the Z10 in standby, insert the SDD and power on with the remote, I get the home screen and the SDD shows as an icon under the time marker after a few seconds. I've tried using both the Icon in the APP list and Settings > Apps> Open App on both the MyTVOnline2 and Media Viewer with no success. The box just dims the TV screen and hangs. I've waited several minutes hoping the screen would clear / go normal but it does not. The Z10 also will not respond to the remote at that stage. I've also tried "The Weather Network" app, assuming it does not even use the SDD, and had the Z10 grey out the screen.

The SDD seems now to be an expensive paperweight.

So what now? Do I spend more money by buying a smaller USB flash drive hoping that a hardware type switch will work? If so, what max storage size and brand would be the go-to choice?

Cheers

Bob
Ottawa, Canada

Quote from SAM

Hello Bob,

Sorry for the late reply but fighting with the flu.

Hope you're feeling better.

Either we have an SSD that is causing errors or a factory reset is necessary.

Please do following.

1. Take some 4-8 GB USB Stick format with fat32 and connect with the Z10, reboot once. Go to MOL2 menu-> Settings-> DVR -> check if recognised and chose for recording. Test.

Smallest USB stick I have is 16 MB. I've just reformatted it using Apple Disc Utility to FAT32 and check the info on the disc. It says FAT32 is the partition size.

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Quote from SAM

2. If 1 doesn`t work then please do factory reset with disconnected USB Devices. After factory reset no install of any Apps than MOL2. Test again 1.

Is factory reset the same as Reset in Device Settings? If it involves use the reset button on the back, I can't. I have had to do numerous reboots / restarts using the button previously and it has now broken free within the housing.

Would using uninstalling all the apps loaded then using Settings > Reset be equal to a Factory Reset? I'll need to reach out to my retailer to get the Portal Password before I do any uninstalls and resets.

3. If 2. works then is something wrong with your format or the ssd. Use some tool for ssd check.

Wrong with which format - the Z10 or the SSD?

Thanks for getting back to me. I'll post up once get the retailer password and do the uninstalls, etc.

Cheers

Bob

Good Afternoon All

I tested my box with a 16Gb USB Stick as suggested by Sam. Startup, storage selection and recording all worked out.

Thanks to provels suggestion, I went and purchased the cheapest powered USB hub (12 V, 2A) available at my local computer outet this morning. After setting everything up (SDD to the hub and hub to the box), the Z10 is working correctly. The box restarts correctly, recognizes the drive, Media Files app can view the drive, and MyTVOnline2 can be recorded to the 1TB SSD.

The powered hub was the solution.

Thank-you for your suggestions and patience.

Cheers

Bob