Timeshift and Record not working - Strongly Suspect USB

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  • Hi,

    I have gone through the other related posts and I am still having problems with timeshift and record.

    I have a 16G flash drive that I format as per the directions (ie Rufus). I plug it into the right side port, reboot the GTV box and then ignore the USB message when it appears. My timeshift is "on". When I go to timeshift live tv nothing happens and when I try to record anything it says that "Storage has been disconnected". I may have overlocked something but I can't imagine what it is. Can the flash drive go in either port (right/left)? Does the drive have to be USB 3.0?

    At this point any suggestions will help.

    Thanks...Tom

  • Ok let’s double check you’ve done the right things, follow these steps to be sure:

    > Format USB with Laptop to NTFS format either with windows or rufus tool

    > Put USB into either port on Formuler box and then format from the box.

    *** Settings > Device Preferences > Storage > Removable Storage > Erase and Format

    > Do not move data when asked, there is no need

    > Set your USB as the recording destination.

    *** Open Mytvonline2 > Menu > Settings > DVR Options > Recording & Timeshift Storage Location > set to your usb name


    If you’ve done that there should be no issue.

    If you’re still having a problem then either you’ve not followed the steps or the USB is faulty

  • Hi,

    Thanks for the reply, very much appreciated.

    I have followed the steps to the letter and still problems. At one point the timeshift was working but then stopped. I also tried to record via the EPG and when I went to play the recorded file I got a message saying that the recorded files were empty. Oh yeah, I tried viewing the program being recorded and the playback was virtually stopped - only sputtering ahead every now and again.

    I am thinking a new flash drive is in order but I have a couple more questions. I have noticed that the GTV asks if I would like to use this drive as "Device Storage" or "Removal Storage", is there a difference and, if so, which should I select? Secondly, if cloudshift is not available does the system automatically save to the USB? Conversely, if Cloudshift is available does it ignore the USB altogether? Lastly, does anyone/everyone agree that my issue is likely the drive itself?

    Thanks in Advance...Tom

  • Seems you may need to try another USB. Good ones that prove to work with GTV or any Formuler box is Sandisk and Kingston. Many others I’m sure but worth mentioning anyway.

    For GTV I recommend setting as removable storage because I found it would not record or allow timeshift to work when it was set as device storage.

    Also DONT move your apps across either. If it asks you, select “Maybe Later” and it will go off.

    If you’ve already set as device storage then I’d suggest formatting the usb a couple of times from the Formuler box. I say that because for me, when I first set up and set as device storage it wouldn’t work but it took me two times of formatting as removable storage for it to recognise and now it works perfect.

    You will get a notification appear in the notification area but ignore that.

    Your recordings will always default to the external storage.

    GTV won’t allow timeshift to work or any recording without external USB either from what I’ve found.

    I hope that helps.

    Edited 2 times, last by adrilang (January 18, 2021 at 10:45 PM).

  • Hi,

    Super helpful, thanks.

    It looks like it was the USB drive after all. I used a new drive, followed the steps again, and voila all seems to be working now.

    To test it out I scheduled a recording for 2:00am via the EPG. To my chagrin though, the tv turned on at 2:00am and recording started. Any idea how to prevent the tv from sparking up (I was hoping it would just record in the background)?

    I will do more testing but so far so good.

    Thanks...Tom

  • Glad to learn it’s now working for you.

    For scheduled recording, the box needs to wake from standby in order to record. Once it’s finished it will go back into standby.

    If it brings your tv on at the same time, simple solution for that.... power off the TV :winking_face:

    Some TVs allow you to turn off the HDMI wake feature so you’ll be able to keep the TV in standby if the box comes on.

    But in all seriousness, the GTV is doing what it’s supposed to :thumbs_up:

  • Again, thanks to all that helped.

    I am still a bit confused by cloudtime shift. I have the GTV box. Should I see the cloud ikon when I press the info button and then the down button to expand the info? Or, should I look for the red triangle when in the EPG?

    If I have regular timeshift toggled on will the system engage both regular timeshift and cloudshift?

    Thanks