cortex and external hard drive

[Creature]

cheers for the warning

[CRAZY K]

hi all,

i got given a hard drive for xmas - to go with my cortex - a western digital 80gb.

i cant seem to get the cortex to recognise it - will this work with the cortex?

my PC recognises it, so i know the drive works.


am i doing something wrong or as i fear does the cortex not recognise these drives?


any help greatly appreciated. ta

A standard powered HD from Maplins or PC World should be fine.

Not had any problems with my two Cortex

CRAZY K

[One Vision]

hi all,

i got given a hard drive for xmas - to go with my cortex - a western digital 80gb.

i cant seem to get the cortex to recognise it - will this work with the cortex?

my PC recognises it, so i know the drive works.


am i doing something wrong or as i fear does the cortex not recognise these drives?


any help greatly appreciated. ta

Have you formatted it to fat32?
I don't have the cortex but the D2 and have the same HD but the 160gb version.
I would imagine the HD will already be formatted in NTFS and am not sure the cortex will run NTFS, so possibly wouldn't recognise the HD?

[DJ INDIE]

Hi all, Ive added a powered USB and the Cortex still doesnt recognise it - although the disc spins and all the lights come on etc.

I'll have a look at how to format to fat32 - ta

[Jiggles]

The Cortex will read a NTFS but wont write to it. FAT32 will read and write to it.

[DJ INDIE]

just had a quick look using the formatting a drive idiots help guide and this disc is already FAT32 - am I doing something really numb somewhere?

the cortex reads all my usb pen drives etc but not this passport hard disc

[Excalibur]

Have you formatted it to fat32?
I don't have the cortex but the D2 and have the same HD but the 160gb version.
I would imagine the HD will already be formatted in NTFS and am not sure the cortex will run NTFS, so possibly wouldn't recognise the HD?

OH YES IT WILL. It just won't write to it. (Or corrupt it hopefully. )

Hi all, Ive added a powered USB and the Cortex still doesnt recognise it - although the disc spins and all the lights come on etc.

I'll have a look at how to format to fat32 - ta

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You didn't read my post, did you? I'm presuming you've already joined it to a PC to load MP3's ? FAT32 is not vital ( or preferable IMHO)
You need a powered HD, not just the hub.

The Cortex will read a NTFS but wont write to it. FAT32 will read and write to it.

True.

[One Vision]

The Cortex will read a NTFS but wont write to it. FAT32 will read and write to it.

I know the difference in fat and NTFS I just wasn't aware if the cortex was compatible or not as I don't have one.
I cant see why the cortex would only run from a powered HD though, how many 2.5" HDs do you know that actually have a separate power supply that you plug in to the power?
A powered hub is providing the extra power so nothing is being powered from the main system.
Powered hard drives and hubs are more a recommendation as far as I'm aware and not necessarily a case of it wont pick the HD up without one.
Some laptop hard drives have a double usb cable, simply as one is for power and the other for data, but don't actually have a separate power supply.

[ppentertainments]

If you want a cheap reliable HD that works with the cortex look at this :
http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=225665
Have used one for past 4 months without any probs (other than plug not the best, has an adaptor fitted to it). Cheap as chips, powered and does the job.

[One Vision]

If you want a cheap reliable HD that works with the cortex look at this :
http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=225665
Have used one for past 4 months without any probs (other than plug not the best, has an adaptor fitted to it). Cheap as chips, powered and does the job.

But big