[biigt]

Hi, Apologies if this has already been posted but I can't seem to find it....I'll try to be brief.

I have a Seagate 500GB external HD which I use for pictures, videos etc.. I currently have approx 200GB of stuff on there and the current file format is NTFS.

I want to use it on my PS3 and I know that I have to reformat the entire HD to FAT32 in order to get the PS3 to recognise it. Each file on my HD is no bigger than a couple of GB so it should be ok.....shouldn't it?

My question is this....If I copy and paste my entire HD to my home PC as a temporary measure, then format my external HD to FAT32, then copy and paste my files back, will I be able to use them like I can do now? And, will that enable me to see the files on my PS3?

Thanks in advance.

[Happy Rich]

Originally Posted by biigt

Hi, Apologies if this has already been posted but I can't seem to find it....I'll try to be brief.

I have a Seagate 500GB external HD which I use for pictures, videos etc.. I currently have approx 200GB of stuff on there and the current file format is NTFS.

I want to use it on my PS3 and I know that I have to reformat the entire HD to FAT32 in order to get the PS3 to recognise it. Each file on my HD is no bigger than a couple of GB so it should be ok.....shouldn't it?

My question is this....If I copy and paste my entire HD to my home PC as a temporary measure, then format my external HD to FAT32, then copy and paste my files back, will I be able to use them like I can do now? And, will that enable me to see the files on my PS3?

Thanks in advance.

Yes that will be fine, but like you have said Fat will only do upto 4gb so you will be limited to that in the future.
Alternative method is to connect the PS3 to your PC via ethernet(homeplugs maybe) of wifi and use PS3 Media Server - no need to reformat to FAT then but you will have to have your pc switched on while browsing on the PS3

[biigt]

Thanks for the info. That's what I'm actually doing now I.e. streaming from my PC but I'd much rather just plug it directly into my PS3. I saw what you said about the max 4GB file size....quick question - this shouldn't be a problem if I put 300 1GB files onto the HD should it? Just as long as its not one single file bigger than 4GB?

Are you 100% sure that my old NTFS files will be read on my newly formatted FAT32 HD?

[Happy Rich]

Originally Posted by biigt

Thanks for the info. That's what I'm actually doing now I.e. streaming from my PC but I'd much rather just plug it directly into my PS3. I saw what you said about the max 4GB file size....quick question - this shouldn't be a problem if I put 300 1GB files onto the HD should it? Just as long as its not one single file bigger than 4GB?

Are you 100% sure that my old NTFS files will be read on my newly formatted FAT32 HD?

I've done it and not had any issues but you might find that the PS3 will be a bit more fussy about video formats when connected directly to the USB drive compared to PS3 Media server.

[biigt]

I originally got the idea after watching my mate link his external HD straight to his PS3. I obviously won't lose the data if I transfer it to my PC but I'm worried about it when I transfer it back.

Also, if it all goes wrong, can I reformat back to NTFS?

Thanks

[dsw]

Wdtv live instead? Ps3 is redundant now in my house for file playing and wdtv is pretty much flawless

[TJNewton]

Originally Posted by dsw

Wdtv live instead? Ps3 is redundant now in my house for file playing and wdtv is pretty much flawless

Hi really glad to hear that as I to have got fed up with the PS3 as a media streamer and have just ordered a WDTV Streaming Media player. Hopefully being delivered tomorrow, playtime

[LJx]

those WDTV lives are pretty cool now, they got netflix etc too. Even one of those £20 chinese media players would be much better than a PS3, it would read NTFS play any sort of files and wouldn't use an absolutely ridiculous amount of power

[TJNewton]

Originally Posted by LJx

those WDTV lives are pretty cool now, they got netflix etc too. Even one of those £20 chinese media players would be much better than a PS3, it would read NTFS play any sort of files and wouldn't use an absolutely ridiculous amount of power

Got my WDTV Live now and very pleased so far, so easy to set up. Immediately it connected to my network via ethernet over power line adaptors it did a firmware upgrade and away she went, sorted. Great connectivity using optical for the audio connection, nice.