Having just ventured into the realm of 64GB USB sticks I now discovering the problem that everybody else seems to have been aware of for at least the last two years. Namely that some hardware devices radios, TVs, printers won't recognise the larger capacity USB sticks.

 

Two of my pieces of kit A Roberts Stream 205 radio and an Epson PX720 Multifunction Printer/scanner just won't recognise most 64GB disks.

 

The only two format options that are shown on these disks when formatting them in a computer with 64 bit OS are Ex-FAT (Usually the default) and NTFS. Changing the format to NTFS doesn't help at all.

 

The only USB disks that appear to work correctly on these fussy devices have capacities up to 32GB and are formatted to FAT 32 - On a 64 bit OS these show FAT 32  as the default format (With Ex-FAT and NTFS as options).

 

On a daily basis, when you're swapping multimedia files between different removable devices, the avoidance of failed transfers caused by this issue can require considerable concentration, especially as most USB sticks don't have the size printed in BOLD on them.

 

So for the avoidance of kefuffle, and as FAT 32 id the lowest common denominator between all the devices I have at moment,  I've tried to format 64GB USB sticks to FAT 32 through the DOS Command window, as the Desktop windows 64 bit software doesn't show FAT 32 as an option, No joy. Similiarly trying to shrink the patition volume on a 64GB USB disk down to 32 GB (with the intention of formatting the new 32GB volume) doesn't work on either the Desktop  or DOS Command Window because the shrink option/CL function is respectively greyed out or does not start.

 

So it looks like I stuck with having to operate two different sets of USB sticks according to the devices they are going to be plugged into. That will also entail labelling the effing things according to capacity. Yet again, defeating the original purpose of PnP.

 

Is there a satisfactory (And reliable) way of getting round this ?

 

Interestingly, I had a Transcend 64GB  USB which I must have, in the past, formatted on my Windows 7 32 bit laptop. This worked fine on the "Fussy devices" and when plugged-into a desktop operating Windows 7 or 8.1. 64 bit did show FAT 32 as the default format. But when I went to discover the re-format options it only showed Ex-FAT and NTFS.  I understand from Wiki that the volume limit for FAT 32 is something like 1 or 2 TB, with a maximum file size of 4GB. That being the case is this a solution ? Further, if these stats are true, why are the fussy devices not accepting a 64 GB USB (Is it only because, they've been formatted on a 64 OS and consequently limited to EXFAT and NTFS ?) and why are the Windows 64GB OS's configured, by default, not to be able to format a device over 32GB with FAT32 - Is this a nice little bit of standards implementation designed to make the consumer go out and purchase more up-to-date devices ?

 

Any advice on other ways this restriction may be circumvented would be appreciated.

 

 

Nick

Edited 18 April, 201511 yr by Clunkclick

You can format a 64Gb in FAT32, but you have to look for a utility to do it.

 

Found one here: http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/Hard-Disk-Utils/HP-USB-Disk-Storage-Format-Tool.shtml

 

And here: http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/Hard-Disk-Utils/Fat32Formatter.shtml

 

There's also this: http://www.kingston.com/us/support/technical/products?model=DTIG4

 

I think you can also do it via Windows 7 disk management system.

 

Right Click on Computer - Manage - Storage - Disc Management - (Select your USB stick's driver letter) - Format.

If your devices have a limit of recognising only up to a set limit, there's little you can do

As above, you can format drives above 32GB using FAT32 but you'll need a separate utility as there's an artificial 32GB limit for formatting using FAT32 with the inbuilt tools.

 

John

I agree with the comments above regarding a utility to format the card / USB stick.

 

I used this method to allow me to use a 64 GB SDXC card / 64 GB USB stick in both my Rapid's swing MDI and Yeti's Amundsen+. The unit(s) only read up to 32GB, but are able to see the whole 64Gb, when formatted as FAT32.

Buy smaller memory drives.

 

It's just much less hassle than trying to work around the limitations of the devices you have.

Buy smaller memory drives.

 

It's just much less hassle than trying to work around the limitations of the devices you have.

Surely working around the limitations of existing devices is all part of the fun

 

I initially had several smaller (8 / 16 Gb) SD cards, but once I found this little utility (http://www.ridgecrop.demon.co.uk/index.htm?guiformat.htm) was able to use a single 64 Gb SDXC card / USB stick to carry virtually my entire collection on one device / card.

 

By this method I was also able to use a larger card than my camera was originally designed to utilise.

 

In all seriousness Aspman I completely agree that smaller cards are less hassle, but in practice I tended to loose them and found a single larger card / device more convenient.

 

Kinda defeats the object of buying such a large USB stick but you can re-partition this and have devices read it whatever size you want which may help.

Surely working around the limitations of existing devices is all part of the fun

 

 

 

Spoken like a true geek

 

Fair point sometimes the journey is more important than the end point.

 

I spent hours trying to get wifi on an old laptop to work with Linux rather than just plugging in a cat5

Edited 21 April, 201511 yr by Aspman

It appears my 2015 Peugeot has a 'file limit' of 4000 inspite of my 64gb USB holding ~ double that.

They all 'appear' to be there and the non burnt one's show their covers, but

I'm now deep in the dark zone here though without a serious nerd course.

Sadly, this is an issue with nearly every head unit I have looked at, yet very few manuals cover the limit, and even contacting them for tech support can fail to get an answer, as their own staff havent a clue.

 

There are often other limits, such as a maximum of 256 folders, so you can have less than the limit of files, but not see some of them because they are in more than 256 folders.

 

You could try using some suitable editing software to add songs together, so 2, 3, or 4 songs equal 1 file; but this is a time consuming PITA.

The problem with the auto industry is that it's dominated by mechanical engineers.

The electrical ones are flat out serving the emissions engineers.

No manufacurers seem to be concerned about being up to date on ICE which requires just as much research and planning.

It just seems it's not a priority........except among the sales and marketing personnel who are left with the problem of answering customer queries and complaints.

Edited 8 May, 201610 yr by Ryeman

I just got a micro sd card big enough to take what i wanted, put it in my phone and use the bt music option on my (aldi 50quid sunday special) hu to play from the phone.

but, yeah the stupidity of non compatibility with usb sticks and what should be new tech is just ridiculous.

Apple/Google are likely to replace the 'dinosaurs' when the electric car takes over.

Its not just the car makers though; I have a hideously expensive Clarion POS that is incapable of reading the file list on a USB drive and playing music at the same time; it insists on scanning the whole device (at 2 seconds per GB), before it will play anything; it also insists on rescanning after playback is interrupted by a traffic announcement.

 

Previously, I had a £30 Chinese unit that would read and play instantly; the only reason I took it out was because of the poor(ish) sound quality at higher volumes; although as I increasingly lose my temper with the Clarion (had major BT issues with it as well); I may try another, more expensive Chinese unit.

 

As per another thread, the Chinese unit also has a SS relay to isolate the speakers from switch-on "thump", the Clarion doesnt, so you get a huge "WHOMP" every time you switch it on.

 

You would expect a company that makes expensive audio gear to put SOME thought and development into the products they rely on to make a profit.

Edited 8 May, 201610 yr by GentleGiant

Is it that the USB stick wasn't designed for music files but simply text...........?

Is it that the USB stick wasn't designed for music files but simply text...........?

 

WTF?? Joke??

How would I know, I'm not the nerdy type.

So why the problems???

How would I know, I'm not the nerdy type.

So why the problems??

 

Bad design and minimal spending on the hardware by the makers. The player doesnt have enough internal memory to read and store more than 4,000 file entries or 256 folder entries; the same issue cropped up on Creative mp3 players a few years ago, you could stick a 32GB uSD card in them, and fill the card with music, but the stupid player could only read about 30% of the card contents; the only ways around it were to edit the tracks as I mentioned above, or connect an external player (like a phone), and just use the car head unit as an amplifier.

How would I know, I'm not the nerdy type.

So why the problems???

Data is data 1s&0s when stored. As long as what its plugged into is able to write or read the 1/0 the right way it will be fine regardless of stick design.

The problem is that car designers only have so much computing power to play with in a H/U and so they have to limit something, either the ability to read an amount of data (filesize) or the amount of data thrown at it (drive capacity

Bad design and minimal spending on the hardware by the makers. The player doesnt have enough internal memory to read and store more than 4,000 file entries or 256 folder entries; the same issue cropped up on Creative mp3 players a few years ago, you could stick a 32GB uSD card in them, and fill the card with music, but the stupid player could only read about 30% of the card contents; the only ways around it were to edit the tracks as I mentioned above, or connect an external player (like a phone), and just use the car head unit as an amplifier.

1/ So if the Peugeot says 4000 but the stick has many more does it mean I can't access the the extras?.

2/ Is a 'card reader' of any specific use?.

1/ So if the Peugeot says 4000 but the stick has many more does it mean I can't access the the extras?.

2/ Is a 'card reader' of any specific use?.

 

No, you cannot access the extras from the car player, and no a card reader wont help.

 

 

1/ So if the Peugeot says 4000 but the stick has many more does it mean I can't access the the extras?.

2/ Is a 'card reader' of any specific use?.

 

No, you cant access it, and no a card reader wont help.

 

Data is data 1s&0s when stored. As long as what its plugged into is able to write or read the 1/0 the right way it will be fine regardless of stick design.

The problem is that car designers only have so much computing power to play with in a H/U and so they have to limit something, either the ability to read an amount of data (filesize) or the amount of data thrown at it (drive capacity

 

If the Chinese can turn out a player for £30 DELIVERED TO THE UK, with the capability to read all the music on a 32GB card, AND start playing at the same time, why cant a European company with a budget of billions??

 

Because they now make them "custom fit", so you are usually stuck with the POS. It took me 2 years to find a scrap car with the older DIN socket dash board, so I could replace my built in CD player.

 

If the Chinese can turn out a player for £30 DELIVERED TO THE UK, with the capability to read all the music on a 32GB card, AND start playing at the same time, why cant a European company with a budget of billions??

 

 

cos the **** Chinese ones are **** knock-offs and they're ****. They have a warranty that's worth even less than the £30 (delivered) and contain components that are even ****ter than the **** thing itself. They have dodgy CE markings, have not been tested to a proper standard and are ****.

cos the **** Chinese ones are **** knock-offs and they're ****. They have a warranty that's worth even less than the £30 (delivered) and contain components that are even ****ter than the **** thing itself. They have dodgy CE markings, have not been tested to a proper standard and are ****.

But their mk1 octavia lock mechanism are fine :peek:

cos the **** Chinese ones are **** knock-offs and they're ****. They have a warranty that's worth even less than the £30 (delivered) and contain components that are even ****ter than the **** thing itself. They have dodgy CE markings, have not been tested to a proper standard and are ****.

 

Yes, it isnt well made, and the warranty is worthless, BUT IT WORKS, and that is more than can be said for the £300 Clarion I replaced it with.

 

BTW, if it is a knock-off, that would suggest there are car units that do work correctly; so why arent car makers using them??