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Help Connecting a hard drive to Android
- Thread starter Johnaldo
- Start date
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- Tags
- samsung galaxy tab 2
...but as I said ... it was working fine about 10 days ago ... so I don't think that's the reason.
Again, this isn't the problem as it worked ok recently.
John
So did you change anything? Like install an update? Have you tried powering the device off for a few minutes? Have you tried anything else? What app(s) have you used to access the hard drive?
Steve
Steve, in answer to your questions ...
No updates installed at all.
Powered on / off numerous times, with and without the USB connected.
Swapped cables, and camera works ok through OTG connector.
No apps used, didn't need them previously.
John
If you use the hard drive on windows and its formatted with Fat32 or NTFS chances are its not been cleanly unmounted.
Although sometimes you can just unplug USB memory sticks and hard drives in windows, quite often they will become corrupt. There is usually an icon in the windows system tray that allows you to stop a USB drive before unplugging it.
Connect it to your windows system then run a checkdisk or scandisk, this will reset the filesystem flag which marks the drive as "dirty".
Then try and reconnect it to your Samsung tablet.
Although sometimes you can just unplug USB memory sticks and hard drives in windows, quite often they will become corrupt. There is usually an icon in the windows system tray that allows you to stop a USB drive before unplugging it.
Connect it to your windows system then run a checkdisk or scandisk, this will reset the filesystem flag which marks the drive as "dirty".
Then try and reconnect it to your Samsung tablet.
Hall8000,
I tried as you suggested ... on laptop I ran checkdisk, then correctly stopped the USB.
Then connected to tablet ... got message "USB connector connected".
But when I look in My Files it's not visible.
Should I be looking somewhere else?
Is there a setting I need to make on the tablet?
John
I tried as you suggested ... on laptop I ran checkdisk, then correctly stopped the USB.
Then connected to tablet ... got message "USB connector connected".
But when I look in My Files it's not visible.
Should I be looking somewhere else?
Is there a setting I need to make on the tablet?
John
USB connected is a good sign.
From the App Store download a free program called "File Manager".
On the left hand side of file manager are icons for Storage, System, Gallery.
I don't have a USB connector lead to test with my Samsung Tab2 but I believe all files will be mounted below the storage icon.
If I'm wrong I'm sure someone will correct me. Hope that helps.
From the App Store download a free program called "File Manager".
On the left hand side of file manager are icons for Storage, System, Gallery.
I don't have a USB connector lead to test with my Samsung Tab2 but I believe all files will be mounted below the storage icon.
If I'm wrong I'm sure someone will correct me. Hope that helps.
I already have File Manager installed, Hal, and that wasn't showing the drive.
However, I've just done some further googling and the suggestion of power requirements for the hard drive cropped up a few times.
Well, my drive came with a Y cable, so I plugged the other USB into one of the ports on my laptop and, hey presto, the drive appeared on the Tab! (Well it didn't appear immediately - I just had to switch the Tab on/off to refresh it).
So I think I have a solution, but a) how did I see the drive previously when I've never connected that second USB before?, and b) how do I power the drive when I'm away from the laptop?
John
However, I've just done some further googling and the suggestion of power requirements for the hard drive cropped up a few times.
Well, my drive came with a Y cable, so I plugged the other USB into one of the ports on my laptop and, hey presto, the drive appeared on the Tab! (Well it didn't appear immediately - I just had to switch the Tab on/off to refresh it).
So I think I have a solution, but a) how did I see the drive previously when I've never connected that second USB before?, and b) how do I power the drive when I'm away from the laptop?
John
The method I use is to connect a powered USB hub to the Tab. It allows multiple devices and removes the powering restriction. For certain the Tab would require a means of external powering for any USB HD which is powered over the USB cable. The same goes for USB sticks.The HD's power needs might be barely above the Tab's power providing ability. So the Tab's own actual using of its battery might rule this
Harry
Looking like power (or lack of it) is the problem.
Txrose72, please can you post me a link to the sort of equipment I would need?
Thanks John.
Here is the link to the one I use. Any powered USB Hub like this will do. You will be able to find less expensive Hubs by shopping on line.
FRYS.com