How long does it take to format an EHD?

[smokey982]

I bought a 3TB WD My Book external drive today to go along with the 2TB drive I already have installed. I plugged it in around 4pm this afternoon. I got the standard message that the drive needs to be reformatted. But it's now almost 3 hours later and it still says "USB storage device is formatting, please wait". How long should this process take? I've had my 2TB drive for several years now. But if memory serves me right, I don't think it took but a few minutes.
If this is normal. Could I try plugging in and formatting the drive on my bedroom hopper? And then move in back to my living room after it's finished? No one will be using the bedroom hopper until later tonight.

 

[navychop]

Yep, too long. And yep, try formatting it in the bedroom. But that particular 3TB might just not work.

 

[smokey982]

I've seen other post on here about people using the WD My Book drives. Is there a particular reason it wouldn't work?

 

[dare2be]

Dish only officially supports up to 2TB drives. Others have reported success with larger drives (but only get to use 2TB), but YMMV.

 

[RobMeyer1]

3TB not supported by Dish. https://www.mydish.com/external-hard-drive Some people claim to have used 3TB, but I stick with 2TB WD My Book EHD's which is the maximum size supported by Dish.

 

[n0qcu]

Dish only officially supports up to 2TB drives. Others have reported success with larger drives (but only get to use 2TB), but YMMV.

NO all 3TB are usable, I don't get why you keep saying otherwise.

 

[smokey982]

3TB not supported by Dish. https://www.mydish.com/external-hard-drive Some people claim to have used 3TB, but I stick with 2TB WD My Book EHD's which is the maximum size supported by Dish.

I can't find the My Book in 2TB anymore. I think the 3TB is the smallest available now. I guess I could buy a different brand but I've had a lot of success with my old WD drive.

 

[navychop]

NO all 3TB are usable, I don't get why you keep saying otherwise.

Because, IIRC, we have read reports here to the contrary.

 

[smokey982]

Yep, too long. And yep, try formatting it in the bedroom. But that particular 3TB might just not work.

Well I tried in the bedroom and I'm not even getting a pop up on the screen about a device being added. It's like it's not detecting it at all. Both are hoppers with sling. The only difference is the bedroom hopper has been updated with the new CUI. That shouldn't make a difference though.

 

[dare2be]

NO all 3TB are usable, I don't get why you keep saying otherwise.

Because others have reported it and even DIRT mentions it. Hence why I said YMMV. Sometimes it will only format 2TB, other times it won't ever finish formatting, and even at times it won't even recognize the drive. Here is a thread with a very similar situation and results as the OP of this thread:

http://www.satelliteguys.us/xen/threads/3tb-wd-my-book-with-hopper.364102/

 

[dare2be]

Here's another thread talking about how the drive working or not has something to do with the enclosure being used. The CUI not recognizing EHDs that previously worked issue has also been widely reported as a bug (which is probably what you are experiencing in the bedroom), and others have suggested that the enclosure makes a difference.

http://www.satelliteguys.us/xen/threads/ehd-issue-with-hopper-3.360667/

 

[smokey982]

Here's another thread talking about how the drive working or not has something to do with the enclosure being used. The CUI not recognizing EHDs that previously worked issue has also been widely reported as a bug (which is probably what you are experiencing in the bedroom), and others have suggested that the enclosure makes a difference.

http://www.satelliteguys.us/xen/threads/ehd-issue-with-hopper-3.360667/

I appreciate the help. I had to unplug the drive earlier because I couldn't watch tv with that message on the screen. I think I'll plug it back in tonight before I go to bed and let it try overnight to format. If that doesn't work I guess I'll return the 3TB and try and find a good 2TB somewhere. Any good recommendations besides WD? Because it appears that have discontinued the 2TB My Book.

 

[avion]

Well I tried in the bedroom and I'm not even getting a pop up on the screen about a device being added. It's like it's not detecting it at all. Both are hoppers with sling. The only difference is the bedroom hopper has been updated with the new CUI. That shouldn't make a difference though.

Yeah, the latest software (from 10/21) broke EHD access. See this thread: http://www.satelliteguys.us/xen/threads/external-hard-drive-help.364671/

 

[smokey982]

Well, I let it run overnight and it never finished formatting. Unfortunately none of my local stores carry the 2TB anymore in the My Book. Has anyone had success with the Seagate units?

 

[dare2be]

Have you looked at the WD Elements? Amazon has the 2TB for $75

Nevermind, the current Elements line does not have its own power supply. Previous models did.

 

[smokey982]

Have you looked at the WD Elements? Amazon has the 2TB for $75

Nevermind, the current Elements line does not have its own power supply. Previous models did.

That's the problem I'm running into on 2TB drives. It's hard to find them powered.

 

[gdarwin]

Seagate works fine.

 

[pattykay]

Has anyone had success with the Seagate units?

Seagate works fine.

I have had success with a Seagate hard drive. It is a 1TB drive that I got from Dish before they ran out of stock. I have been hoping that Dish will start offering hard drives again, because if Dish is selling it, there should not be any question about whether or not it will work with Dish receivers.

 

[smokey982]

Well after driving all over town with no success. I found a 2TB WD My Book at Fry's online. Apparently they're the last place in the world to still have some left over inventory. Dish needs to rethink this 2TB limit on there drives because they're almost impossible to find with AC power supplies.

 

[navychop]

It is the chipset that sets the limit, supposedly. So there is no s/w fix. Maybe H4 or H5.

I would NEVER trust so many programs on a 2 or larger TB drive without making it a RAID 1 array.