I recently bought a Transcend 1TB External Hard Drive. I have copied many TV files from my PC on to the drive. I can play all that I have copied on my PC or through my PC via HDMI lead onto my TV (Samsung Smart TV).

However, when I plug the new hard drive into the back on my TV it does not even pick up a device plugged into the USB port.

I have another Hard Drive (Seagate 1TB) with lots of TV files on it and the TV recognises that device and plays from it when it it plugged directly into the TV.

Any ideas why my TV won't recognise the new Transcend hard drive?

As always, many thanks in advance...

my TV it does not even pick up a device plugged into the USB port.

I presume you've selected the 'source' button on your TV remote and then selected USB? Samsung's will read nearly everything.

Does your hard drive require USB3? Your TV might not be able to supply enough power to it. How old is the TV?

clutchcargo wrote: ↑Wed Mar 03, 2021 2:45 pm

my TV it does not even pick up a device plugged into the USB port.

I presume you've selected the 'source' button on your TV remote and then selected USB? Samsung's will read nearly everything.

Yes. The Samsung TV picks up the other one fine.

timmydownawell wrote: ↑Wed Mar 03, 2021 3:25 pm Does your hard drive require USB3? Your TV might not be able to supply enough power to it. How old is the TV?

TV is a good 6 years old.

Transcend is a USB 3.1 Gen 1 Portable Hard Drive.

The other one that the TV does recognise is a:

Seagate Expansion Portable 1 TB External Hard Drive HDD – USB 3.0 for PC Laptop

Did you format the new drive before putting files on it? Should be formatted to FAT32 or NTFS.

timmydownawell wrote: ↑Wed Mar 03, 2021 3:25 pm Does your hard drive require USB3? Your TV might not be able to supply enough power to it. How old is the TV?

^ probably this.

To start up traditional (spinning) hard disks require a power boost, but most USB outlets on TV's are limited to 5V 0.5A - 2.5 Watt only. Check the power requirements of your new hard disk and you will find out.

You could also listen to hear (or feel) whether it's spinning or not when connected to the TV.

Kammekor wrote: ↑Wed Mar 03, 2021 4:02 pm

timmydownawell wrote: ↑Wed Mar 03, 2021 3:25 pm Does your hard drive require USB3? Your TV might not be able to supply enough power to it. How old is the TV?

^ probably this.

To start up traditional (spinning) hard disks require a power boost, but most USB outlets on TV's are limited to 6V 0.5A - 3 Watt only. Check the power requirements of your new hard disk and you will find out.

You could also listen to hear (or feel) whether it's spinning or not when connected to the TV.

Yes, but the other drive, also a USB 3 works fine on the TV. The new hard drive is a USB 3.1 so could that be a significant difference?

timmydownawell wrote: ↑Wed Mar 03, 2021 3:48 pm Did you format the new drive before putting files on it? Should be formatted to FAT32 or NTFS.

err, no. How do I do that?

I just did a right click and saw how to do it, NTFS is the default. Many of the files are large so is it best to do it FAT32?

It says all files will be deleted. So I'll have to do all that copying again

edit:
From the samsung website:

• If a USB device connected to the TV is not recognized, the list of files on the device is corrupted or a file in the list is not played, please connect the USB device to a PC, format the device and check the connection.