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GKL_SC's avatar
GKL_SC
Aspirant
Apr 04, 2024
Solved

AX5400 (RAX50) can't copy files to USB connected external SSD

Hopefully there is a simple solution to this problem:
 
We recently bought a "NETGEAR Nighthawk 6-Stream AX5400 WiFi 6 Router (RAX50)"
 
and on the product description page it includes: "Share a storage drive with any connected device and create a personal cloud storage to access from anywhere using the 1 x 3.0 USB port"
 
So I specifically bought an external SSD to use with the router, a "UnionSine 500GB 2.5" Ultra Slim Portable External Hard Drive HDD-USB 3.0 for PC"
 
After plugging the SSD into the router's USB port I could see the SSD from my laptop and see the built-in (empty) folders already included on the drive, but when I tried to copy and paste files from my laptop to the SDD the paste option was greyed out.
 
What good is being able to connect an external SDD to the router (as advertised) if you can't copy anything to it ?
 
Thank in advance for any ideas to try, I had already searched for solutions online and tried one suggestion already that did not help.
 
(We use Windows laptop computers)
 

13 Replies

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  • michaelkenward's avatar
    michaelkenward
    Guru
    Apr 04, 2024
    GKL_SC wrote:
     
    After plugging the SSD into the router's USB port I could see the SSD from my laptop and see the built-in (empty) folders already included on the drive, but when I tried to copy and paste files from my laptop to the SDD the paste option was greyed out.
     

    Have you set up ReadySHARE on the RAX50?

     

    You assume that the router is the cause of the problem. Have you looked into Windows?

     

    Could this help?

     

    Solved: ALL Netgear USB Drive Mapping Issues ReadyShareCo... - NETGEAR Communities

     

    Does the UnionSine 500GB have any fancy formatting or partitioning? (That isn't a brand I have seen mentioned here before.)

     


    I had already searched for solutions online and tried one suggestion already that did not help.
     

    And that suggestion was?

     

    and on the product description page it includes: "Share a storage drive with any connected device and create a personal cloud storage to access from anywhere using the 1 x 3.0 USB port"
     

    You can forget about the old ReadyCLOUD service, if that is what this is supposed to refer to.

     

    Support for ReadyCLOUD feature ends spring 2023 | Answer | NETGEAR Support

    • GKL_SC's avatar
      GKL_SC
      Aspirant
      Apr 04, 2024

      Thanks for your reply, it is appreciated !

       

      Before posting I had already tried activating "SMB 1.0/CIFS FILE SHARING SUPPORT" and that did not help.

       

      I checked the Netgear app on my android phone and did not see any option for setting up ReadySHARE on the RAX50.

       

      They are currently advertising this router with having this ability: "Share a storage drive with any connected device and create a personal cloud storage to access from anywhere using the 1 x 3.0 USB port"

       

      So if they discontinued allowing you to access an external drive connected to the USB of the router to copy files to then they should remove that from their ad page.

       

      Maybe I am misunderstanding something, but I got the impression from their ad page that you would be able to access files from a connected device.

       

      Thanks in advance for any new ideas to try !

       

      • michaelkenward's avatar
        michaelkenward
        Guru
        Apr 04, 2024
        GKL_SC wrote:

         

        I checked the Netgear app on my android phone and did not see any option for setting up ReadySHARE on the RAX50.

         

        The Netgear App is hopeless if you want to do anything "complicated". It is designed for the "lowest common denominator". Good for simple jobs, but hopeless for fine control.

         

        Best done with a web browser and the graphical user interface (GUI). A wired PC is preferable, but a browser over wifi can also handle it.

         

        Did you struggle your way through the manual?

         

        Visit the support pages:

        Support | NETGEAR

        Feed in your model number and check the documentation for your hardware.

        Check the section in the manual Connect a USB storage device to the router

        They are currently advertising this router with having this ability: "Share a storage drive with any connected device and create a personal cloud storage to access from anywhere using the 1 x 3.0 USB port"

         

        Those two claims don't belong together. Local access is not the same as cloud access. There is no reason why your PC shouldn't work with that.

         

        The manual doesn't mention the world "cloud", so I have no idea what that ad is trying to sell.