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Forum Discussion
HN_Exp
Dec 22, 2023Aspirant
Nighthawk Router RAX30; USB Connected Drive is seen only as 196 MB by \\readyshare
Nighthawk ax2400 WiFi 6 Router RAX30; Firmware: V1.0.10.94_3; Serial Number: 6L131CWU02BF1 QoS: “ON” Network/Device Name \\readyshare Description: I’ve my Seagate STMP14000600 14TB ...
michaelkenward
Dec 22, 2023Guru - Experienced User
HN_Exp wrote:
I’ve my Seagate STMP14000600 14TB Expansion HDD drive connected to Nighthawk WiFi Router (RAX30) router via the USB port, to be used/shared/accessed by all devices & PCs as a network drive (all connected on the same private network). The Drive has NTFS formatting and is recognized by the router Network/Device Name: \\readyshare. It displays it as having less than 1TB I think it was but, unfortunately, when mapped as a Windows Network Drive, it shows the assigned drive as having only 196GB!
This can happen when ReadySHARE does not like the partitioning and/or formatting of the USB drive.
You should also check this:
Solved: ALL Netgear USB Drive Mapping Issues ReadyShareCo... - NETGEAR Communities
Since I’m only a casual user, please elaborate on all suggestions and not just one sentence acronyms and jargons that only the Technical Elite can understand. Thanks
Unfortunately, while we try our best to provide user friendly answers, some issues require a little bit of research on the part of the user. Otherwise the replies would get out of hand.
HN_Exp
Dec 24, 2023Aspirant
Thank you for your mentioning of the same article that I had read and followed already with no avail! All suggestions and subsequent comments in the mentioned post that goes back to 2017 and R8500 & R9000 models suggesting "New Netgear Firmware Updates" as solutions, simply doesn't help with my situation since as I mentioned, I've the latest "Netgear Firmware" for Nighthawk ax2400 WiFi 6 Router RAX30 installed and yet, I still have the same issue!! Did I miss something??
I agree with you that this is indeed a "This can happen when ReadySHARE does not like the partitioning and/or formatting of the USB drive." but what is the correct expected "partitioning and/or formatting of the USB drive" that solves the problem since there seems to be no answer that I could find (I've tried all I could think of). Does anyone know? please...
- michaelkenwardDec 24, 2023Guru - Experienced User
HN_Exp wrote:
I agree with you that this is indeed a "This can happen when ReadySHARE does not like the partitioning and/or formatting of the USB drive." but what is the correct expected "partitioning and/or formatting of the USB drive" that solves the problem since there seems to be no answer that I could find (I've tried all I could think of). Does anyone know?
I don't know whee you looked for information. I admit that the search feature is not great, but the manuals usually explain the requirements for USB storage and there are several KnowledgeBase articles.
No partitioning is allowed. ReadySHARE doesn't like them. It may see the smaller partition and ignore the larger ones with the data you want to get at. This a a regular issue on the community.
USB drives sometimes arrive with a partition for control software and other stuff, often to support Apple devices. This screws things up.
The manuals explain which format options ReadySHARE can handle.
Then there is this:
What are the USB drive requirements for ReadySHARE on my NETGEAR router? | Answer | NETGEAR Support
Another resource is here:
ReadySHARE USB Drives Compatibility List | Answer | NETGEAR Support
But note the bit where it says:
Your USB drive might work even if it is not included in the following list. The USB drives listed below are only the drives that NETGEAR has tested and verified. If your USB drive is not listed, it just means that the USB device has not been tested and verified by NETGEAR.
- HN_ExpDec 25, 2023Aspirant
FYI, I’ve looked for, found, and followed the same info & articles that you’re referring to as “KnowledgeBase articles” and are assuming I’ve missed finding. Have tried creating a “No Portioned “ Drive (erased all Partitions) along with all the other suggestions and none simply work! So, I guess you can say those who write these articles and write software’s like this useless ReadySHARE really don’t know what they’re doing and have no solutions other than try this and may work!. How many more Fix suggestions do I need to try?? Very disappointed at Netgear. What a shame to offer a USB interface that user can't even use. NO more buying Netgear junk with no support ever again!
- michaelkenwardDec 25, 2023Guru - Experienced User
HN_Exp wrote:
FYI, I’ve looked for, found, and followed the same info & articles that you’re referring to as “KnowledgeBase articles” and are assuming I’ve missed finding. Have tried creating a “No Portioned “ Drive (erased all Partitions) along with all the other suggestions and none simply work!
I don't know what you used to do all that, I find it simplest to use Disk Management in Windows Control Panel to look for partitions. I can then play with partitions in there.
If a drive is just one partition, I can ignore that bit of the process.
FYI, I’ve looked for, found, and followed the same info & articles that you’re referring to as “KnowledgeBase articles” and are assuming I’ve missed finding.
I assumed that you hadn't found that because I believed you when you wrote:
what is the correct expected "partitioning and/or formatting of the USB drive" that solves the problem since there seems to be no answer that I could find
Netgear's support documentation and manuals are full of the information that you said that you could not find.
You also said earlier that you own a Seagate STMP14000600 14TB Expansion HDD.
That is the largest USB drive I have seen mentioned here. Netgear does not guarantee that ReadySHARE supports every USB drive on the planet. There are simply too many out there.
At one stage the top limit seemed to be around 2 TB. I have happily got an 8 TB Seagate drive to work. Maybe you have just found the new ceiling. I cant find anything abut 8 TB in Netgear's compatibility list:
ReadySHARE USB Drives Compatibility List | Answer | NETGEAR Support
Have you tried other drives USB to see if they work?
You also claimed that this issue cropped up in new firmware, Have you tried back tracking to confirm that this is the case?
So, I guess you can say those who write these articles and write software’s like this useless ReadySHARE really don’t know what they’re doing and have no solutions other than try this and may work!.You can say what you like, but issues with USB drives usually go away when people follow those articles and read the manuals.
The bottom line is that readySHARE is a useful add in for routers. It has been around for years but hasn't seen much in the way of development. In that time USB drives have grown from being GB devices to large TB arrays, but USB is also a poor man's substitute for proper NAS storage.