problem with r6300 external hard drive in access point mode

I returned the router to Amazon.  It was obvious that Netgear was not interested in solving the problem.  The idea that a USB device that doesn't require a driver is incompatible with the router firmware strains even the most flexible credulity.  This is clearly a situation where bits is bits and the router's only job is to forward them.  I could understand the DLNA software not being up to the job.  This is true with some routers.  I'm guessing not enough resources allocated to manage the database. The inability of the router to deal with SMB indicates a serious design defect.  The reason I want to use the router is to have a source that's available at any time without the need to have a computer on.  I'm back to my aging wireless N router and it works flawlessly for the media.  It doesn't have the wireless signal strength of the Netgear router but it's OK as a wired access point.  I wanted to improve the wireless part but not at the expense of the media serving.