NETGEAR is aware of a growing number of phone and online scams. To learn how to stay safe click here.

Forum Discussion

NutsVT's avatar
NutsVT
Follower
Oct 16, 2016
Solved

USB External Hard Drive - Can't access files on it when plugged into router

I have a R6400 router and a Mac.  I plugged a WD External Hard Drive into it.  For months I was able to access the movies and photos I had on the hard drive.  Now, I do NOT have access to these things.  It reads that a hard drive is connected yet when I try to go into it, the only thing it finds is a folder that says 'netgear_downloader'.  

 

I don't understand why I can no longer access any of the files on any of the hard drives I plug in through the USB connection...

Share
Troubleshooting

5 Replies

  • DexterJB's avatar
    DexterJB
    NETGEAR Moderator
    Oct 18, 2016

    Hi NutsVT,

     

    1. Is the hard drive still detected by the router?

    2. Does the USB light on the router light up when the hard drive is connected to it?

    3. Have you tried using the other USB port?

    4. What is the firmware version of the router?

    5. Are the drives you are using detected when they are connected straight to the computer?

     

    Regards,

     

    Dexter

    Community Team

    • DexterJB's avatar
      DexterJB
      NETGEAR Moderator
      Oct 20, 2016

      Hi @NutsVT,

       

      I would like to follow up and check if you are still experiencing the issue.

       

      Regards,

       

      Dexter

      Community Team

      • mattgearm's avatar
        mattgearm
        Aspirant
        Jun 30, 2017

        I have updated the firmware of the router; I am running the latest verion of OSX; and, I am trying to access a SeaGate 1T Slim USB 3.0 HD. While the drive's indicator light works when plugged into the router, I am not able to view any of the existing partitions or files within (one is a media partition with movies, music etc. and is ExFat, --the other is a backup partition used with Mac's Time Machine). I believe my issue is due to drive formatting. I have found compatability lists for other routers, but what file drive formats are recognized by the 6400? And, of those, would any handle files over the 4GB threshold of Fat32? Or, am I wandering down the wrong path and have a different problem?