No, you cannot do that.  What I would suggest doing is get the 120 GB hard drive, then use the FREE hard drive transfer kit from Microsoft to move everything intact to the new drive.  If you start trying to copy and move things, you can corrupt files.  Beside that, there are only certain file formats, such as pictures and music files, which could be read off an external drive.

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Microsoft Tablet PC MVP - Forums Moderator
This posting is provided as is; with no warranties, and confers no rights.

 Kidolight wrote:

I currently have 431 mb  left on my 360 hard drive and i'm looking into buying an external drive because the prices on the 360 drives are ridiculous.  I keep reading posts that say you can't download xbox live content directly onto an external hard drive, but what about transferring files that you've already downloaded?  For instance, I have the Xbox Original Fable on my console, which takes up 3.2 GB of my 20 GB harddrive, if I could transfer that to an external hard drive, and then just load it from there when I wanted to play it, that would, of course, be a tremendous help in having available space to download new demos and arcade games.  The question is, CAN it be done?  Thanks a lot, any help would be appreciated.

You could use Datel's XSATA, http://hardware.teamxbox.com/xbox-360/66/Datel-XSATA/,  if you can still find them. So it can be done but as to backup of your 360's HDD. My friends and I have been using it and have yet to experience any issues as described by Snowowl whom is just stating what MS wants them to say. So if you wanted to run Fable off of the external HDD you cannot.

I need to get an external hard drive to take advantage of the nxe, especially the install to hard drive option. Can you install games to an external hard drive and play them back?

 Schitzilla wrote:

I need to get an external hard drive to take advantage of the nxe, especially the install to hard drive option. Can you install games to an external hard drive and play them back?

No.  You have to use an official MS harddrive. 

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Wist List: NTFS Support, Video Playlist.
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 TechValkyrie wrote:

 Schitzilla wrote:

I need to get an external hard drive to take advantage of the nxe, especially the install to hard drive option. Can you install games to an external hard drive and play them back?

No.  You have to use an official MS harddrive. 

You also still need the game disc.

I should not say this here but what the ..

I recently did a mod to get from a 60 to 120gb.  I'm not going to say how, it can be found on the web.

But I did manage to get my external drive hooked up to the usb port just for media files, you can't do games on it.

I even had a 3rd party utility to get Netflix going which is a great product, and does more than just Netflix.

It can do Hulu, CBS, Youtube and others.  It can be found at 'themediamall.com if you want to look at the product.

I am loving the new NXE, Netflix was executed great.  You can do fast forward, rewind, etc.  So far it works good.

They don't have that much stuff, but it's enough to keep you entertainted.

Right now my bigest desire is to get some kind of web browser going.  The reason, when playing some games, I use YouTube to get game advice and hints.  So a browser that would allow for that kind of stuff would be great.

I've read about 3rd party stuff that works thru MCE but I'm running a 64bit machine and that plug-in will only work on a 32bit machine.

Not sure why MS doesn't provide some simple web browsing, does anyone know the reason?

Rob

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Rob
powerconduit
Astoria NY

 powerconduit wrote:

I should not say this here but what the ..

I recently did a mod to get from a 60 to 120gb.  I'm not going to say how, it can be found on the web.

But I did manage to get my external drive hooked up to the usb port just for media files, you can't do games on it.

I even had a 3rd party utility to get Netflix going which is a great product, and does more than just Netflix.

It can do Hulu, CBS, Youtube and others.  It can be found at 'themediamall.com if you want to look at the product.

I am loving the new NXE, Netflix was executed great.  You can do fast forward, rewind, etc.  So far it works good.

They don't have that much stuff, but it's enough to keep you entertainted.

Right now my bigest desire is to get some kind of web browser going.  The reason, when playing some games, I use YouTube to get game advice and hints.  So a browser that would allow for that kind of stuff would be great.

I've read about 3rd party stuff that works thru MCE but I'm running a 64bit machine and that plug-in will only work on a 32bit machine.

Not sure why MS doesn't provide some simple web browsing, does anyone know the reason?

Rob

Your statement "I've read about 3rd party stuff that works thru MCE but I'm running a 64bit machine and that plug-in will only work on a 32bit machine" is somewhat true.

Most 3rd party stuff that works thru MCE is not reliant on whether your system is a 64-bit machine or a 32-bit machine they are reliant on whether your OS is 64-bit or 32-bit. I have 2 machines that are using 64-bit processors, making them a 64-bit machine, while they are both running the 32-bit version of MCE which allows for compatibility.

Can you give me more details.

And yes, I have a 64bit machine, and it is running Vista 64bit version.

I know you can run 32bit software in compatibility mode and most of the software out there is 32bit right now.

But I think the MCE version is 64bit.  I don't remember if I even tried to run the software and force it to run in 32 bit mode.

The software if from this guy named Anthony Park and his web site is:

http://www.anpark.com/software.aspx

And in his FAQ it states:

Does MCEBrowser run on Windows Vista?

Yes, sort of. MCEBrowser is fully functional on the 32-bit editions of Windows Vista. The 64-bit version of Windows Vista is currently not supported because of the way MCEBrowser uses 32-bit ActiveX controls. I am currently working on a new version of MCEBrowser that will be supported on the 64-bit editions of Windows Vista.

Did you get it to work for you?  I would be interested if you have gotten it to work.

And can you answer the question of why Microsoft doesn't include a browser function into Xbox.

Today, I got my first issue of the Xbox magazine, and somewhere in there they asked for questions to be sent in, but they said don't bother sending in questions about wanting a browser for the Xbox. 

Why all this nah say stuff.  Am I missing something?

Thanks for you thoughts and opinions.

Rob

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Rob
powerconduit
Astoria NY

I'm considering hooking up an ext. HD to my console as well. currently, my xbox is connected to the network through my PC via UTP. if I connect the ext. HD to my xbox, will I be able to access the HD via my PC? or do I need to detach it from the console and attach it to the PC before I can transferr files onto it?

 powerconduit wrote:

Can you give me more details.

And yes, I have a 64bit machine, and it is running Vista 64bit version.

I know you can run 32bit software in compatibility mode and most of the software out there is 32bit right now.

But I think the MCE version is 64bit.  I don't remember if I even tried to run the software and force it to run in 32 bit mode.

The software if from this guy named Anthony Park and his web site is:

http://www.anpark.com/software.aspx

And in his FAQ it states:

Does MCEBrowser run on Windows Vista?

Yes, sort of. MCEBrowser is fully functional on the 32-bit editions of Windows Vista. The 64-bit version of Windows Vista is currently not supported because of the way MCEBrowser uses 32-bit ActiveX controls. I am currently working on a new version of MCEBrowser that will be supported on the 64-bit editions of Windows Vista.

Did you get it to work for you?  I would be interested if you have gotten it to work.

And can you answer the question of why Microsoft doesn't include a browser function into Xbox.

Today, I got my first issue of the Xbox magazine, and somewhere in there they asked for questions to be sent in, but they said don't bother sending in questions about wanting a browser for the Xbox. 

Why all this nah say stuff.  Am I missing something?

Thanks for you thoughts and opinions.

Rob

The Xbox and the 360 doesn't have a browser because it is a gaming and entertainment console first.

Yes I do understand it's a gaming system and an entertainment console.

And there is the rub.  The browser is needed to gain access to entertainment web sites.

Such as now picking movies to setup for the new Netflix movie option.

So to say it's not needed because it has nothing to do with an entertainment function is bunked.

I was asking the question to find out what Microsoft's reasoning is.

Let's face it, the inexpensive Wii have a web browser.  And I actually use the Wii's browser to go to Youtube or Netflix to perform the functions I need, then I switch back to the Xbox.

I would love not to have to use my Wii to perform a function that I feel can and should be done with the Xbox.

Rob

PS From my understanding even the PS3 have a web browser.  Mind you these browser's are limited in function but you get to do what's really important.

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Rob
powerconduit
Astoria NY

I have two external harddrives, one's 80 GB and the other's 1 TB.  The 360 will recognize the small one, but not the big one.  Is it because it's too big?

 Skidflip wrote:

I have two external harddrives, one's 80 GB and the other's 1 TB.  The 360 will recognize the small one, but not the big one.  Is it because it's too big?

Make sure the 1 TB drive is formatted  NTFS or HFS+.

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Wist List: NTFS Support, Video Playlist.
ZuneHD 32/Zune 120 Owner.

Hi TechValkyrie,

1) I thought that if you use an external USB drive with the Xbox 360, it had to be formatted with FAT32. Are you saying that it will recognize a drive that is formatted NTFS?

2) Also when people say they are using an external drive to listen to music or videos that were originally on the PC, do they have to disco the USB drive from the Xbox's USB port and connect it back to their PC each time they want to add more files to the USB drive so that it can later be played through the Xbox or are they using some type of switch? Can  you elaborate on that a bit?

Thanks!

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Xbox 360 Elite

 Skier7667 wrote:

Hi TechValkyrie,

1) I thought that if you use an external USB drive with the Xbox 360, it had to be formatted with FAT32. Are you saying that it will recognize a drive that is formatted NTFS?

2) Also when people say they are using an external drive to listen to music or videos that were originally on the PC, do they have to disco the USB drive from the Xbox's USB port and connect it back to their PC each time they want to add more files to the USB drive so that it can later be played through the Xbox or are they using some type of switch? Can  you elaborate on that a bit?

Thanks!

1.  Yeah typo, I ment to put FAT 32 and HFS+.  
2.  I normally have to unhook and connect back to PC to add and delete files.  Only way I can think of to add and delete files without unhooking anything is it to have a NAS drive on your network. 

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Wist List: NTFS Support, Video Playlist.
ZuneHD 32/Zune 120 Owner.

 TechValkyrie wrote:

 Skier7667 wrote:

Hi TechValkyrie,

1) I thought that if you use an external USB drive with the Xbox 360, it had to be formatted with FAT32. Are you saying that it will recognize a drive that is formatted NTFS?

2) Also when people say they are using an external drive to listen to music or videos that were originally on the PC, do they have to disco the USB drive from the Xbox's USB port and connect it back to their PC each time they want to add more files to the USB drive so that it can later be played through the Xbox or are they using some type of switch? Can  you elaborate on that a bit?

Thanks!

1.  Yeah typo, I ment to put FAT 32 and HFS+.  
2.  I normally have to unhook and connect back to PC to add and delete files.  Only way I can think of to add and delete files without unhooking anything is it to have a NAS drive on your network. 

Thanks for quick reply! I just purchased a Seagate 1.5 TB drive, but mainly for my PC. Had read your posts that you really can't "easily" swap for example a downloaded video from the Xbox to the USB drive, only to your Xbox 360 drive.

Thought it would make more sense to get a drive for the PC to offload content and for backup purposes. I do have Win XP MCE and have my Xbox 360 connected to my PC thru ICS and it's my PC that acts as the router, if you know what I mean. I haven't tried yet, but I wonder if I move PC files from my hard drive to the USB drive, will my Xbox find them somehow either through MCE or PC? 

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Click here to add me as a friend.
Xbox 360 Elite

 Skier7667 wrote:

Thanks for quick reply! I just purchased a Seagate 1.5 TB drive, but mainly for my PC. Had read your posts that you really can't "easily" swap for example a downloaded video from the Xbox to the USB drive, only to your Xbox 360 drive.

Thought it would make more sense to get a drive for the PC to offload content and for backup purposes. I do have Win XP MCE and have my Xbox 360 connected to my PC thru ICS and it's my PC that acts as the router, if you know what I mean. I haven't tried yet, but I wonder if I move PC files from my hard drive to the USB drive, will my Xbox find them somehow either through MCE or PC? 

I use MCE sometimes but not using ICS and it sees external drives and other PCs I have shared in MCE.   If the drive is connected to the PC it does not matter what the format is. 
http://www.xbox.com/en-US/pcsetup/alldownloads.htm
Using a 1.5 TB drive directly connected to 360, I have seen others having issues.  
Also you can not save any of your videos to the 360's hard drive or memory card.   The USB connection is read only for USB devices.  The USB connection is good for when you want to share video and not have your PC on. 

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Wist List: NTFS Support, Video Playlist.
ZuneHD 32/Zune 120 Owner.

 M van der Voort wrote:

Now here's the problem; after having copied my mp3's to my external harddrive and after creating new playlists I discovered that the Xbox 360 appears to ignore playlists on external harddrives. I took the same steps as with creating playlists for the mp3's on my computer, that are being seen by the 360. Can someplease tell me what I'm doing wrong? Thanks in advance!

I'm having the same problem.  The Xbox reads my 300 GB external drive and sees all of my music, but it does not see my playlists.  I only have the media sorting views (i.e. Artists, Playlists, Albums) when looking at the internal hard drive and my PC.

Will the Xbox 360 read playlists stored on the external hard drive?

 Delosky wrote:

 M van der Voort wrote:

Now here's the problem; after having copied my mp3's to my external harddrive and after creating new playlists I discovered that the Xbox 360 appears to ignore playlists on external harddrives. I took the same steps as with creating playlists for the mp3's on my computer, that are being seen by the 360. Can someplease tell me what I'm doing wrong? Thanks in advance!

I'm having the same problem.  The Xbox reads my 300 GB external drive and sees all of my music, but it does not see my playlists.  I only have the media sorting views (i.e. Artists, Playlists, Albums) when looking at the internal hard drive and my PC.

Will the Xbox 360 read playlists stored on the external hard drive?

From what I remember the 360 will not read the playlists stored on the external hard drive just the playlist of music stored on either its hdd or memory card.

Hi all,

This is my first post here. I did a quick search and didn't quite find what I was looking for, so here it is:
I have a 1 TB WD external hard drive connected to my 60 GB Xbox 360 Pro back USB port. I have Windows Media Center extension all set up and running and can play the hard drive contents on the Xbox.

The Xbox is ethernet wired to a wireless router to which my notebooks one Vista, one XP) and Wii are connected.

What I'd like to do, though, is access ALL of the hard drive's contents through the Vista PC. I have backups on this hard drive, and it's sort of big, so I want to leave it in the same room the console is and be able to access, for example, the Word documents I have there.

The Vista PC sees the Xbox on the network, but it doesn't see the hard drive connected to it. The dreamspace for me would be have Vista to assign a drive letter to the HD connected to the Xbox. Any way to do that?

Thanks,

Sam

Tag, going to format my Ext harddrive tonight! Thanks for the find

Quick question can you only view videos and pictures with the external hard drive or can you store game data to it as well?

 ExcludedRobin wrote:

Quick question can you only view videos and pictures with the external hard drive or can you store game data to it as well?

You can only view vids and pics and / or listen to music on an external. 360 game saves and marketplace content can only be stored on the consoles hd.

It's still nice to have an external hooked up to the 360 to watch web vids, and movies, play photo slide shows and such on you're home theater vs. watching them on the tiny puter.

I'd probably start with an external hd of 500Gb or smaller. Been reading people have problems with drives larger than that. My 500g (formatted) to hfs+ works FLAWLESS on every 360 I've tried it on. Wouldn't trade it for the world!

When saved as .mp4's (not .flv's), youtube vids play nice on the 360 ;)