Hi there,

I'm a newbie, but have tried to do my own research & tests before coming here to post a question. But I have run into some snags, and don't know where to go from here.

My friend plays .avi files through her tv, but only has her laptop to do so. So when her latop is connected to her tv via HDMI, she can't sit back and use her laptop to do work/personal stuff.

I just realized though (don't laugh), that her xbox (that I bought as a gift) has more capabilities than just playing video games. Hence playing videos, .avi files, and thas a 250HD built in.

For xmas, I want to get her xbox set-up so that she could play a movie immediately without her laptop. She has all her files on a larger Seagate GoFlex 1.5TB portable hard drive, so I first tried one of the front USB ports on the Xbox. It didn't recognize it, and then I checked the format. It was NTFS, and I have read that it will never read NTFS. I tried to re-format the hard drive to FAT32, but that didn't work either.

I also then learned that (even if it was in the right format) that an xbox only reads flash drives NO LARGER than 32gb. Is that true?

If so, I grabbed a flash/usb drive her, checked the format, and it read FAT32. I then put that into the system to see if it would read. Which it did.

But when I tried to play the file, the system mentioned I needed to update the system first. It ran a complete update, re-booted, and then ran a much longer update. When finished, I have a whole new xbox dashboard.

My problem, is I can't find the option to "click on a portable drive" and see the .avi file that I could see before the update. On top of that, my flash drive now only blinks for 2 seconds when I connect it to the xbox, and then goes dark. Almost like it doesn't recognize or give it connection anymore. Which is strange.

I re-checked the formatting, and it is still set at FAT32, so I am confused. I almost wonder if the "new updates my xbox received" has in fact taken away the ability to play external .avi files or or read other data.

So this is when I needed to come to this community for help! So if there is any help, advice, or suggestions you have...that would be great.

Do I have the right xbox dashboard?
DO we think it's not reading my drives anymore?
What devices or formats can actually be read?
How large can an external HD (flash/portable) be?
How do I just transfer .avi files to the xbox HD to keep the data there?

Thanks to all of you in advance.
Jp

Thanks to both of you.

So it sounds like using a larger hardrive isn't a problem.
I want to use the Seagate free agent GoFlex 1.5tb that we already have.
That shouldn't be a problem then, right?

As for the updates, I never know which updates are happening, but I am connected to Xbox live.
I messed around a ton last night, and the best I could due is to stream movies thru windows media player.
Still cool, but certain files arent seen.

I did configure a 4gb flash drive yesterday thru the Xbox, but then I couldn't use it in my laptop. I am also realizing that its to save games, gamertags, and profiles. We aren't trying to do any of that, but rather bring movies or music to the tv.
The USB ports seem to work, because it noticed everything before the updates that was on it, and it still turns the flash drive on for about 10 seconds before it stops blinking. Any thoughts?

The reason you are both so helpful, is that I bought a WD live tv hub 1tb...for this very purpose.
But she already has apps and such on her tv. So the only thing we were going to use it for was the hardrive.
Then I notice the Xbox again, and think...thetes my easier, simplier, and already connected device.

This seagate hardrive has 500gb of files (personal and work) so let me know if that is going to be a problem .
As I mentioned. I am going to try and set everything up in 20 minutes, so if you get this, and have any other thoughts...thatt would be great. Merry christams. Jp

I use a 32gig flash drive for movies on xbox 360 no problem, formatted fat32, put the drive in xbox then scroll to browse my apps then xbox video player then portable drive, it plays my .avi and .mp4 files no problem but they have to be 2 channel audio if the file has ie 6ch audio the 360 won't play it, It also still works in my PC iam always swapping stuff round on it, it will play hd divx but not in a good quality, overall it's a nice touch as an extra, I use a 32gig integral neon flash only £12 on amazon and comes all ready no formatting needed :)