Forums

Topic: Got a external HDD for Christmas, need help

Posts 1 to 11 of 11

Xiepher014

I got a Seagate 500gb Backup Plus Slim for me to use with my WiiU this Christmas and was wondering if anyone on here uses a simular HDD. It doesn't have it's own power source so the WiiU has to power it, when I connect it to the WiiU, I left it on so far for 3 hours straight and it'd just check for the usb device. At first I thought it was a bad HDD so I cancelled it and plugged it into the computer, works fine. Did a format on the computer with it and it took around 15 - 20 hours to completely format.

Just wondering, if it took that long on the computer to format, would it take just as long on the Wii U? Also when I had it plugged into the Wii U and go into settings to format it, the HDD light blinks constantly while checking, but again I left it on for 3 hours as stated earlier and wouldn't start formatting yet.

Is it normal for this type of external HDD to take so long on the Wii U just to get started up for formatting, if anyone knows?

Xiepher014

CaviarMeths

The Wii U is not designed to move enough juice through a single USB slot to power an external HDD. You need either a HDD with its own power source or a Y cable to plug it into two USB slots. Since you already have the HDD, your best option is the Y cable. They're quite cheap and you can find them at any electronics store.

It's been a long time since I formatted my HDD for my Wii U, but I don't recall it taking 15-20 hours. More like 15-20 minutes, if that even.

So Anakin kneels before Monster Mash and pledges his loyalty to the graveyard smash.

skywake

It's a drive with a USB 3.0 Micro cable so I reckon a Y-Cable will be hard to find. I've never even seen one of those TBH and there's usually little reason for them to exist given the higher power spec of USB 3.0. So the best solution is to probably get a powered hub. The problem is definitely the lack of power and isn't at all a problem with the drive.

Some playlists: Top All Time Songs, Top Last Year
An opinion is only respectable if it can be defended. Respect people, not opinions

Azooooz

Like SpookyMeths has said, you need a Y-cable to properly power the HDD since it's 2.5". I have a laptop hard drive and when I formatted it on Wii U the first time, it took only seconds to do so.

Making promise is easy. The hard part is keeping it.

Switch Friend Code: SW-3533-1743-6611 | My Nintendo: azooooz

Xiepher014

Ok, thanks for the help guys

Xiepher014

JaxonH

Y cable will solve your problem. My friend tried formatting a hard drive without a Y cable and I recall him telling me how it took all night and still hadn't formatted the drive. Guess that's what happens when you don't have enough power.

I told him to buy a Y cable, and when he did it formatted within seconds. Any Y cable you need can be found on Amazon for a few bucks. Just make sure it's the right kind to fit your hard drive (external hard drive's come with a variety of ports nowadays, so just be diligent about choosing one that will fit into the port on your hard drive)

All have sinned and fall short of Gods glory. Wages of sin is death. Romans

God so loved the world He sent His only Son- whoever believes on Him has eternal life. Unless you believe, you will die in your sins. Whoever believes, rivers of living water flow within them. John

Xiepher014

got the eForCity y-cable off of Amazon today, should be here on the 31st, thanks again all.

Xiepher014

Xiepher014

The usb y splitter cable came today and now works like a charm! Thank you all again for the help.

Xiepher014

Sean_Aaron

You should also be able to use a powered USB hub; given online seems to be the only place you can get these micro-USB3 y-cables that might be the best/only option for some. I went to a half-dozen shops looking for one and only one person even knew that any kind of USB y-cable existed or what you would use it for!

BLOG, mail: [email protected]
Nintendo ID: sean.aaron

  • Page 1 of 1

This topic has been archived, no further posts can be added.