Server external HDD format

[Guy48065]

I've been running a .5T portable HDD with all my music on it. A little notebook runs the software. No issues for many years but now it's full. I bought a 2T to replace it and copied all my files over.
I can't access my library bc the notebook doesn't see the files on the new drive. The old was formatted FAT32, the new is exFat. Are they incompatible?
When I look at the drive's properties I don't see the option to format it FAT32--exFat or NTFS only.

I should have checked & tested before copying the entire old drive.

I never heard of exFat till this...

[RobbH]

What OS does your notebook run? You should be able to use exFAT with just about any version of Windows you could still be running, or with macOS 10.6.5 or greater, or many version of Linux. In some cases, you might have to install additional software to support the format.

My info comes from the Wikipedia article (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ExFAT) so it is not necessarily authoritative.

[Guy48065]

I'm embarrassed to admit it's running XP. It's been sitting in the corner running LMS and nothing else for a dozen years. Because of the age of all this old hardware & software I've never been tempted to update the OS.

I googled and found that XP normally can't run exFat memory but can easily be updated. I did this and now can see my music on the connected notebook. For this evening though I've reconnected the old drive.

I assume I'll need to refresh the library once the new drive is connected & recognized. I'll try again tomorrow.

[RobbH]

I'm embarrassed to admit it's running XP. It's been sitting in the corner running LMS and nothing else for a dozen years. Because of the age of all this old hardware & software I've never been tempted to update the OS.

I googled and found that XP normally can't run exFat memory but can easily be updated. I did this and now can see my music on the connected notebook. For this evening though I've reconnected the old drive.

I assume I'll need to refresh the library once the new drive is connected & recognized. I'll try again tomorrow.

Yes, once you connect the new drive and set the path, "Clear library and rescan everything" should work for you. Glad that worked out for you.

[Redrum]

I'm embarrassed to admit it's running XP.

Don't be, other than security updates (none). I really liked XP, skipped vista, but relented for 7. Problem is (as you mention) the old hardware can struggle trying to handle the bloat of the newer versions, things like memory expansion availability. But for a standalone music server, why not?**

** now, the IT pros in this forum will probably tell me "why not"

Jim

[P Nelson]

I was using XP on an old computer until some new programs would not install. In addition, the security was outdated. I got at least ten years out of that Dell desktop machine. Two years ago, I replaced the computer with one running Windows 10. I should be embarrassed.

As for a standalone music server, I am a picore player convert. Best decision I ever made to run the music server. It takes up no space and it has been very reliable for me. I pretty much forget about it. The best thing is, no more of the music suddenly stopping because my wife shut down the computer that was running LMS. The raspberry 3B likely uses much less energy than if I kept some old computer running all the time for LMS.

Sorry for the topic drift, but Guy might want to consider a raspberry pi when they become available.

Paul

[Guy48065]

Does the server 'care' how the storage is formatted?
I thought I could swap drives and everything would work exactly the same but I'm having problems searching now.
If I BROWSE folders I can find Artist, Album, Song... But if I SEARCH for anything it just comes back "empty".

[Paul Webster]

Maybe run a full clear and via LMS Settings page.

[Guy48065]

I did that yesterday, via LMS control panel.
Today it's worse.

[P Nelson]

I did that yesterday, via LMS control panel.
Today it's worse.

In LMS select Settings>Information. Look for Library Statistics. Does it make sense for number the artists, albums, tracks? If not, In LMS, double check scanned folder settings.
Select Settings>Basic Settings and look for Media Folders. Make sure it is pointing to the correct folders. Then clear and rescan everything.

[Redrum]

In LMS select Settings>Information. Look for Library Statistics. Does it make sense for number the artists, albums, tracks? If not, In LMS, double check scanned folder settings.
Select Settings>Basic Settings and look for Media Folders. Make sure it is pointing to the correct folders. Then clear and rescan everything.

It also helps to use "browse" rather than just looking at, copying in, or typing in the path. If you use Browse in LMS and you can successfully browse to your music folder(s), LMS can see it. Things can happen like a drive map change, or something you did and forgot about

Jim

[Man in a van]

I've been running a .5T portable HDD with all my music on it. A little notebook runs the software. No issues for many years but now it's full. I bought a 2T to replace it and copied all my files over.
I can't access my library bc the notebook doesn't see the files on the new drive. The old was formatted FAT32, the new is exFat. Are they incompatible?
When I look at the drive's properties I don't see the option to format it FAT32--exFat or NTFS only.

I should have checked & tested before copying the entire old drive.

I never heard of exFat till this...

I always used to use

http://ridgecrop.co.uk/index.htm

or Diskpart, for fat 32 formatting

ronnie

[Guy48065]

I was using XP on an old computer until some new programs would not install. In addition, the security was outdated. I got at least ten years out of that Dell desktop machine. Two years ago, I replaced the computer with one running Windows 10. I should be embarrassed.

As for a standalone music server, I am a picore player convert. Best decision I ever made to run the music server. It takes up no space and it has been very reliable for me. I pretty much forget about it. The best thing is, no more of the music suddenly stopping because my wife shut down the computer that was running LMS. The raspberry 3B likely uses much less energy than if I kept some old computer running all the time for LMS.

Sorry for the topic drift, but Guy might want to consider a raspberry pi when they become available.

Paul

Now my miseries have compounded. The mini laptop I've been using as a dedicated music server has died.
Great timing.

I'd like to know more about this Raspberry Pi solution. How tech-savvy would I need to be to set one up?

[kidstypike]

Now my miseries have compounded. The mini laptop I've been using as a dedicated music server has died.
Great timing.

I'd like to know more about this Raspberry Pi solution. How tech-savvy would I need to be to set one up?

If you have half an ounce more brain matter than a backward marble, you're good to go.

Dead easy.

[Redrum]

If you have half an ounce more brain matter than a backward marble, you're good to go.

Dead easy.

Hardest thing will be finding one

When you do buy one in a dark alley from the shady looking guy with the trench coat, start here https://docs.picoreplayer.org/getting-started/ and come back with any questions.

Jim