PS3 HDD help!

[Technical Ben]

I have an external USB 2.5" HDD. After plugging it into the PS3 I can no longer use it on the pc. The PS3 can see the files, so they are still there. I have no idea what the ps3 has done to the HDD. I'm very reluctant using a file recovery program, as it would take forever. Anyone know how to get the file structure/format back to windows?

[pctech]

If its screwed up the FAT file index your only hope is a recovery program Ben as it needs to scan and rebuild it from scratch.

[Technical Ben]

I think it's worse. As said. It can be accessed over a network plugged into a BT home hub. I have no idea what is going on. I think it has to do with the PS3 encrypting everything due to their "better is best" policy on DRM. It's windows xp/7 users access all over again. :*(

[edit]
Seems it may be in Fat32 over sized format. IE Mac formatted. This allows you to have over the normal 4gb or whatever the limit is on FAT32*. However, by great intelligence, windows does not support this. So I'll dig out my Linux CD, copy it over, and reformat the drive.

*XP and 7 use NTFS now. Of cause.

[pctech]

One of the reasons I'll never store stuff on my Xbox's hard disk.

[Technical Ben]

One of the reasons I'll never store stuff on my Xbox's hard disk.

Oh, no. This was external. It was plugged in, and then must of "converted" or something. You know, the same way Itunes converts all your CD ripped mp3s into DRM Itunes format? (at least it did back in 2003 the first, last and only time I used it!  )

[pctech]

Sony have turned into control freaks it seems.

[Steve]

I know the Max FAT32 on XP is 32Gb and I think XP can read > than 32Gb but is this the same for later Windows versions?

[pctech]

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/184006/

[Technical Ben]

MacDisk did not work, even though it promises exfat ect compatibility. As usual TestDisk to the rescue. Files are visible (as AFAIK there is no error, just not recognised in Windows). So I can copy/paste to my HDD then reformat it. Else I'll try your suggestions. Thanks guys.
PS Does not matter what Microsoft says, Linux and Macs still uses Fat32 (or Exfat) up to 2tb in size.  

[edit] Am copying over now.
So, lesson is. Power corrupts. Extreme power corrupts your files systems.

[Rik]

I wonder what absolute power does?

[Glenn]

Corrupts other peoples file systems.

[Rik]

[Technical Ben]

I wonder what absolute power does?

Well, I was not going to steal an entire saying.

[Rik]

I do it all the time, Ben. 

[Gary]

Sony have turned into control freaks it seems.

Well you do when people try and hack the machines to run pirated games etc, they are protecting their interests, Microsoft are much the same. The last PS3 update 3.55 was to block unofficial controllers to stop said hacks. It seems to have caused a few issues.

[Technical Ben]

All copied over now.
I would guess it is just in Mac/Linux mode and that is what the PS3 uses. So not Sony's fault, but MS for not supporting Fat32 with greater than 32gb drives (Or Apples fault for not giving them the APIs needed).

[esh]

The 32GB is indeed "artificially" imposed by newer Microsoft OS as the actual limit for FAT32 (which is 31 bit space) is 2TB. The limit is because FAT is a really old and miserable filing system and gets exponentially slower as it grows in size. Because most people haven't a damn clue about file systems, MS like to take the approach of avoiding general user complaints, so no one will format their 2TB system drive in FAT32 and experience disk thrashing at miserable data rates. Windows 98SE can run ~127GB FAT tables I believe.

[Steve]

But can the newer MS OS read a FAT32 > than 32GB?

[Technical Ben]

However, as I just found out, a lot of external HDDs come formatted in Fat32, even if they are 2TB. Because they need cross compatibility. Why MS fails to accept this (for external only if they must) is beyond me.  
I'm Not sure Steve. I recovered my families files of an External HDD of 500gb. It was Fat32, but I had to redo it in NTFS. I've had a similar problem with the Mini drive in this thread. However, Both disks were being used on XP machines before they came to me on my Win7 64bit machine. Both can be read by third party programs (how I recovered them) but not by windows natively. I really need to burn that Linux Live CD, or make a custom one for my PC. Could even "borrow" the 40gb drive family left behind for lunux only. So I can access these things!
So if you have a MAC external drive, it may have trouble when you plug it into the PC. There are even APPS* that let you read mac disks in windows...




_{*Oh my, I'm calling programs Apps now. Think I have an Apple infection.}

[Rik]

_{*Oh my, I'm calling programs Apps now. Think I have an Apple infection.}

Core!

[esh]

But can the newer MS OS read a FAT32 > than 32GB?

I think so, possibly up to 512GB (due to Scandisk limitations, not sure if that was fixed or not), but it may be read only, and certainly will not partition.

Simply put, FAT is terrible and there needs to be a better cross-platform filing system. Strangely, NTFS isn't that far off as the Linux driver is pretty stable these days. But it's not really ideal.

[Technical Ben]

Looking at the Googles seems the problem was solvable after all. However, MS are being thick about it still.
The HDD needed "mounting" correctly in HDD management. This is not a simple process. I leave it well alone, as it is mainly used for formatting HDDs, and I did not want to delete anything. Why usb external drives cannot be plug and play is beyond me.
http://www.sevenforums.com/hardware-devices/37560-windows-7-unable-read-external-drive-formatted-fat32.html

(Their answer to the request was "there is no problem"  )

[Steve]

I use NTFS 3G to R/W on the Mac for NTFS external drives and it seems ok.