Flash disk size 32 GB - error during formatting

[mhruby]

I have a brand new 32PFL6606H and a brand new flash disk USB 3.0 Transcend Jetflash 700 32 GB.
When I want to format the disk in order to record a TV emission, the TV replies "The disk size is under 32 GB, the formatting will be stopped."
I tried to use FAT32, exFat and NTFS formatting but nothing helps. My computers shows me disk size of 29,4 GB, but this is probably usual (the real disk size is smaller than the size written on the flash disk).
Could somebody help me, please?

[Perpetual Beta]

You will have to apply an USB Stick with 32 GB capacity or more - not less. As written in User Manual.

Have tested a Sharkoon Flexi-Drive Accelerate Duo 64GB here. Works with addittional USB 3.0 Hub with external power supply only since the Philips TVs are delivering 0.5A max. over USB which meets the USB 2.0 specifications. USB 3.0 standard is 0.9A max.


BTW: USB 3.0 is de facto standard for newer external HDDs. 0.9A max. over USB would solve most 2.5" external HDD compatibility issues.

[mhruby]

I know that I can try to use a 64 GB disk. A 500 GB external HDD works perfectly, but I would like to use this one for another purpose...
The problem is that if I want to buy a bigger disk, it will cost me at least two times more expensive and I will have to return the 32 GB flash disk.
Isn't there another solution?
The manual of the TV tells me that I have to use a disk with capacity of at least 32 GB. And I'am actually using a disk of 32 GB!!! So where is the problem? Does anybody have an experience with use of 32 GB disk in this TV?

[Philips - Thomas]

Hi

you are correct, you need 32GB capacity, which in fact, as you can see on your PC, regardless of the formatting, is not available on a "32GB" Storage.
That is why we dont say "use a 32GB Stick".

Regards
Thomas

[smart]

It is kind of horrible, what I have to read here. Its making me a little frightening...

A 32GB USB Stick consists of 32GB capacity, that's why it is labeled like this. A "B" means mostly a byte, which consists of 8 bit. A bit is mostly named bit or "b".

The manufacturer of mass storages use the decimal prefix like it is common for SI prefixes, which means:
32GB are 32 000 000 000 Byte = 32x10^9 Byte.

If you are a user of a windows system, then you may be familiar with the binary prefixes, which are used to show the size of a mass storage. With decimal prefix:
32GB are 32*1073741824 Byte = 32*1024*1024*1024 Byte = 32*2^10*2^10*2^10 Byte = 32*2^30 Byte

So if you have a labeled 32GB Stick, Windows will show:
32 * 10^9 / 2^30 Byte = 32 * 1 000 000 000 / 1073741824 Byte = 29.8023223876953125 Byte

because Windows uses binary prefixes and the manufacturer used decimal prefixes.

If you use Mac OS X with version 10.6 or higher, it will show you 32 000 000 000 Byte, because it uses also decimal prefixes.
If you use KDE, you can choose, if using binary or decimal prefixes. But binary will be the default. Binary is also standard on Ubuntu distributions.

This has nothing to do with any formatting.

But depending on the formatting, you can store less information, since some bytes of memory will be used for the file allocation table.

So, Thomas, your statement is partly wrong. The capacity is always the same, it will depend on the way you want to count and this depends on the system you use on your PC.

It is up to Philips, to say if they were using decimal prefixes or binary prefixes when stating how much memory is required for recording with USB storage. Until now, I don't know any public specification on the used file system for recording. So if we have to add the formatting dependent file allocation information onto that 32GB information, you will have to publish information about the file system used for recording.
If not, no user will be able to know which mass storage capacity he has to buy.

But I would say, it is more usual to include the file system dependent memory need in the required capacity size.

[smart]

Hi

you are correct, you need 32GB capacity, which in fact, as you can see on your PC, regardless of the formatting, is not available on a "32GB" Storage.
That is why we dont say "use a 32GB Stick".

Regards
Thomas

To make it more clear, what Thomas might want to say:
Philips TV needs 32*2^30 Bytes for recording.
This results into 34 359 738 368 Byte or 34.4GB, when counting like USB mass starage manufacturer.

Thomas, please correct me if I'm wrong, I assume, file allocation dependent information does not have to be added to that number, since the file system is not public.

[Toengel]

Hi,

should be EXT3 as far as I read here somewhere.

Toengel@Alex

[Philips - Thomas]

Hi

the TV uses EXT3 as Disk Format.
@Smart: you are right, it is depending on how you call it.

That is why I clearly stated that we don't say "use a 32GB Stick".

Regards
Thomas

[Perpetual Beta]

The exact 32GB limit IMHO has no strict technical reasons. A handful missing GB - and so much unnecessary topics in this forum. If Philips wants satisfied customers such a peanut should be upgraded in next possible firmware. Please lower that limit to e.g. 20 GB - now.