Playing large movie files on an external hard drive with the PS3

[SBrooks1]

Here's my problem: I've got some WMV files of HD movies that are 8+ GB in size. Apparently the PS3 will only read a external hard drive if it's formatted with FAT32. The only problem with FAT32 is it won't read any files larger than 4GB which makes my WMV files useless.

I tried formatting it to HFS+ (Apple's file structure) and it works perfectly on my 360. But I want to use my PS3 as my main and only media player, not my 360.

So what other file structure will the PS3 read from an external hard drive that can handle files 8+GB being on there? FAT32 can't so what else is there?

[master_8ball]

I played a 7gig HD wmv through my $35 router, worked and looked great. Doesn't solve your problem but might be a different route.

[iNCREDiPiNOY]

Originally Posted by SBrooks1

Here's my problem: I've got some WMV files of HD movies that are 8+ GB in size. Apparently the PS3 will only read a external hard drive if it's formatted with FAT32. The only problem with FAT32 is it won't read any files larger than 4GB which makes my WMV files useless.

I tried formatting it to HFS+ (Apple's file structure) and it works perfectly on my 360. But I want to use my PS3 as my main and only media player, not my 360.

So what other file structure will the PS3 read from an external hard drive that can handle files 8+GB being on there? FAT32 can't so what else is there?

4GB is strictly limited. Can't go any further.

[SBrooks1]

Originally Posted by master_8ball

I played a 7gig HD wmv through my $35 router, worked and looked great. Doesn't solve your problem but might be a different route.

Wired or wireless? I'm only wireless and for whatever reason trying to stream a WMV HD file that way doesn't play any audio through the PS3. That's why I'm trying to go the route of an external.

[SBrooks1]

Originally Posted by iNCREDiPiNOY

4GB is strictly limited. Can't go any further.

There's NO other file structure the PS3 will read on an external other than FAT32?

[X-Ninja]

Originally Posted by SBrooks1

Wired or wireless? I'm only wireless and for whatever reason trying to stream a WMV HD file that way doesn't play any audio through the PS3. That's why I'm trying to go the route of an external.

try nero 7. start - nero 7 - share - nero mediaserver - push start server {you can also select specific folders to stream ouer if you want}

works perfect. Even does AVIs.

Try it out if you want... i cant promis it'll work for your format though. I stream wireless btw.

[master_8ball]

I played it wireless and audio was fine. I didn't think it was going to work as I read somewhere that the HD content can't stream fast enough through wireless, but it worked like a charm. I use Windows Media 11 to connect to my PS3 and haven't came across too many avi files divx, xvid, or wmv that I couldn't play, only problem I have had is that I get some DNS error code pop up on my tv every once in awhile.

I also loaded the same file on my ipod, just using it as a mass storage device, and I was able to then plug it into the PS3 and copy the file over. Didn't try to play it right off the ipod but that might work too...

[SBrooks1]

Originally Posted by master_8ball

I played it wireless and audio was fine. I didn't think it was going to work as I read somewhere that the HD content can't stream fast enough through wireless, but it worked like a charm. I use Windows Media 11 to connect to my PS3 and haven't came across too many avi files divx, xvid, or wmv that I couldn't play, only problem I have had is that I get some DNS error code pop up on my tv every once in awhile.

None of my WMV HD files play audio. None of them! I hit Select on my PS3 controller while they are playing and all that shows is the VC-1 and the bitrate. No audio info is listed to the left. This makes no sense!

[un4gvn94538]

i think it also depends on what format the audio is encoded. there are some that wont work.
i use tversity to stream via wired connection.
and no, external drives have to be fat32

[inaz4sun]

Originally Posted by SBrooks1

Here's my problem: I've got some WMV files of HD movies that are 8+ GB in size. Apparently the PS3 will only read a external hard drive if it's formatted with FAT32. The only problem with FAT32 is it won't read any files larger than 4GB which makes my WMV files useless.

I tried formatting it to HFS+ (Apple's file structure) and it works perfectly on my 360. But I want to use my PS3 as my main and only media player, not my 360.

So what other file structure will the PS3 read from an external hard drive that can handle files 8+GB being on there? FAT32 can't so what else is there?

Burn the file to a DVD. Insert. Play as media file.

[SBrooks1]

Originally Posted by inaz4sun

Burn the file to a DVD. Insert. Play as media file.

I've got some WMV files that are 13GB. Can't burn those to DVD9's.

[Blu-Generation]

Here's what you do. Split whatever big files you got using HJsplit, then rejoin them later once you manage to get all the files in one folder on your external.

Join the multiple files back into one file once it's in your external. Now plug the external back into the ps3 and play your video.

Only problem is, I know you can't drag a file over a certain amount of gig into an external that is FAT32. But say if we go with my split and join later technique above, would it work? I'm not sure myself, since I never tried it.

FAT32 can't play files over 4GB? Or it can't hold files that are over 4GB?

[SBrooks1]

Originally Posted by Blu-Generation

FAT32 can't play files over 4GB? Or it can't hold files that are over 4GB?

FAT32 can't hold files over 4GB

[Blu-Generation]

Originally Posted by SBrooks1

FAT32 can't hold files over 4GB

That's cruel.

I have a FAT32 external as well, but I never knew it can't hold files over 4GB since I never try.
That and I'm still living in the past, my files are either bad quality, or average.

Anyhow, i'm sorry, guess my lame technique can be thrown out the window then.