Question regarding HDD's and TV's

CrAsHnBuRnXp · Dec 29, 2012, 05:02 PM

I want to be able to hook up an external hard drive to my 55" Dynex television. Unfortunately, I dont have the exact specs of it atm as I am at home. However, when I get home I will try and find the manual for it.

My question is this. Do I have to have a smart TV in order for me to plug in a USB external hard drive into it and have it read read the files off the hard drive? Or will any ol TV with a USB port work?

Ive never done anything like this before and I figured Id ask you guys before I drop money on this. My girlfriends cousin says she does it but I dont know if she has a smart TV or not.

Thanks!

newtekie1 · Dec 29, 2012, 05:11 PM

You're going to need a SmartTV if you want it to read and play files off the hard drive.

Normal TVs with USB ports generally only have the USB port there for diagnostic purposes, sometimes you can updated the firmware through the USB port, but that is it. Without the built in software to know how to handle files or player to play them off a hard drive the TV won't be able to do anything with them.

CrAsHnBuRnXp · Dec 29, 2012, 05:27 PM

Thats what I figured. I just wanted to confirm it.

MT Alex · Dec 29, 2012, 05:30 PM

You could get a WDTV box for $90 and play any movie file you want off your HDD or network, as well as Netflix and other jazz.

Western Digital WD TV Live Streaming Media Player ...

newtekie1 · Dec 29, 2012, 05:34 PM

I use a Pivos Xios flashed with the XBMC firmware for that, a little more expensive than the WDTV Box, but running XBMC natively is super nice:

Pivos ULTRA SLIM XIOS DS HD Wi-Fi Media Player w/ ...

DRDNA · Dec 29, 2012, 06:35 PM

there are some TV's that can display content from the USB ports such as the UN55B8000
http://reviews.cnet.com/flat-panel-t...-33490419.html

CrAsHnBuRnXp · Dec 29, 2012, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DRDNA

there are some TV's that can display content from the USB ports such as the UN55B8000
http://reviews.cnet.com/flat-panel-t...-33490419.html

Well, I already own my Dynex 55" TV. Lol but thanks anyway.

newtekie1 · Dec 29, 2012, 10:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DRDNA

there are some TV's that can display content from the USB ports such as the UN55B8000
http://reviews.cnet.com/flat-panel-t...-33490419.html

Of course there are, they are called SmartTVs, the OP already knows those exist.

DRDNA · Dec 29, 2012, 10:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by newtekie1

Of course there are, they are called SmartTVs, the OP already knows those exist.

but as was mentioned ....not all smart TV's will display content via their USB ports. I just wanted to point out that there are some TV's that do. This info is provided not just for the OP but the readers of the thread and I wanted to bring a little more clarity to the subject as it progresses.

Dec 29, 2012, 05:02 PM	#1
CrAsHnBuRnXp Eligible for custom title Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: United States Posts: 5,088 (2.49/day) Thanks: 452 Thanked 640 Times in 526 Posts System Specs	Question regarding HDD's and TV's I want to be able to hook up an external hard drive to my 55" Dynex television. Unfortunately, I dont have the exact specs of it atm as I am at home. However, when I get home I will try and find the manual for it. My question is this. Do I have to have a smart TV in order for me to plug in a USB external hard drive into it and have it read read the files off the hard drive? Or will any ol TV with a USB port work? Ive never done anything like this before and I figured Id ask you guys before I drop money on this. My girlfriends cousin says she does it but I dont know if she has a smart TV or not. Thanks! __________________ Raid Arrays Explained Wanna look up your BSOD code? Heatware under CrAsHnBuRnXp http://crashtown.myminicity.com/ind CrAsHnBuRnXP's For Sale Thread

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Dec 29, 2012, 05:11 PM	#2
newtekie1 Semi-Retired Folder Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Indiana Posts: 17,751 (6.48/day) Thanks: 780 Thanked 5,115 Times in 3,706 Posts System Specs	You're going to need a SmartTV if you want it to read and play files off the hard drive. Normal TVs with USB ports generally only have the USB port there for diagnostic purposes, sometimes you can updated the firmware through the USB port, but that is it. Without the built in software to know how to handle files or player to play them off a hard drive the TV won't be able to do anything with them. __________________ Rig1: System Specs. Rig2: A8-5600K@4.4GHz / AsRock FM2A75 Pro4 / 8GB Corsair DDR3-1600 9-9-9-24 / HD7560D / Samsung DVD-Burner / 1.5TB WD Green + 3x3TB WD RED in RAID5 Rig3: Athlon X2 4200+ / M4A79 Deluxe / 4GB G.Skill Pi DDR2-800 4-4-4-12 / GT430 / Sony DVD-Burner / 500GB WD Rig4: Phenom II x6 1605T @ 3.6GHz / Asus M5A99X Evo / 8GB PNY DDR3-1600 9-9-9 / GTX470 & GTX470 / Samsung DVD-Burner / 1.5TB Seagate

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Dec 29, 2012, 05:27 PM	#3
CrAsHnBuRnXp Eligible for custom title Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: United States Posts: 5,088 (2.49/day) Thanks: 452 Thanked 640 Times in 526 Posts System Specs	Thats what I figured. I just wanted to confirm it. __________________ Raid Arrays Explained Wanna look up your BSOD code? Heatware under CrAsHnBuRnXp http://crashtown.myminicity.com/ind CrAsHnBuRnXP's For Sale Thread

Dec 29, 2012, 05:30 PM	#4
MT Alex Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Montana Posts: 2,019 (1.45/day) Thanks: 2,541 Thanked 1,323 Times in 917 Posts System Specs	You could get a WDTV box for $90 and play any movie file you want off your HDD or network, as well as Netflix and other jazz. Western Digital WD TV Live Streaming Media Player ... __________________ “growing up, i always wanted to be a vet. til i learned there was more to being a vet than just putting down cats all day.” -digibucc My 700D

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Dec 29, 2012, 05:34 PM	#5
newtekie1 Semi-Retired Folder Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Indiana Posts: 17,751 (6.48/day) Thanks: 780 Thanked 5,115 Times in 3,706 Posts System Specs	I use a Pivos Xios flashed with the XBMC firmware for that, a little more expensive than the WDTV Box, but running XBMC natively is super nice: Pivos ULTRA SLIM XIOS DS HD Wi-Fi Media Player w/ ... __________________ Rig1: System Specs. Rig2: A8-5600K@4.4GHz / AsRock FM2A75 Pro4 / 8GB Corsair DDR3-1600 9-9-9-24 / HD7560D / Samsung DVD-Burner / 1.5TB WD Green + 3x3TB WD RED in RAID5 Rig3: Athlon X2 4200+ / M4A79 Deluxe / 4GB G.Skill Pi DDR2-800 4-4-4-12 / GT430 / Sony DVD-Burner / 500GB WD Rig4: Phenom II x6 1605T @ 3.6GHz / Asus M5A99X Evo / 8GB PNY DDR3-1600 9-9-9 / GTX470 & GTX470 / Samsung DVD-Burner / 1.5TB Seagate

Dec 29, 2012, 06:35 PM	#6
DRDNA Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: New York Posts: 4,122 (1.56/day) Thanks: 612 Thanked 494 Times in 424 Posts System Specs	there are some TV's that can display content from the USB ports such as the UN55B8000 http://reviews.cnet.com/flat-panel-t...-33490419.html __________________ Asus P6T Deluxe Intel X58/ i7-920CO@4.2GHZ 24/7 <> CORSAIR DOMINATOR 6GB (3 x 2GB) DDR3 1600.<> ThermalTake ToughPower 1200 WATT PSU 2X ATI Radeon HD 4870 X2 2GB DDR5 <> Asetek Liquid CPU Cooling System 320GBx4 Perpendicular RAID-0/BLU-RAY/HD-DVD Reader / DVD±R/±RW Writer LG 50" 50PK550 1080p 600Hz Plasma/WestingHouse 37 inch @1920X1080/Windows 7 Pro/64

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