Help Possible to connect external HD to xoom?

leram84 · Mar 9, 2011

Hey guys. Just got a xoom. first android device (sick of jailbreaking). Anyway, this forum has been EXTREEMLY helpful in giving me a crash course in all things android. Anyway, quick question... is it possible to hook up an external hard drive to the xoom through the usb port, and play movies off that? all i need is a standard to micro usb adapter, and i should be set, but i wanted to make sure this is actually possible before i buy one.

Thanks.

marctronixx · Mar 9, 2011

No… currently this feature is unavailable. Its unclear when/if it will be implemented

clb2196 · Mar 9, 2011

If nothing else works (since we don't know if we'll get usb host) get a Pogoplug device, or the cheaper Seagate one that works with the Pogoplug software. I got one on sale for $20, and I love it. Can access files from any computer or my Xoom or Droid2.

endoftheline · Mar 9, 2011

clb2196 said:
If nothing else works (since we don't know if we'll get usb host) get a Pogoplug device, or the cheaper Seagate one that works with the Pogoplug software. I got one on sale for $20, and I love it. Can access files from any computer or my Xoom or Droid2.

What does this allow u to do?

clb2196 · Mar 10, 2011

It allows you to connect external hard drives (or flash drives, whatever, anything usb and should support up to 4 of them) to your home network, and shares it over the internet. You can use it to share files with other people, or you can access the hard drive yourself through any web browser on any computer or an Apple or Android app from anywhere.

dimitri407 · Mar 10, 2011

Well it seems that USB hosting has been enabled for us. Check out the all about root section.

Deleted User · May 24, 2011

dimitri407 said:
Well it seems that USB hosting has been enabled for us. Check out the all about root section.

I may have to root my Xoom then bc believe it or not this is the main thing that is stopping me from making my Xoom my default laptop.

macprv · May 24, 2011

vamp6x6x6x said:
I may have to root my Xoom then bc believe it or not this is the main thing that is stopping me from making my Xoom my default laptop.

Well this thread is kind a old... and if I'm not mistaken the latest 3.1 update gave us USB host capabilities so no need for rooting... am I wrong?

Deleted User · May 24, 2011

macprv said:
Well this thread is kind a old... and if I'm not mistaken the latest 3.1 update gave us USB host capabilities so no need for rooting... am I wrong?

Sadly, I do in fact have 3.1, but dont have a micro usb to use thing to test it out yet but if anyone can confirm this to work I can do everything on my Xoom and buy something else instead of a new laptop.

3devious · May 25, 2011

macprv said:
Well this thread is kind a old... and if I'm not mistaken the latest 3.1 update gave us USB host capabilities so no need for rooting... am I wrong?

You still need root because Google doesn't want you to have access to the file system.

Modman · Aug 13, 2011

Can I add an external hd to the motorolla zoom?

F22_RaptoR · Aug 13, 2011

Interested in this also, best buy had some solid state USB external hard drives that would be perfect for movies and stuff like that.

allayuhuh · Sep 1, 2011

Just got one too. Did anyone figure out a way yet, without rooting being involved?

fantanafest · Oct 14, 2011

Just got a Motorola Xoom and updated to 3.1 and also just got a micro usb to usb female plug. The XOOM definately isn't recognizing any usb device I plug in. You're right, I heard that 3.1 will support usb devices but I'm trying to search for files on my Western Digital portable drive but nothing doing. I've also tried a usb SD card reader but again......nothing doing, so very confused and frustrated. Heeeeeeeeeelp

3devious · Oct 14, 2011

You need 3.2 to use the SD card without root. You need the latest update since 3.2 but I don't remember the number. That makes the SD work the way it is supposed to.

mrjerryk · Jan 3, 2012

I don't think it's possible. I don't own a Xoom myself yet, but I do have a buddy of mine that does. He said he tried and it won't recognize it.

lotus49 · Jan 4, 2012

Something no-one has pointed out yet is that you need an OTG cable. OTG cables are not the same as a simple male micro USB - female USB A as two of the pins are bridged to let the host know that it is acting as a host.

I rooted my Xoom almost immediately and have installed the Tiamat ROM. I cannot therefore check whether OTG works on 3.2 but I can say that using this ROM I have read/write access to my OTG drives (flash or spinning) as well as to my SDHC card.

jusmee · Jan 4, 2012

lotus49 said:
Something no-one has pointed out yet is that you need an OTG cable. OTG cables are not the same as a simple male micro USB - female USB A as two of the pins are bridged to let the host know that it is acting as a host.

I rooted my Xoom almost immediately and have installed the Tiamat ROM. I cannot therefore check whether OTG works on 3.2 but I can say that using this ROM I have read/write access to my OTG drives (flash or spinning) as well as to my SDHC card.

I have been trying to get a USB drive working on my Xoom (3.2 and OTG adapter) but can't see any mount point for it. I have a micro sdcard in it and that is useable and mounted at /mnt/external1. Sadly there is no /mnt/external2 where the USB drive might be. Where does yours mount?

mrao · Jan 5, 2012

You need either an otg cable ( otg= on the go) or an otg adapter to which you can connect your external hdd cable...I got an adapter..a pair in fact, from dealextreme.com for about $2.99 I think

3devious · Jan 5, 2012

You also need to be rooted. I believe most of the ROMs out there support external USB storage.

mrao · Jan 5, 2012

Yup..they do

lotus49 · Jan 5, 2012

My Xoom is rooted and I have installed the Tiamant Gingerbread-based ROM. External HDs are mounted on /mnt/usbOTG. This may or may not be the same place as a stock ROM would mount it if indeed it can do so at all.

@3devious

Sadly the SDHC card does not work the way it should under 3.2. It is mounted and recognised but it's read-only. This is pretty stupid and also rather useless. Fortunately, it does work as it should using the Tiamat ROM.

jusmee · Jan 5, 2012

lotus49 said:
Sadly the SDHC card does not work the way it should under 3.2. It is mounted and recognised but it's read-only. This is pretty stupid and also rather useless. Fortunately, it does work as it should using the Tiamat ROM.

Actually, my SDcard is read/write and my Xoom is stock standard unrooted 3.2 out of the factory.

lotus49 · Jan 5, 2012

jusmee said:
Actually, my SDcard is read/write and my Xoom is stock standard unrooted 3.2 out of the factory.

To all applications or only those using the special API?

Before I installed Tiamat ROM I did try copying files onto my SDHC card several times and it definitely didn't work but now it does. I wonder why it didn't before.

jusmee · Jan 5, 2012

lotus49 said:
To all applications or only those using the special API?

Before I installed Tiamat ROM I did try copying files onto my SDHC card several times and it definitely didn't work but now it does. I wonder why it didn't before.

Everything I've tried has worked seems to have r/w access. Astro file manager, Ghost Commander, File Manager HD, Mobilesheets (can backup to it).

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