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Directions for creating a USB drive

Discussion in 'Model 3: User Interface' started by bigroccrek, Oct 14, 2018.

  1. bigroccrek

    bigroccrek Member

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    I read the directions for creating a thumb drive for the camera recording. They are kind of vague....Has anyone successfully set up a thumb drive for the camera? Is it just format as FAT32 and add a folder called TeslaCam? What do they mean by "...add a base-level folder in the flash drive" is it just add folder and name it TeslaCam?

    Thanks in advance for the help
     
  2. fr100

    fr100 Member

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    It means just don't put the TeslaCam folder inside another folder on the drive.
     
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  3. GPinzone

    GPinzone Member

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    Assuming you don't want to create a separate partition for dashcam vs. music:

    1. Google "FAT32 formatter" for the OS you are using. Download and install it.
    2. Format the flash drive as FAT32.
    3. Create a folder called "TelsaCam" on the drive.
    That's it. If you want to be able to play music AND record driver cam video on the same flash drive, it has to be partitioned using a different utility. Please note that the current latest firmware 39.7 seems to corrupt the flash drive when recording dashcam video. One user suggested using an ext4 format for the drivercam. You will need a utility to read that on Windows. Also, Windows 7 OSes cannot read anything other than the first partition on any flash drive that has its "removable bit" set to on. However, they can be patched to allow it. A fully updated Windows 10 OS can.
     
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  4. bigroccrek

    bigroccrek Member

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    Thanks!
     
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  5. bigroccrek

    bigroccrek Member

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    Thanks for all the details!
     
  6. SageBrush

    SageBrush REJECT Fascism

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    I formatted a USB drive with my Chromebook. This works well with the car but the drive cannot be read by a Mac.
    I then tried to format the USB drive with the Mac: FAT32 was not an option so I chose extFAT and MBR. The car refused to talk to the drive.

    I really would like to have a USB drive that plays well with the Chromebook, car and Macintosh.

    Any advice ?
     
  7. untilcomplete

    untilcomplete Member

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    Needs to be fat32. No way around it.
     
  8. mswlogo

    mswlogo Well-Known Member

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    FAT32 can be difficult on Stock Windows 10 on large drives (or partitions) over 32GB.
    There are 3rd party tools that can do it on windows but I've seen issues.

    You can Partition it fine on Windows 10. Google it.
    If you create partitions 32GB or Under and then Format FAT32 will be an option and work fine.

    If you need a partition larger than 32GB, I highly recommend using a Mac.

    If you don't have a Mac, you can look for a tool called GPARTED (it's linux and free) and you can make a bootable USB Stick and use that on most hardware. There are probably videos on YouTube to walk you through it.

    P.S. Tesla shouldn't be using FAT32. It's a way outdated format and that's why Windows dropped supporting above 32GB. They prefer people not use. But developers continue to do so because it's easy.
     
  9. SageBrush

    SageBrush REJECT Fascism

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    What formatting settings ?

    By the way, this business of the 32 GB ceiling is file size, not partition size which is much higher.
     
  10. omgwtfbyobbq

    omgwtfbyobbq Active Member

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  11. Knightshade

    Knightshade Well-Known Member

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    No, it's not.

    FAT32 file size limit is 4 GB, not 32.

    32GB is simply the limit any native windows tool allows formatting of FAT32 drives. 3rd party tools go much larger, but the file size limit remains at 4GB for any single file.

    The 4GB file size limit on FAT32 is one of the reasons MS invented exFAT... (which Tesla doesn't support because...reasons...)
     
  12. mswlogo

    mswlogo Well-Known Member

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    No. If you want to FORMAT a partition on Windows 10 greater than 32GB it will NOT offer FAT32 as a choice only exFAT and NTFS.

    You can Format partitions greater than 32GB as FAT32 with 3rd party tools on Windows or with Native tools on a Mac.
     
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  13. Wildbill

    Wildbill Member

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    Can someone who is very technically savvy also give us instructions on how the partition a USB drive into 2 drives, one for the dashcam and one for music, using disk utility on MAC.

    Someone posted in one of the threads, but I cannot find it anymore.

    Thank you.
     
  14. SageBrush

    SageBrush REJECT Fascism

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    I stand corrected -- 4 GB file size for FAT32
     
  15. GenSao

    GenSao Member

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    I was able to do it in Windows 10 (Version 1703 with ADK installed.) with the following method for NTFS. Afterwards, I converted both partisions to FAT32.
     
  16. Wildbill

    Wildbill Member

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    I found it. In case anyone using MAC OS wants to partition USB drive into 2 drives for for music and Dashcam, couple members described how they use Disk Utility on MAC to create the partitions:

    V9 - need two USB drives for MP3 play & Cam
     
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  17. EVnut

    EVnut DARΞLL

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    Oh man. I guess this answers my question... I'm on a Mac. I formatted to FAT (can't format to FAT32 with the native "Disk Utility." It worked and wrote about 20 files, and the stopped recording. I reformatted, and now it is working again, but I guess not for long. So... now on to finding how to do this. And of course I'm trying to use a 128 GB thumb drive (Tesla DID say to use a big one!).
     
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  18. SageBrush

    SageBrush REJECT Fascism

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    #18 SageBrush, Oct 14, 2018
    Last edited: Oct 15, 2018
    This says that the Mac formats to FAT32 if the drive is "big enough."
    You can check 'get info' afterwards to find out what the Mac chose.

    Perhaps our problem is choosing MBR ?

    As for using an 128 GB drive: The loop uses ~ 1.8 GB for its hour, so you only have room for ~ 70 hours of saved video. Are you sure that is enough ?!
     
  19. EVnut

    EVnut DARΞLL

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    I'm still just amazed at how cheap memory is these days! Be glad I didn't get 256! :) . When they turn on all eight cameras and let us record all of them simultaneously, I'll only have like nine hours per camera. Then who's gonna be laughing!?

    Once we figure out about partitioning, it'll be great to use just one big drive for both my music and vid. We'll see. Thanks for the link and input, Sage!
     
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  20. EVnut

    EVnut DARΞLL

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    OK.... what the heck is the problem? My drive HAS been formatted as FAT32.

    It records 32 1-minute segments, and then will record no more util I reformat and start over. Notice that two of the files do not have a littel preview icon for some reason (one at the top of the list, the other at the bottom). And then there are those *.REC files on the root level. Anybody have a clue?

    First image is the "info" of my thumb drive showing FAT 32. Next is of the file structure on the drive after it recorded some and then again stopped. (just has an X now instead of the red dot on the camera icon). Help?


    Screen Shot 2018-10-15 at 12.34.33.png

    Screen Shot 2018-10-15 at 12.30.53.png
     

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