Cannot mount HP-SimpleSave drive via Airport Extreme

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Cannot mount HP-SimpleSave drive via Airport Extreme

The Airport configuration and setup went fine as far as Wi-Fi connectivity. I am able to connect to it just fine from all devices (Mac, PC's, iPhones, and TV). However, I connected my HP-SimpleSave 1TB drive to the USB port on the back of the airport and am not able to mount the drive from my PC's or my Mac. The drive is formatted as a FAT32 filesystem. I am able to connect the drive directly to the PC's and/or Mac and it is recognized just fine, however, when I connect to the Airport, I am unable to mount the drive. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

AirPort Extreme-OTHER, Windows Vista, Windows Vista & Mac OS X

Posted on Oct 2, 2012 9:31 PM

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Answer 1

Bob Timmons

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Oct 2, 2012 9:41 PM in response to SD-Steve

I am unable to mount the drive.

The drive will not automatically "show up" on the desktop. What steps are you performing to try to do this on the Mac?

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Answer 2

SD-Steve Author

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Oct 2, 2012 9:48 PM in response to Bob Timmons

Sorry, I probably should have provided that info! Anyhow, I tried the following steps on Mac & Windows to no avail. The IP address that the Airport has after connecting to it is 10.0.1.3

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1331

When I try to connect to that from the Mac, it reports an error that that address is already connected to this machine, and to connect to the drive locally. I'm not exactly sure what that means.

In Windows, I get a network error that just says "Windows cannot access \\10.0.1.3" and then directs me to check the spelling.

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Answer 3

Bob Timmons

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185,990 points

Oct 2, 2012 10:04 PM in response to SD-Steve

On the Mac......

Click anywhere on the open desktop so that the Finder menus appear at the top of the screen

Click the Go menu

Click Network

Click the AirPort Exteme icon to display the drive. If the AirPort Extreme icon is not displayed, then the drive is not being recognized by the USB port on the Extreme. Check the format again and try a powered USB hub.

Double click the folder representing the drive to mount it on the desktop

Sorry, can't help on a PC since I do not have one here to test

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Answer 4

SD-Steve Author

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Oct 2, 2012 10:20 PM in response to Bob Timmons

The AirPort Extreme icon is not displayed when I go to Go > Network as you stated. I then connected it through a powered Belkin USB hub and repeated the step above and it was still not displayed. Just to check the drive and USB cable one more time, I connected the drive directly to the Mac and it was immediately recognized and mounted. I was able to open the folder and navigate to files on the drive, so I know the drive and cables are good. Wondering if it's a HP SimpleSave issue. Argh!

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Answer 5

Oct 12, 2012 7:05 AM in response to SD-Steve

I have this drive as well and had an issue when trying to connect it to my xbox to watch movies off of it.

It is probably the same with the airpot extreme;

On the HP simplesave harddrive, there is some software (HP bloatware) that ALWAYS tries to load/install whenever you connect it to a device (PC, MAC, x-box, airport extreme, ect...), think of it like a virtual CD installation disc. On a computer, you can just cancel this software from installing and the drive will mount. On other devices, like my x-box, or the airport extreme, you can't cancel it.

Reformating the drive DOES NOT get rid of this software. I have not figured out a way around on my x-box, and I am assuming it would be the same for the airport extereme.

Annoying!

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