Hey, I'm pretty new in rooting the Fire TV 4k. I've worked a lot with MCUs and flashed smartphones though, so I'm confident. Is it possible to create a swap partition on a rooted Fire TV, e.g. on a micro SD card (this is plugged into a USB adapter)? Currently I have problems with the use of Kodi, UHD films buffer very long and my network is not the problem. So the only thing should be the memory. I would like to expand this with a SWAP (or maybe zram?). Is that possible?
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I have the fire stick and so far it works pretty good. However, I have an external 2tb drive with TV shows, pictures, and movies on it that I want to access. I tried Plex but it doesn't work so well, it tends to stop and buffer. I tried kodi seeing it as a smb but that didn't work either.
So I was thinking about trying the for tv box. I have some questions that hopefully someone here can help me with. The movies/shows are in avi, mp4, mpeg, mkv formats. I know mx player will play these if I side load it.
1) can I attached the external HDD to the fire TV box via USB and have the media accessible to play on the TV box? (I know I can side load apps that will run the various formats IF the box will recognize the HDD)
2) can I access the external HDD over my wireless network WITHOUT running something like ES file explorer?
3) if it recognizes the ext HDD does it sort, or can I tell it, by movie/TV show?
4) if I am in a situation where I lose internet, can I still view local media, I.e. on the ext HDD?
bc320 said:
I have the fire stick and so far it works pretty good. However, I have an external 2tb drive with TV shows, pictures, and movies on it that I want to access. I tried Plex but it doesn't work so well, it tends to stop and buffer. I tried kodi seeing it as a smb but that didn't work either.
So I was thinking about trying the for tv box. I have some questions that hopefully someone here can help me with. The movies/shows are in avi, mp4, mpeg, mkv formats. I know mx player will play these if I side load it.
1) can I attached the external HDD to the fire TV box via USB and have the media accessible to play on the TV box? (I know I can side load apps that will run the various formats IF the box will recognize the HDD)
2) can I access the external HDD over my wireless network WITHOUT running something like ES file explorer?
3) if it recognizes the ext HDD does it sort, or can I tell it, by movie/TV show?
4) if I am in a situation where I lose internet, can I still view local media, I.e. on the ext HDD?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1) only if you have a rooted box
2) Yes, XBMC can access it as SMB
3) XBMC will do that for you
3) Nope, firetv needs to be connected to the net
1) The fire stick is currently very difficult to root (at least the new ones like mine). How difficult is it to root the new boxes?
2) I want to access the hdd from my pc to add files to it.
bula1ca said:
1) only if you have a rooted box
2) Yes, XBMC can access it as SMB
3) XBMC will do that for you
3) Nope, firetv needs to be connected to the net
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmm. While I might've misinterpreted this, it appeared that after going through the root, recovery and pre-rooted rom installaiton, my fire tv boxes could theoretically operate to play back local files without a connection to the net.
Looking to buy one of these bad boys, however, with Nvidia Shield console and other android TV boxes to follow, I'm weary to do so as amazon seems to be apple-esque in how they wall everything off. Firstly, is FTV running a custom Android TV? Or heavily skinned android? Second, now that HDD are supported is it still worth it to root (assuming I find a unit that can be rooted) any other features you gain? I read that FTV only supports Fat32. That sucks. Think they'll allow for larger than 32 GB drives in the future. Thanks for any help.
Bbbuuuummmmpppp. Bought a fire TV today that is able to be rooted. However, don't know if I want to. Above still applies. Also, it there a way to use a HDD connected to my WiFi so I don't have to worry about the maximum imposed by amazon? I don't want to use Plex because that requires an always on PC. I just want a HDD attached to my router that I can access via fire TV. Preferably with a nice ui/cover art. Kodi? Will Kodi be able to do that with cover art and alphabetized? Thanks
supremekizzle said:
Bbbuuuummmmpppp. Bought a fire TV today that is able to be rooted. However, don't know if I want to. Above still applies. Also, it there a way to use a HDD connected to my WiFi so I don't have to worry about the maximum imposed by amazon? I don't want to use Plex because that requires an always on PC. I just want a HDD attached to my router that I can access via fire TV. Preferably with a nice ui/cover art. Kodi? Will Kodi be able to do that with cover art and alphabetized? Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you got a rootable one, there is no reason to not go with root. If anything there are a few benefits to root. If you root you can use the usb for direct access. You can use kodi with the network share drive on your router regardless of root.
navigates said:
If you got a rootable one, there is no reason to not go with root. If anything there are a few benefits to root. If you root you can use the usb for direct access. You can use kodi with the network share drive on your router regardless of root.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Awesome. You rock for taking the time to help me out! Digital high five.....pow! Let's just go hypothetical (I've rooted every device I've had so I probably will this one too, but say amazon somehow kills root later) if it were unrooted and I used Kodi to access files on DLNA from a router connected HDD, would Kodi inject cover art to my backup DVDs, or, is that something I have to add to the HDD? One reason I want to go NAS route is because I have a bedroom TV with a Chromecast that I'd access it too. Unless I can access the HDD on the fire TV from another Chromecast? Thanks
supremekizzle said:
Awesome. You rock for taking the time to help me out! Digital high five.....pow! Let's just go hypothetical (I've rooted every device I've had so I probably will this one too, but say amazon somehow kills root later) if it were unrooted and I used Kodi to access files on DLNA from a router connected HDD, would Kodi inject cover art to my backup DVDs, or, is that something I have to add to the HDD? One reason I want to go NAS route is because I have a bedroom TV with a Chromecast that I'd access it too. Unless I can access the HDD on the fire TV from another Chromecast? Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the high five. !! ok couple of clarifications If you root correctly and block the amazon updates, the firetv will always remain rooted regardless. The only downfall I see is that when a new firmware is released with majority of the changes it takes anywhere from few days to a week or two until the modified firmware is released. After you install the boot menu, updating the firmware has become really simple. Its literarily a two step process.
It’s a good idea to access the NAS through the router vs. direct USB. I do that as well. I have two hard drives. One on my router and the other is my laptop. I keep switching across. Best way to access the content is Kodi and you can even put the kodi icon on the home screen easily.
If you are new to rooting which I don't think so. Then its a challenge to get the right files and I can help with that sequentially. PM me and I can send you the link for all the files organized correctly. Starting from the downgrade to Firmware 1, then Bootmenu and finally the latest Rom.
Kodi will find the cover art and other metadata and save it on the FireTV.
Terry T said:
Kodi will find the cover art and other metadata and save it on the FireTV.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Even if I'm accessing mp4 dvd backups from my NAS? The files for cover art, cast, etc don't need to be with the mp4 on the HDD? Kodi will recognize movie and fetch it? Thanks
As long as you have the file named in a way that Kodi will recognize it. I use Filebot to rename everything per TheTVDB and TheMovieDB, this works well with Kodi.
FireTV/Kodi - can you watch movies from a flash drive without internet connection?
Hi there,
I have an Amazon Fire TV box (and some sticks too).
And I use Kodi with it to stream video.
And I've also been able to play some movies that I have on a USB flash drive.
All good; I love it!
I then thought I'd be able to take the little Amazon box on holiday with me, and watch some movies from flash drives by just connecting the Fire TV box to the TV in the holiday cottage.
However, it didn't seem to work. I couldn't seem to get past the obstacle that there was "no internet connection" (cottage is remote with no internet).
My assumption had been that the video player software was installed on the Fire TV box (whether Kodi or the Fire TV software itself), and that the data (the movies) were on the USB drive. Therefore, no need to require an internet connection.
Is that assumption completely wrong, or is there some way to use that FireTV/USB setup to watch movies with no internet connection in place? Is there some setting/process I should adopt in such situations?
Many thanks for any pointers/advice you can offer,
Richard
rswan1967 said:
Hi there,
I have an Amazon Fire TV box (and some sticks too).
And I use Kodi with it to stream video.
And I've also been able to play some movies that I have on a USB flash drive.
All good; I love it!
I then thought I'd be able to take the little Amazon box on holiday with me, and watch some movies from flash drives by just connecting the Fire TV box to the TV in the holiday cottage.
However, it didn't seem to work. I couldn't seem to get past the obstacle that there was "no internet connection" (cottage is remote with no internet).
My assumption had been that the video player software was installed on the Fire TV box (whether Kodi or the Fire TV software itself), and that the data (the movies) were on the USB drive. Therefore, no need to require an internet connection.
Is that assumption completely wrong, or is there some way to use that FireTV/USB setup to watch movies with no internet connection in place? Is there some setting/process I should adopt in such situations?
Many thanks for any pointers/advice you can offer,
Richard
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Found the answer to this, elsewhere.
For anyone else that needs to know - apparently it's simply tied in to having "parental controls" enabled or not.
I had it enabled, and therefore the device couldn't validate the PIN entered, and so couldn't go any further.
With internet connectivity, I disabled parental control.
Then disconnected from the internet.
Then was able to start the device, get to applications / manage all applications - and launch kodi.
From there I was able to access my USB flash drive and play movies I have stored.
Looking forward to our next holiday now!
Love Amazon Fire TV
Love Kodi
Also if you have Fire Starter you can just launch any app from there and not the official menu.
Just remember that current version AFTV can only mount FAT32 partitions on your stick and needs and external power supply for (some) external harddrives.
Hello there, I have some questions regarding the FireTV
I bought one some day ago, I already have an AndroidTV box but it's sh*t and don't play 4k video so that's why I took the FireTV, unfortunately I didn't know that you can't put a NTFS disk on it.
So I have some questions, which can seems noob for you experts but I need to know, how can I read my HDDE (Seagate Expansion 3To) with the AmazonTV knowing that USB can't power it on, I guess the USB don't deliver enough power..
Also I'd like to root but I can't because I'm on 5.2.4.1 I tried the unbrick method provided here (I don't care if it bricks the FireTV anyway) but I'm stuck at "Reading 000000200 : 0%", I tried on W10, W7 it's the same problem. On Ubuntu I can't make the software working (Permission denied, tried with sudo & sudo su etc without forgeting the chmod -x...) I guess that's because preloader aren't the same anymore and can't read it.
Sorry for my english, and thanks for reading/helping.
Use Kodi and play with videos through network, I play UHD on external drive through my router with Kodi. I connect with SMB in Kodi. At least this works for me....
This is what I was doing before I bought the HDDE.. The problem is that I can't let my computer ON every night (I sleep with the TV yeah, bad habits ), It's been almost 1 year that my computer runs 24/24..
I use a wireless router that I plug a external hard drive into. I use it as a network drive, all my fire tv's and computers have access to it. Can you plug it into your router?
Unfortunately you don't have root, so looks like streaming content may be your only option. Personally I hate streaming and don't want to clog up my network so I use a rooted Fire TV with an external NTFS hard drive.
To answer the first half of your question you need to use a powered hub. The Fire TV can't power an external HDD, only thumb drives. Plug your external HDD into the hub, then the hub into the Fire TV. Works like a charm. I have a 4 TB HDD that I use for Kodi.
For those who do have root and want to use an external NTFS formatted hard drive (for those big HD files that go over 4 GB) I have a tutorial here: https://tinyurl.com/mgzvy52
You are wasting your time trying to root 5.2.4.1 on an unrooted device. The only method available is the one where you have to break out the soldering iron.
Michajin said:
I use a wireless router that I plug a external hard drive into. I use it as a network drive, all my fire tv's and computers have access to it. Can you plug it into your router?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I do not have wireless router, also 4k movies would be laggy I guess. But thanks for the tip, I'll see if I can do something with it.
Thanks a lot PhoenixMark, that's what I saw on another thread, you can not root unless you dissasemble the FireTV.
Thanks for the tutorial, really appreciate.
So about a month ago I upgraded ONE of my 2nd Gen FireTV boxes to a FireTV Cube to try it out (due $69 sale and having a 4K HDR TV)... one thing I'm not understanding is how the Cube deals with USB Memory Stick as storage.. Reading -> http://www.aftvnews.com/everything-...ternal-drives-peripherals-flirc-otg-and-more/ it appears I should be able to use it (similar to how I used the MicroSD on my 2nd Gen FireTV box, or the USB stick on my 1st Gen Fire TV box).
Part of my question centers around the following... the article talks about "External Storage" and "Device Storage" modes. Which is prefered? One of the main reasons for wanting the USB storage is to move my KODI/MRMC data to the USB Stick, similar to how i moved it on the 2nd Gen box. No matter which option I picked, I can't seem to access the USB Stick via ADB to move the Kodi/MRMC data to it (like I how I moved it on the 1st/2nd gen box).
Has anyone done this? can you provide any details/info?
KidJoe said:
So about a month ago I upgraded ONE of my 2nd Gen FireTV boxes to a FireTV Cube to try it out (due $69 sale and having a 4K HDR TV)... one thing I'm not understanding is how the Cube deals with USB Memory Stick as storage.. Reading -> http://www.aftvnews.com/everything-...ternal-drives-peripherals-flirc-otg-and-more/ it appears I should be able to use it (similar to how I used the MicroSD on my 2nd Gen FireTV box, or the USB stick on my 1st Gen Fire TV box).
Part of my question centers around the following... the article talks about "External Storage" and "Device Storage" modes. Which is prefered? One of the main reasons for wanting the USB storage is to move my KODI/MRMC data to the USB Stick, similar to how i moved it on the 2nd Gen box. No matter which option I picked, I can't seem to access the USB Stick via ADB to move the Kodi/MRMC data to it (like I how I moved it on the 1st/2nd gen box).
Has anyone done this? can you provide any details/info?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Been messing with this for mos ... Came from a T95Z which mounts drives with no issue ... Fire TV can only natively mount FAT32.
So far I've tried to side-load Paragon NTFS which won't work without Google Play Services ... that hasn't worked ...
There are some other solutions like Stickmount which require root...
I also tried to transcode some MKVs into 4GB parts to fit on a FAT32 Partition, but the encoding failed (and it had been ages since I did this)
What a PITA ... Amazon obvi does this on purpose.
Old-school Fire TVers - please chime in and let us know how you have been mounting NTFS volumes in Fire TV and if these methods are possible on FireTV Cube.
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