SOLVED: How to format 4 TB drive for the A329?

[Nigel]

That seems fairly sensible, and now we know what it should be for next time someone has a problem.
Thanks.

 

[slipnotted]

Managed to get the SSD prepared on windows using diskpart and running at 4TB. Had to clean the disk, convert to GPT and remove partition 1 with the override command (as it's a reserved partition). Formatted the SSD via the dashcam and all works, thanks for the hints to all that contributed to the linux discussion.

 

[sf_pb]

Can you post the command you used to format the drive? Thanks

I'm trying to do it on a Mac, but the camera just wont recognize it no matter how I format it or not format it. I used the following to "just create a partition"

diskutil partitionDisk /dev/disk2 GPT "Free Space" "" 100%

 

[sundaysun13]

happens to me as well. here is the way I solved the issue.
My device, A329 pro, Samsung 4tb Shield t7 ssd. windows os
my issue: Memory full, and occasionally Memory error. with or without format in the viofo device.
in short, the issue is when you compete the partition part. it creates 2 partition, the primary one has about 3700 gb and the reserve one is only 15mb. and in my case Samsung 4tb is also prioritize the reserve one on the top then we your viofo try to format the first one only. that is why "memory full" issue come from.
here is the step by step guide.
in windows os
Open Command Prompt as administrator.
Type diskpart and press Enter.
Type list disk and press Enter to view all disks.
Type select disk X (replace X with your SSD's number) and press Enter.
Type clean and press Enter to erase all partitions.
Type convert gpt and press Enter to convert the disk to GPT.
Type create partition primary and press Enter.
Type list partition and press Enter.
Type select partition 1 and press Enter.
Type delete partition override and press Enter. This removes the reserved partition.
Type list partition and see if there is only 1 partition left, name as primary
Type exit to close Diskpart.
eject the ssd
go plug in your viofo, and format in the device
problem solved
Note: do not try to format in your OS FAT32 NTFS, exFAT or any formating, just let viofo os do the job.
in the step 6, covert disk to GPT instead of MGR otherwise it can only handle 2tb instead of 4tb

 

[vvs49]

You don't need to create a partition, but you need to leave an unallocated area, and when you create an unallocated area on an SSD drive, it is usually preferable to place it at the end of the drive.
This is because operating systems and applications most often access the initial sectors of the drive.
By leaving the beginning of the drive free, you help improve performance and reduce the likelihood of SSD memory wear.
Use a special program from Samsung - Samsung_Magician_Installer_Official_8.2.0.880

 

[bunnyspecs]

Can you post the command you used to format the drive? Thanks

I'm trying to do it on a Mac, but the camera just wont recognize it no matter how I format it or not format it. I used the following to "just create a partition"

diskutil partitionDisk /dev/disk2 GPT "Free Space" "" 100%

On my mac I had success formating my 2TB Samsung T5 using Samsung Magician (free tool from Samsung for their SSDs). I set it to exFAT/MBR and it worked fine; I was able to format the drive again with the dashcam as well. I had previously tried exFAT/GPT and got an error and the A329 said the disk was full and couldn't reformat the drive.

 

[Zerozee]

Hi

Background: I'm primarily a Linux/Mac user, and I know very little about Windows. However, I am and engineer and software developer so I'm familiar with file systems and external drives, etc.

I have a new A329 and a 4 TB SSD in an external enclosure that I'd like to use with it. I'm confused by the apparent contradiction: (a) Viofo says the A329 supports external SSDs up to 4 TB, but (b) the A329 will only support MBR formatted drives. The contradiction is that MBR only supports partitions of up to 2 TB (correct me if I'm wrong, please); GPT is required for larger partitions.

On the other hand, I've read that the limitation is not inherent in the on-disk data structures, but in the software often used to format them. However, every Linux (I'm on Ubuntu 24) app I've tried enforces the 2 TB limit.

I have tried using a program called GUIformat, running in CrossOver/wine, but it doesn't see the drives -- I get an empty list (yes, I've configured drive mappings in the wine settings).

So here's the big question: is it even possible to format an MBR drive with 4 TB partitions? If so, how?

Or is there a workaround -- can the A329 use two 2T partitions if I format the disk that way?

Would appreciate some help.

hi Blinkenjim, I have samsung 990 pro 4TB and 2m belkin C to C cable, i did creat gpt and 1 partition and let Viofo format the drive, connect successfully but it’s really unstable. Which enclosure model and cable are you using? Can you try to test with short type c to c cable included with device?


Thank for your heal

 

[vvs49]

but it’s really unstable. Which enclosure model and cable are you using?

How is it unstable?I use a Samsung 970 EVO M2 SSD for 250 GB with a case for these disks and the cable that was included and everything is super!!

 

[Zerozee]

How is it unstable?I use a Samsung 970 EVO M2 SSD for 250 GB with a case for these disks and the cable that was included and everything is super!!

I am turn on the A329 take 5 min and waiting forever
Can you check which cable SSD do are you using ? Can you test with short USB-C cable included in A329 box?
Thank you

 

[vvs49]

Can you check which cable SSD do are you using ? Can you test with short USB-C cable included in A329 box?

That's exactly how I use it!!
And if I take out the flash card (I don't have one), will it work SSD?

 

[Zerozee]

I contact VIOFO and they said the only work with 1.8m/2.5m cable, not work with short cable include in the box.
In the end of the day it’s work already for my 990 pro and the cable included in box.

My A329 doesn’t work with ssd if turn off by un-plug the cigarette mount and plug again. i need un-screw ssd and the ssd closure after that. Work perfectly if turn off the right way: A329 automatic turn off or by press and hold PWR button

 

[blinkenjim]

Ubuntu appears to refer to "ExFat" as "Vfat". If I format a disk with mkfs.vfat, I can then use that disk anywhere an "ExFat" disk is required.

Ubuntu has exfat support as well, but you have to install the exfatprogs package.

 

[lufa6977]

Ubuntu has exfat support as well, but you have to install the exfatprogs package.

Yep, that seems to be an issue with Ubuntu, having to install the exfat package. Not sure if later releases fixed that or not. I know in Debian, at least the last two release, 11 and 12 have exfat installed, at least in my installations. I don't recall about the previous packages.

 

[vvs49]

AOMEI Partition Assistant Technician 10.1 is ideal for working with SSD disks.!