USB Ports on latest model MX-5 RF

Technical Area Electrics & ICE
21

C:\Users\hopki>format/FS:FAT32D:

That is what I keyed in?

22

Did you mean to drop the D for USB stick location?

23

If D: is the volume for the USB drive, then you need to ensure there are spaces in between each of the parts of the command.

24

Iā€™m now getting invalid parameter. Think you need to show me by typing in with spaces where needed so I get them right. Apologies for my ignorance!

25

My formatting may not have come across well.

Itā€™s

FORMAT (space) /FS:FAT32 (space) D:

(assuming that your key is in D:. Iā€™d do a full format, not a Quick one).

26

Itā€™s processing it, thank you. Iā€™ll let you know how it ends up.

Jacky

27

I very much doubt a brand new drive will have bad sectors, but go full - why not!

28

Assuming that itā€™s a genuine 128Gb drive. Sadly there are many, many fakes (low capacity drives pretending to be large capacity) out there.

29

Itā€™s finished saying:
The new file system is FAT32.
Verifying 116.5 GB
The volume is too big for FAT32.

So I need a smaller USB stick.

Jacky

1 Like
30

Ah yes, I remember now. Thereā€™s a FAT32 ā€˜softā€™ limit built into the standard Windows format tool.

Only other option I can think of, is to format the drive using a Powershell command. Search for ā€˜Powershellā€™ on Windows search, then right-click and select ā€˜run as Administratorā€™ :

image

Then this command: format /FS:FAT32 D:

The next question is whether the Mazda infotainment will support that size of drive, but at least thatā€™ll be one other hurdle out of the wayā€¦

31

ā€¦ or you could download a third party utility (such as this one) which will format it.

However, I think that buying a new 32GB drive is probably more sensible than downloading additional software - with the attendant risks of doing so - and then going through the learning curve for using the tool.

32

Wardy5, Iā€™m guessing your example shows a 16GB stick and FAT32 is the usual Default as it says in the options, and all versions of Windows and the vast majority of smaller peripherals are happy with it.

One of several significant problems with using FAT32 on a big stick, eg 128GB, is the gigantic sizes it requires for the allocation units, so Windows does its best to steer us away from it on anything bigger than a 32GB drive or stick.

Then as Phillip suggests we have to resort to command-line brute force to persuade it into trying FAT32 on the bigger stick. Personally I think that is more of a useful cheat to prove a connectivity point, than a permanent solution. Getting the Mazda to recognise exFAT or NTFS would be much better, but might not be possible.

Ideally Jacky should be able to use her previously proven working sticks, and trying a short adaptor lead might help find where the problem lies;

  1. Does the old type A stick work with a PC on an type A socket (no adaptor)? If so, Good A stick.
  2. Does the old type A stick work with a PC on a type C socket with the adaptor lead? If so, Good A stick and Good C->A lead.
  3. Does the old A stick work with the C->A lead in the Mazda on its C socket (plugged in all the way )? If so Good A stick, Good C->A lead, Happy Mazda. Job done, but untidy.
  4. Does the new type C stick work (both write and read a file) in the PC on a type C socket? (I assume so if formatted there, but still put some data on it.) If so, Good C stick.
  5. Does the Good type C stick make a good connection (all the way home) and work in the Mazda type C socket? If so then problem over, if not then the Mazda cannot handle a stick that big.
  6. Try a type C 32GB USB stick!

Just now I tried a 64GB and a 128GB USB type A sticks in my 25AE with its re-flashed Alpine head unit and that was unhappy with anything over 32GB regardless of how it was formatted, NTFS, exFAT, or even FAT32.
The type A 32GB tiny stick it usually has plugged in for my music is formatted as FAT32.
I would have hoped a more recent ND was more capable than my ten year old NC.

33

I have been able to use my previously working USB drive! Had to reformat it, so then had to load up the songs again, but have just successfully played music in the car for the first time.

Thank you one and all for the help and advice, Iā€™d never have got there without you.

Best wishes to you all,

Jacky

4 Likes
34

Updating the Sat Nav maps on the newest MX-5 uses different software to previous MX-5s.
Itā€™s still called Mazda Update Toolbox but itā€™s not nearly as friendly and looks completely different in use.

This is where I downloaded it from, and the instructions are actually quite good: https://mazda.update-mapnavi.com/download.html?location=eu&lang=en

Now is a good time to update because they just released new maps.

35

Are we sure that the latest ND can use the USB for music? Will it accept a smaller USB stick? I only ask because the latest Volvo ICE system does not let you play music from a USB stick. (Much to the annoyance of some owners)
:heart:

36

Above

2 Likes
37

Iā€™m very old and donā€™t go to Specsavers and Iā€™m sticking to this story!!
:heart:

2 Likes
38

Thank you for the advice on Mazda Update Toolbox, Iā€™ll give the download a go tomorrow.

Jacky

39

Hi Ice Helm,

I now seem to have lost Maps on my SD card. Think Iā€™ll go back to my Mazda dealer and ask them to sort it, lifeā€™s too short.

Jacky

40

Mazda dealer rang me today to cancel my visit tomorrow re SD card problems. Turns out thereā€™s a bug on Mazda Tool Box with my type of card - id no BJGB 66 EX1B. Delighted itā€™s not me screwing it up, but no known date for a fix so I have no working Sat Nav.