@HelpFixDecoApp 

 

Thank you for this however I have given up on using the device as for time machine as apple will be stopping support for network based backups shortly. Although I am getting similar results as the other post, I intend to use the hard drive as a NAS. I already viewed that forum post before posting my own as the steps listed did not help me as well. 

  @InmateBiv 

 

HI, I had a BE65 Deco, and now have a BE68 Deco... and before that a few normal Routers...

 

This is an easy 'fix'... and the root problem IS the internal File System being used. It can ONLY access a single Partition, the first one.

 

Also, possible it only likes 'some' File Systems on a drive.

 

In my case, on all the Router's and Deco's I have had, I too use the USB external drive for storage and even some back-ups (Acronis).

 

The External Drive is a WD 4TB USB drive I've been using.

 

In Windows, using the drive sharename I see this:

 

C:\>net view \\tp-share
Shared resources at \\tp-share

Share name  Type  Used as  Comment

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
G           Disk
The command completed successfully.

 

The drive IS formatter NTFS as I'm on Windows. 

 

I recall, and it has been a long time ago that drive was shipped ExFat and it didn't work well, so I did re-format it to a SINGLE partition... as that is ALL the FS in the Deco can see.

 

This has already it appears covered here in this subject ===> https://community.tp-link.com/en/home/forum/topic/688716 and you'll need to reformat the drive I guess?

 

On my BE68, and I think even on the BE65 the only way to see this is via the Deco Phone app. The with the share name as above see the drive letter assigned. I know on my AX55 Router you could 'see' this info on the Browser GUI page, but now on the Deco App?

 

So, what I suggest is to save the partitions data files and folders...  then re-format to a single partition and create TWO folders and name them Partition 1 and Partition 2 (for example) and then copy the save partition data to the respective folders... and then attach it to the Deco... you'll see a single partition with only 2 folders... and in each, the full old partition data.

 

Messy, but it appears to be the only way to do this?

 

Alternatively, copy the contents of the second partition to the first (assuming you have enough space) and have no naming conflicts and then delete the second partition and expand the first to use the entire drive.

 

 

  @IrvSp 

 

I am using a drive with no data on it so I'm not worried about data loss. I am using Disk Utility on Mac to reformat the drive but even after looking at the other post I'm not sure which format to reformat it in. I am using a GUID Partition Map with ExFat (I know it has issues but since its 5 TB I cannot use FAT32). When it erases everything it shows that there is 20ish mb of used space so it cannot partition it properly. I have erased it multiple times yet both folders still show.

 

  @InmateBiv Tom's Hardware article seems recent/current:

 

I created a Time Machine volume for Macs with a TP-Link router to simplify my backup tasks, and it was surprisingly easy — one central backup point can back up all the Apple devices on your network

  @jzchen 

Thank you for this source. I have tried to set it up as a location for Time Machine but I get the following message and it does not allow me to continue.

 

  @InmateBiv 

 

I'd use the DISK MANAGER to delete ALL partitions and have only one. Then FORMAT that partition you make to cover the whole drive with HFS+ or ExFAT, according to Google's AI:

 

===================

HFS Plus or HFS+ is a journaling file system developed by Apple Inc. It replaced the Hierarchical File System (HFS) as the primary file system of Apple ...

 

Is ExFAT or HFS+ better for Mac?

 

Mac OS Extended (also known as HFS+) is stable and compatible with macOS versions prior to High Sierra. It performs well on mechanical and hybrid drives, but lacks advanced features like snapshots and fast cloning. ExFAT is the best format when sharing large files between macOS and Windows systems.

====================

 

I do recall I did have to do that as the disk came with some utilities on it? To use the full drive it had to be re-partitioned and formatted.

  @IrvSp 

 

I have already done that. I have formatted it to ExFAT and it is showing up as one partition on Disk Manager. When I plug it in normally, I only see a G drive. If I enable time machine, I then see a BackupTM folder which I am able to modify. This method only works if Time Machine is enabled and only accessible with MacOS devices. I have tried to access the device from my phone and other windows devices but I am not able to see the folder.

  @David-TP 

Hey, I followed the steps mentioned in your reply but I wasn't able to get a ticket number for the logs. My original number is TKID250950193. Please let me know what to do further.