USB for Music...Have to index everytime?

[bluex232]

Anyone else use the USB drive for music? I put 5 songs on a USB thumb drive for my son to listen to, but have found that everytime I turn the car off SYNC on longer sees the drive. When I start the car again it says the USB drive cannot be detected, then I have to go into the options and re-index it for it to find the songs again. Just wondering if this is the way it is supposed to be or if it is something with my SYNC. I have tried leaving the USB drive in and also tried taking the USB drive out and putting it back in (before AND after I start the car), either way I have to re-index. The very first time I put the drive in I did not have to index it at all, just plugged it in and it worked. This happens with both USB slots.

 

[VinceL]

Every now and then, ours will say it is not detected also, but it is lying. Try using a voice command to play one of the songs, or the seek button on the steering wheel and it should start playing even if it has that message.

Not sure why it does it, but I thinking it is a case of the left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing. Or maybe a case of the left hand working a bit faster than the right hand. We have found that if given a few moments, it will start playing like it should.

 

[bamacommander]

I had the same problem with my new 2013 that I bought in March. I guess the early 2013 models had some issues. I took it into the dealer and they replaced the MFT and it's been close to perfect ever since. The other thing that may be a problem is that when you downloaded the songs to the thumb drive there may have been an error at that time. Try to delete and reload the songs to the thumb drive and see if that works.

 

[jrmexplorer]

I had the same problem with mine after the software update ( I have a 2011). Seems to be an issue. I did manage to fix it though by changing thumbdrives. I loaded all 747of my songs to a different thumbdrive, pulled fuse 29 (and reseated it - this is to reboot My Ford Touch) and it works fine now. Funny thing is that I even tried reformatting the old thumdrive and didn't have any luck, but moving to the new (different brand) thumdrive worked. I think my old flash drive got corrupted somehow (or corrupted in the synch system). Try moving your songs over to a different (and freshly formatted) thumbdrive.

Some other tips:
1. Make sure that your MP3 tags are in order. Download a mp3 tag editor and delete all tags except for Artist, Song title, Album Title, Genre, track number, and cover art. Remove any special characters. Make sure the compilations checkbox is unchecked.

2. If you use iTunes, you can download a program called syncmyitunes which will fix common problems with your tags.

3. Ensure that your songs are in a flat file structure - i.e. all songs in the root directory. Sync doesn't like it as much if you have directory structures and it slows down indexing

4. Use short filenames - it speeds up indexing.

 

[FordMomof3]

I have a Lexar usb stick that I use in my 2013 X. It indexes if I take it out and put it back in for some reason. Doesn't take that long to index the 2000+ songs on the stick though. Everything plays while it's doing it and we just let it go. But once it's done with the initial one after plugging it in - it's done. It's quite fast.

Now - my DH has another brand of usb (don't recall which brand) and his takes a bit longer and you have to do as VinceL suggested - scroll through it to get it to play. But again, once indexed - it is fast.

 

[peterk9]

I had the same problem with mine after the software update ( I have a 2011). Seems to be an issue. I did manage to fix it though by changing thumbdrives. I loaded all 747of my songs to a different thumbdrive, pulled fuse 29 (and reseated it - this is to reboot My Ford Touch) and it works fine now.

Would selecting Master Reset from the screen not have accomplished the same thing?

When I got my Ex, there were times the radio would automatically start playing from my USB drive when starting the vehicle even though it was on a Sirius station when I turned it off. My salesman suggested that the USB stick not be left plugged in all the time since when it is, a motor or whatever drives it, will constantly be spinning. Much like your computer's hard drive.
Not sure how accurate that is.

Peter

 

[Since95]

Peter,

Just so you know a USB flash drive has no moving parts. It's 100% non-volatile memory. Your salesman is correct if you are plugging in a media drive that is an actual hard disk. However, with a USB flash drive there is no spinning motor inside and if you shake them your files won't fall out onto the floor.

 

[peterk9]

Peter,

Just so you know a USB flash drive has no moving parts. It's 100% non-volatile memory. Your salesman is correct if you are plugging in a media drive that is an actual hard disk. However, with a USB flash drive there is no spinning motor inside and if you shake them your files won't fall out onto the floor.

Okay, I was wondering about that 'moving parts' business. I think he was referring to the USB port. In any case, as long as they files don't drop out I don't have to worry about vacuuming the interior. Thank you.

Peter

 

[jrmexplorer]

Would selecting Master Reset from the screen not have accomplished the same thing?

Peter

I could be wrong, but it is my understanding that the Master Reset does not reset the system as thoroughly as a fuse pull. I believe Rebecca has confirmed this, but how true it is I'm not sure.

 

[jrmexplorer]

When I got my Ex, there were times the radio would automatically start playing from my USB drive when starting the vehicle even though it was on a Sirius station when I turned it off.
Peter

Peter,
There is a setting in one of the menus for the USB stick that controls this - I believe it is auto-play. If you turn that off it should stop switching to USB upon startup.

 

[FordMomof3]

However, with a USB flash drive there is no spinning motor inside and if you shake them your files won't fall out onto the floor.

There is, however, a definite *sound* when the USB is being referenced. At least on startup. If you're quiet and turn the car off - you can hear it stop. It's weird.

 

[Since95]

If that could happen imagine the mess dirty images and grunge music would cause.

Don't have my explorer yet but check the format on the drive. I don't beleive MFT supports NTFS so ensure it is partitioned as FAT32. Either way, if my explorer ever arrives I'll check its support. Nearly all new flash drives are formatted with FAT32 but some of them have extensions to FAT32 and include CD volumes.

Some of these drives also come with utilities that for the most part are crap. They do things like create multi-volumes, backup your files, organize your images, and compress your files. If you are having issues with your flash drive, I would recommed first checking the file system. Then if it is not corrupt, ask yourself it U3 is installed. If it is and you are not a propeller head, then fix it with a golf tee, an 8 iron, and a trip to Best Buy.

 

[bluex232]

Thanks for the replies everyone! I will find one of the other drives I have hidden here somewhere and see if that makes a difference, or my I will try the reset for SYNC.

Every now and then, ours will say it is not detected also, but it is lying. Try using a voice command to play one of the songs, or the seek button on the steering wheel and it should start playing even if it has that message.

Not sure why it does it, but I thinking it is a case of the left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing. Or maybe a case of the left hand working a bit faster than the right hand. We have found that if given a few moments, it will start playing like it should.

Yea I have tried scrolling but it doesn't play the songs. Still says it cannot be detected, I haven't tried voice commands yet.

If that could happen imagine the mess dirty images and grunge music would cause.

Don't have my explorer yet but check the format on the drive. I don't beleive MFT supports NTFS so ensure it is partitioned as FAT32. Either way, if my explorer ever arrives I'll check its support. Nearly all new flash drives are formatted with FAT32 but some of them have extensions to FAT32 and include CD volumes.

Some of these drives also come with utilities that for the most part are crap. They do things like create multi-volumes, backup your files, organize your images, and compress your files. If you are having issues with your flash drive, I would recommed first checking the file system. Then if it is not corrupt, ask yourself it U3 is installed. If it is and you are not a propeller head, then fix it with a golf tee, an 8 iron, and a trip to Best Buy.

It is FAT32, checked that before I put the music on it, and it did not come with any utilities.

 

[jrmexplorer]

Thanks for the replies everyone! I will find one of the other drives I have hidden here somewhere and see if that makes a difference, or my I will try the reset for SYNC.



Yea I have tried scrolling but it doesn't play the songs. Still says it cannot be detected, I haven't tried voice commands yet.




It is FAT32, checked that before I put the music on it, and it did not come with any utilities.

Make sure you clean up your mp3 tags as well. It speeds up indexing and can prevent re-indexing.

 

[davlee88]

My USB went to the crapper too. Thanks for your suggestion. It did came back after using voice command. For now.

This is for sure a software bug !!

Every now and then, ours will say it is not detected also, but it is lying. Try using a voice command to play one of the songs, or the seek button on the steering wheel and it should start playing even if it has that message.

Not sure why it does it, but I thinking it is a case of the left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing. Or maybe a case of the left hand working a bit faster than the right hand. We have found that if given a few moments, it will start playing like it should.

 

[VinceL]

My USB went to the crapper too. Thanks for your suggestion. It did came back after using voice command. For now.

This is for sure a software bug !!

No doubt about that in my book. Not a show-stopper, but can be a bit irksome at times

 

[bluex232]

Just thought I would update on this...I had the USB drive in my car and after a few weeks it worked fine, I didn't have to index or anything...it has been fine for about 2 months...I had to take it out for something this week and now that it is back in, I have to reindex every time again...grrr hopefully if I leave it in again it will start working fine...we shall see.