external HD shows empty when attached to DVD or TV

external HD shows empty when attached to DVD or TV

through the US connection.
2 tv's have USB and the Compact flash or SC cards show up,
I have tried to put the videos or movies on the external hard drive, much easier than burning disks, but the
DVD or the tv's both show the X hard drive as empty.
I thought because they were in folders, so I put some movies just in the hard drive. Still shows empty.

External portable HD formated ntfs, flash card or sd cards are FAT
would that be a reason? I'm not reformatting the external, I just ordered another and will use it for movies and tv shows as well.

I've heard other people mention they don't burn disks anymore, just put their videos on the externals.

I posted this in WS, no answers there.

I ordered a 32 gig SD card, that I will use and pass around to TV's if I can't use the HD. Ordered it from Hong Kong, it will take a couple weeks to get here but it was only $15. while here they are over $200.

Can you try formatting the hard drive as FAT and see if that works? I haven't tried hooking up an external HD to a TV, just have a whole desktop PC hooked to it via HDMI.

If the movies are on there what format are they in? DVD players use the iso I think & most d/l's are avi's, at least the ones that I'm doing are, that or flv or mov files.
You may have to d/l a player to play the vids on??? Don't know just a thought.

all works fine on the external hd if it is formatted properly.
Fat it is...

only way to store movies and move them around