Xbox One Hard Drive Not Removable, Supports External USB Drives

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The Xbox One, which was announced earlier today, is going to be shipping with a 500GB hard drive built in. What Microsoft didn't mention, but confirmed with Engadget, is that system owners will no longer be able to remove, replace, or service the hard drive.

The reason why Xbox 360 owners could not use third party hard disks was because of a sector on the disk known as the "security sector" or "security blob" which is signed by Microsoft with a private key would be invalid. Disks could possibly be encrypted this time around with a unique per-box key, similar to how keyvaults worked.

If Microsoft did choose to encrypt the hard drive, that would mean it would be more difficult to obtain game files since every game must be installed to the hard disk. Sony has proven with the PS3 that disk encryption adds very little to no noticeable latency when performing I/O operations.

With all of the cloud integration into the Xbox One it is really not surprising that the HDD is not removable. In their talk with Albert Penello, Engadget also confirmed that removable media will be supported for expanding storage on the Xbox One. What hasn't been confirmed though is whether or not it will work similar to the Xbox 360's expandable storage in that only FAT32-formatted devices can be utilized.

It can be assumed though that most modern file systems such as NTFS and the FAT variants will be supported on the Xbox One. If Microsoft also wants full control over the management of their files, they will again take the Xbox 360 approach by creating files with the chosen capacity, and writing their own file system layer on top of that.

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"Xbox One Hard Drive Not Removable, Supports External USB Drives" :: Login/Create an Account :: 69 comments

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EstablishedGamingPosted:

500GB Not removable my ass always a way

BoylerBehPosted:

xSTaTiCBLuEx 500GB IS NOT a lot of space when you have to instal EVERY game. My 250GB slim has used 100Gb with only around 7 games installed...no bought games on there. Imagine having every game you own having all their datta on the console. Around 10GB per game especially when you get massive 1GB updates each time like you do for Battlefield 3. 500GB will run out within a few years for any avid games owner with 30+ games...


Each new game is 8.5 gb and most old games and some new games are 7.5 on a 360.

xSTaTiCBLuExPosted:

500GB IS NOT a lot of space when you have to instal EVERY game. My 250GB slim has used 100Gb with only around 7 games installed...no bought games on there. Imagine having every game you own having all their datta on the console. Around 10GB per game especially when you get massive 1GB updates each time like you do for Battlefield 3. 500GB will run out within a few years for any avid games owner with 30+ games...

WageringPosted:

This is horrible, what a stupid addition...So many things wrong with this.

SreyoPosted:

So if something happens to the Xbox, you're basically screwed?

VEVOPosted:

Origamo
OGPurge Can`t wait will be amazing 500GB i Have not used my 320GB


I know. 500GB is quite a lot of space.


It WAS a lot of space. But now with everyone having to install games, it'll be space that will run out fast considering each game is 10+ GB. Who knows, time will tell.

VEVOPosted:

Will it support external HDDs? I have a 3TB external one right here next to me. :P

GR33NV3N0MPosted:

Kerrigan The issue I can see with this is that if each game has around 10 GB of storage (assuming most of the disk is installed), give or take, and a lifespan of 5 or 6 years, 60 games would produce 600 GB of just the disk itself.

In two years or so, I already have 100 games played on my 360. 150 GB used as well on DLC and a few installed games.

Without detachable HDD, this will be a pain in the future. Hopefully you can just buy an external HDD and use the full amount of space (300 GB, etc).


yes but lets be honest, i have probably had around the same ammount of games as you BUT do you still play ALL your games that are 6 years old ? if not theres nothing stopping you uninstalling the games you dont play anymore.

iScreamzPosted:

Origamo
OGPurge Can`t wait will be amazing 500GB i Have not used my 320GB


I know. 500GB is quite a lot of space.


Perhaps when newer moddels of this system comes out, they'll have a Terabyte of space!! 1000GB!!

OasisPosted:

Kerrigan The issue I can see with this is that if each game has around 10 GB of storage (assuming most of the disk is installed), give or take, and a lifespan of 5 or 6 years, 60 games would produce 600 GB of just the disk itself.

In two years or so, I already have 100 games played on my 360. 150 GB used as well on DLC and a few installed games.

Without detachable HDD, this will be a pain in the future. Hopefully you can just buy an external HDD and use the full amount of space (300 GB, etc).


Except the fact that a blu ray disc can hold 50gb I believe.


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