I am not sure you would call this a solution because USB 3.0 appears not to be the problem.
When I could not get my 5TB drive working, I started on working other solutions to my problem.
I tried a Seagate SRD00F1 2TB USB 3.0 drive (MBR/NTFS) and this connected and worked with my 4800x. (Note: Connected via powered USB HUB as not to tax 4800x power supply.
So I checked (Windows Disk Management) the format of the Seagate (STHP5000400) 5TB USB 3.0 drive and found it was formatted GPT with a EFI partition and a NTFS partion.
I re-architected the disk (MiniTool) deleting both partitions and creating a single NTFS partion. Copied a folder of mkv files onto the reformatted drive and the Seagate (STHP5000400) 5TB USB 3.0 drive worked fine with the 4800X. It seems the issue was the EFI partion.
Thank you to @RokuDanny-R and the others of this community for the information which led to my solution. I now have my 700 DVD videos loaded an ready to travel.
Good feedback and thanks for posting the detailed troubleshooting analysis so that others will see your solution, which may apply in their case too.
Thanks very much @Highlife1911 I shall give it a try.
Kind regards Nathan.
This is just a problem with the 2020 4800X/4800RW. I have a similar Seagate 5TB portable drive that works in both the 2018/2019 Roku Ultras with no reformatting/repartitioning, but not in the 2020 Ultra. The 2020 Ultra (4800RW) is not handling it in the same way as the past models and isn't finding it. I have all three models hooked up to 3 different TVs currently, so can easily test and confirm this is an issue.
So is this getting fixed with the new software update (Roku OS 10.5) that was announced today?
Roku doesnt announce specific fixes in general, let alone with new OS release announcements.
If it is addressed, you'll find out once when new firmware builds are installed.
My older Ultra is acting up and thought about buying a new one but after reading this not sure I want one.
Doesn't look like the USB problem has been addressed yet. Maybe Roku is just waiting for a new device to come out and let everyone know that is the fix...spend your money on this and get the free fix...hahah
It's been over one year.
I will note that if you format your big drive without the (un-needed?) EFI partion it works fine.
I am pleased to inform everyone that with the recent software update, I updated to version 10.5.0 build 4201, on November 20 2021, and this fixed the problem with connecting external hard drives.
I am able to connect my western digital 4TB Easystore and it recognizes all my content on that drive.