It would be easy to format the My Book to FAT32 and see if that 'cures' the problem. Converting the disk format will wipe the data currently on the disk though. Many devices do not like NTFS - I think its mainly because most TVs,media players have linux kernels and Microsoft (which 'owns' the NTFS format) make it a bit hard for outsiders to access the specifications.
Assuming you can re populate your MyBook (ie you have everything backed up somewhere else), you can do this to make it FAT32:
Thats for windows - I gather if you look on the WD site they have a tool you can download that will do it for you. NTFS is a bit more efficient for file storage - but you probably would notice much real difference. The one possible gotcha is the I think the maximum file size is 4GB in FAT32. So if you had any individual files larger than that you would have to split them.
I see that apparently you can convert from FAT32 to NTFS without destroying the data on the disk but cant go the other way - so have a read up first.
I found a few more people on google with different model sammies asking similar questions to yours - ie Drives that would/wouldnt work and the FAT v NTFS issue - so would think this is quite possibly your problem.
Also - on re-reading the posts above - if the TV can access files directly on a USB device then thats one way of accessing the files. If the TV supports DLNA (it will) then you need to have software of some type 'pushing' the file (streaming?) to the TV. So hence the reference to twonky (and there are other programs). I think you just want to plug in your USB drive and playback the files dont you?
Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself - A. H. Weiler
To update on progress – why was I stuffing round with all these different file formats and trying to get My Book Live and the Samsung to be nice to each other?!
Tossed another $170 at it and got Apple TV – problem solved immediately! The box installed easily picking up the wifi and any movies that want to toss into iTunes. Control from the iPad2 is a breeze – even to flicking through Chapters. Wow!
Why work on Wednesday and stuff up 2 good long weekends
you will have to go with a dlna software that transcodes video's while streaming, this is useful in situation like yours. Mezzmo does it, but this is only a windows application.
It's well worth jailbreaking your ATV2 in my opinion... Not only does it allow you to play a host more formats than the stock ATV2, the JB means you keep the standard interface, just with a little more flexibility. I'm now running XBMC with the HDD plugged directly into my router, meaning I can access my entire library without a computer being powered up. It's a pain getting the database dialed 100%, but once it's sorted, it's mint.
To be honest, if you need to ask... don't try it. However, it is a hack that allows you to install 3rd party software onto a device. In the case of the ATV2, it allows you to install the XBox Media Centre (XBMC). This is a very cool bit of open source kit that opens up the ATV2 even further.
If you DO want to give it a nudge, do A LOT of homework first.
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