Why are USB flash drives recommended but USB HDDs are not?

I have an 8GB SanDisk Cruzer Glide (I think) that I have used on my Xbox 360 from time to time, and whenever I configure/customize for use for game data, the xbox always tells me that it is working and meets recommended requirements. I'm now using a 500gb
Samsung 2.5" Sata external drive in a NexStar USB 2.0 enclosure formatted to USB for some extra storage. However, when I configure/customize it, the xbox tells me it doesn't meet the recommended requirements, but still works. This isn't really a big deal,
it works fine and all. I'm just curious as to why it doesn't meet the recommended requirements since it should obviously be faster than the flash drive. Again, I have had no problems with either that I know of.

:)

 

Please tell me this is a sick joke

You need a 16 gb USB flash drive. It MUST have sufficient read speed 15mb/s

"This initial install will require an Xbox 360 Hard Drive or an external 16GB USB flash drive with at least 8 GB of free space. If using a USB flash drive it must be at least USB 2.0 with a minimum 15mb/s read speed and formatted for Xbox 360 use. A new USB flash drive is recommended to ensure optimum performance. "

http://support.rockstargames.com/hc...-V-Xbox-360-and-PS3-Installation-Requirements

Good Luck

 

Can't connect to x box live

Sorry for the delay!

[quote user="crispy2106"]So to move the profile from HDD to USB I will have to put HDD back in[/quote]Sorry if I got you confused again. You're not moving your profile from HDD to USB flash drive. You should move your profile the other way around,
from USB flash drive to HDD.

1. Delete Profile Only (with HDD attached).
2. With your console powered off and safely remove the HDD.
3. Insert the USB flash drive.
4. Turn on the Xbox.
5. Download profile from Live to USB flash drive.
6. Turn off the Xbox.
7. Add your HDD back (keep the USB flash drive inserted).
8. Move profile from USB flash drive to HDD.

 

Sorry for the mistake, it is formatted to FAT32 on the second partition, the last on the drive.

 

Well first most HDDs are much larger than the maximum 32 gigs so it'd be a "waste" if that's all you were using it for and most people aren't going to want to be bothered to constantly move the HDD back and forth to access the other XX GB on their PCs.

Second, flash memory has a much higher IO rate than anything you could achieve on a traditional platter storage device. If you had a 500 GB SSD and plugged it into your console it wouldn't mention it being below specs.