Help !

At this stage I have no idea how the drive was formatted but it worked

When that drive is connected to a Windows 10 computer just open the Windows File Manager, select "This PC" on the left if it isn’t already selected, then right-click on the icon or listing for that drive and select "Properties." Under the "General" tab of the box that will appear the type of file system it has been formatted with (e.g. NTFS or FAT32) will be indicated.

As I mentioned, Windows, JRiver, and for that matter any other program running on Windows will have no problem seeing and working with either format. The uncertainty (or at least my uncertainty) is whether the Vault can write to an NTFS-formatted drive that is connected to one of its USB ports.

Best,
-- Al

@Uberwaltz, thanks for the clarification. I was misinterpreting that the thumb drive you referred to was connected to the Vault, for copying to, rather than to the Ayre, for playback.

I don’t know, of course, if the USB HDD you connected to the Vault, to which you copied the Vault’s files, was formatted in FAT32 or NTFS, but JRiver running on Windows 10 would have been able to read its contents either way.

And the Linux operating system that is presumably running in the Vault would presumably have no problem writing to a FAT32-formatted drive that is connected to one of its USB ports, regardless of whether that drive is a thumb drive or an HDD or an SSD. I’m uncertain, though, if that copying process would work if one of those drives is formatted in NTFS. The answer in that case might depend on the specific version and configuration of the Linux installation.

@Schubert, very good practical decision, and a very good suggestion by @Roberjerman!

Best,
-- Al

@Uberwaltz, thanks for providing that info.

And I made a USB thumb drive with selected albums from it to play on my Ayre EX8 direct from one of its USB ports which also works just fine.

I wouldn't count on that, though, as indicating that copying to a hard drive (HDD) or solid state drive (SSD) connected to one of the Vault's USB ports would work. Chances are the thumb drive was formatted with the FAT32 file system, which Windows, Macs, and the Linux operating system that is presumably used by the Vault can all work with. But it would likely be a different story with an HDD or SSD, that would usually be formatted in NTFS (for Windows) or APFS or its predecessor HFS+ (for Macs).

As big_greg indicated, though, a Windows or Mac computer communicating with the Vault via a network (i.e., with the Vault being used as a NAS) should be able to copy its stored files, and write them to either an internal or external drive on that computer. Was that what you were doing when you copied the Vault's files using JRiver?

BTW, as a point of information, many stand-alone computer-like devices run Linux.  Presumably because it is free, and possibly in some cases also because it is "open source" and can be modified.

Best,

-- Al

big_greg 7-23-2019
From what I’ve read, it is possible to backup to an external hard drive, however it appears the music is stored in a proprietary format:

"The ext4 storage format is the same format that the Vault uses to store your data. It will not appear on most conventional Mac and Windows PC’s."

You can also use the Vault as a NAS (Network Attached Storage) device and have your files show up on your computer - https://support1.bluesound.com/hc/en-us/articles/200387457-Backing-Up-Your-Vault

A minor point but one that may be of interest to Vault users:

Ext4 is not a proprietary format, but rather is a file system used by Linux operating system software (as opposed, for example, to the NTFS file system that is used by Windows, or the FAT32 file system that can be used by various operating systems). Presumably Ext4 is used because the Bluesound products run Linux internally.

The reason I mention this is to point out that third party programs are available which can provide Windows PCs and Macs with the ability to read and write Ext4 files. Paragon Software is a leading maker of such programs:

https://www.paragon-software.com/home/linuxfs-windows/

https://www.paragon-software.com/home/extfs-mac/

Regards,
-- Al

big_greg 7-23-2019
@onhwy61 What is this "legal issue" you mentioned? I think you may have gotten some bad information.

The copyright-related legal issue Onhwy61 correctly referred to, that may and arguably will come into play if CDs are copied to a hard drive or other storage medium and then are given away (for example to a library), was discussed (and debated) in a lengthy series of posts in the following thread, beginning with a post dated 6-12-2016 by member "lp2cd."

https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/redbook-keeps-surprising

As the saying goes, let your conscience be your guide.

Regards,
-- Al