Ive formatted my 8gb flashdrive to fat32 and then put avi files on it to plug and play in the usb slot but still says 'file not supported'. how can i get my avi video files to play on tv ?

Maybe you have reported that AVI and some other formats not supported by Sony TV, in this case how can we play AVI files on Sony TV from USB flash drive? Please don't worry, now we will share the best AVI to Sony TV converter - Pavtube Video Converter with you, which can help you to convert AVI files to Sony TV USB supported format, and then you can play videos on Sony TV with compatible format.

Reference: Watch MP4/AVI/MKV Files on Sony TV from USB

Check DVD recorder file types supported? Windows Media player likes WMA and WMV. DVD movies are AVI, MPG, or VOB. These are just examples.

the files maybe distoried.

Sorry but you wont be able to put a file larger than 4gb due to file format limitation since you used fat32. only NTFS supports files larger than 4gb. if you want to use it with large files you need to format again using NTFS. hope that helps!

Before you loaded the hard drive, and USB did you run a "Check File System" through the TV? These devices in order to use the "Time Shift Function", have to have pass with "SUCCESS", displayed on the screen. If not the TV will format a 4GB FAT32 filing system for you. The reason your MP4's might not work might be due to a firmware update that no longer supports MP4. You should have been OK if you recorded the material from the TV. Items you record from the TV will not play on any other device. Using the FAT32 format only allows 4GB but, the TV allow 8GB and a external device can be FAT32 format to 8GB. 8GB is only 2 hours of viewing time. So that should give you some idea how little the amount of files can be handled.

Usually pen drives supports files like .avi .mpg .jpg and etc. Be sure that pen containing media supported by the player. If files are not in that format you can use a video encoder to convert them to supported ones. You can use NTFS to play files in DVD player.

Save to your desktop first, then move the files to your cruzer. If you format your cruzer to fat32, it won't register all 8gig!

You cannot run a External Hard Disks (...that's what the User Manual say) It only reads Flash Drives, I have tried 8GB.

By chance was the flashdrive formatted in NTFS? If so, try FAT32.
Also, if you are right clicking a file and using "send to", don't do that. Try "copy" instead, then go to My Computer, right click your flashdrive and select "paste." Then safely remove and see if the files are there.