Airport Express + WD HDD = unrecognized airport disk

Here's the setup:

MBP 2.2; OSX 10.4.11; Airport Express 802.11n (version 7.3.2); WD MyBook 320GB (format Mac OS Extended)

Here's the problem:

I'm trying to get the WD HDD setup as a wireless hard drive, but it's not showing up at all in Airport Utility (I don't even have a 'disk' tab in the 'manual setup' menu). Airport Disk Utility just says "no airport disks found."

Of course the HDD works fine when plugged in directly to the MBP.

I've searched apple support and these forums, but haven't found anything that works yet. All help I have found says use the 'disk tab' in AE manual setup window. What do I do without a 'disk' tab? (or how do I get one?) is this a firmware/software issue with the AE?

Any help is GREATLY appreciated

one more piece of info:

I mentioned in the original post that I don't have a 'disk' tab. I should also mention that in the airport utility 'settings' menu, there is a 'disk' option (apple-5), but it is gray. does that mean it is non-functioning or that no disk is found?

thanks for your help!

grrrrr. That is totally lame. I used to have an AEBS, which of course supported the disk. But I switched to the AE, because I wanted the wireless speaker output. Didn't realize I gave up such an important feature for wireless music.

so, APPLE, why can't you give us both? would it be that hard to put a speaker jack on the AEBS, or to provide disk support on the AE?

or are they hoping that we'll buy both? (yeah right)

thanks for the feedback. This thread can now close, or become a handy place for us to rant about the shortcomings of AE and AEBS.