Can PC Read from DVR's HDD?

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Sir Crow

Sir Crow

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My old Sony DHG-HDD250 DVR has become a terrible headache (since losing the TVGOS). Before its hard drive dies (or I just have to disconnect the DVR forever), I'd like to transfer some of the content to my PC. Is there a way that the PC can read the HDD if I install it? Thanks.
 
Solution
christinebcw
The question isn't "Can a PC access the hard drive" but "Can the operating system?" I've never seen an NTFS DVR, but there are Linux variants - often older 2005-era packages - that can display a valid list of file names and sizes.

Here's where Linux's Live-Install CD/DVDs work handy - build up a set of different ISOs, burn a few disks, boot the PC with that disk and have the DVR-HDD already connected. Then see if File Names and Sizes can be listed. That's Step 1.
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Sir Crow

Sir Crow

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That's what I assume, but I think I've read briefly about software that allows such things. If it's illegal, I don't expect to hear about it here, but there should be SOMETHING I can do. The DVR once crashed and wiped ALL its contents and has been a huge headache for many reasons. Sony should never have put such a flawed product on the market, and now they owe me a solution. But I know better than to expect one from them.

Thanks for the reply.
 
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Sir Crow

Sir Crow

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Sounds like good info, but I'll have to decide whether or not to open the DVR and remove the HDD. If I leave it as is, and I have a free HDMI port, then I can at least watch the episodes sometimes. Thanks for the reply.

Now, I need to decide between TiVo and the Channel Master DVR+...what an awful DVR market we have today! :(

UPDATE: I've ordered the DVR+ from Amazon. I'm hoping that, with ongoing software updates, the Channel Master unit will prove to be the DVR I'm looking for.

 
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popatim

popatim

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If you have cable often you can rent theirs for cheap ($7/month here) (ie - $84/yr)
If you have an antenna hauppauge has their new hdr-2251 tuner out. I find the hauppauge tuners work better than the Silicon Dust. For example I have the hvr2250 & and SD Homerun Dual. Both running on the exact same antenna and sitting 1ft apart, the hvr gets 10/10 while the SD gets 7-8 out of 10 bars on the same channels. :-(

If you have windows 7 you have media center built in. Its a $10 option for win8.
 
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Sir Crow

Sir Crow

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I've "cut the cord" and will never go back to cable. And I definitely don't want to use the PC for TV recording. So, now I'm really leaning toward the Channel Master DVR+, ever since reading about the apparent greed of TiVo ($15/mo. for service), as described by many disgusted people out there.

Thanks for your reply. The info should be useful to many.
:)

 
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Hawkeye22

Hawkeye22

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As a long time previous tivo owner (original tivo and tivo HD), I'd suggest the liftetime service vs. the monthly payments assuming they still offer lifetime. The liftime paid itself off in two years. Of course, if you're cutting the cord, tivo is not a viable option. Also, all satellite/cable companies charge a monthly DVR fee. After 2 years or so, you've already paid more then the DVR is worth.
 
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Sir Crow

Sir Crow

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With TiVo (because the OTA-only model has no lifetime option), I know I'd be paying for lots of things I'd never use. I know the online guide incl. with the Channel Master isn't guaranteed forever, but it's still looking better than TiVo right now. A CM guy just told me the DVR+ does have slo-mo, so I'm just about ready to buy that thang.

Anyway, this is all off-topic, so I guess it should end here. Thanks for replying!

 
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christinebcw

christinebcw

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The question isn't "Can a PC access the hard drive" but "Can the operating system?" I've never seen an NTFS DVR, but there are Linux variants - often older 2005-era packages - that can display a valid list of file names and sizes.

Here's where Linux's Live-Install CD/DVDs work handy - build up a set of different ISOs, burn a few disks, boot the PC with that disk and have the DVR-HDD already connected. Then see if File Names and Sizes can be listed. That's Step 1.
 
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Solution
Sir Crow

Sir Crow

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Thanks.

 
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Sir Crow

Sir Crow

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Worth looking into. Thanks.

 
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