Can an external drive with DISH recordings run on a direct tv hdvr

[MikeA60]

I currently have DISH TV; can an external drive with DISH recordings run on a Direct TV hdvr via a USB if I were to switch to Dirrect TV?

 

[Hawkeye22]

Probably not as I think some parts of the DVR's software is also on the disk. Even if it isn't, most DVR manufacturer's use a proprietary format. Tivo drives aren't even readable on a PC without the right software installed. I'd imagine the others do the same, otherwise it would be too easy to slap a DVR drive in a PC and copy all the movies off the drive.