If you pull hard drive, can you connect it to computer (ide/sata) to copy shows/content to computer?
tacotaco
Newbie

I've seen a lot of posts say you cannot copy shows/programs from the dvr to a computer.  But can you copy the files if you pull the hard drive out of the dvr and put it into your desktop connecting via ide or sata (whatever the dvr drive is)? 

How are the files stored (format) on the hard drive.  Readable by any operating system?

0 Likes
Re: If you pull hard drive, can you connect it to computer (ide/sata) to copy shows/content to compu
KenAF
Specialist - Level 2

@tacotaco wrote:

I've seen a lot of posts say you cannot copy shows/programs from the dvr to a computer.  But can you copy the files if you pull the hard drive out of the dvr and put it into your desktop connecting via ide or sata (whatever the dvr drive is)? 

How are the files stored (format) on the hard drive.  Readable by any operating system?


No, you cannot.   The drive can be read by linux, but all recorded files on the hard drive are encrypted and thereby useless.

Re: If you pull hard drive, can you connect it to computer (ide/sata) to copy shows/content to compu
pdxsam
Enthusiast - Level 2

Keep in mind also, if you pull that drive and drop it in a Windows machine to " just look" at it the OS could write a signature to the first block on the disk. This could render the disk useless when put back into the DVR.

Usually the OS will ask you politely if you want to write the signature to the disk, but, I've had occasion where it went and wrote it without asking. Fine if you're going to use the disk with the OS, bad otherwise.

0 Likes
Re: If you pull hard drive, can you connect it to computer (ide/sata) to copy shows/content to compu
ohpoleez
Contributor - Level 2

@tacotaco wrote:

I've seen a lot of posts say you cannot copy shows/programs from the dvr to a computer.  But can you copy the files if you pull the hard drive out of the dvr and put it into your desktop connecting via ide or sata (whatever the dvr drive is)? 


I would highly recommend that you do not pull that hard drive out of the STB. That is a box that is rented to you. If you pull that hard drive and render it useless, Verizon will charge you for the box and they are not cheap. I think that is noted somewhere in the TOS you agreed to.