Downloading Recorded DVR Files to PC for Trasnfer to new STB
JohnBop
Newbie

Our DVR STB is going gunny-sack, according to Tech Support. To resolve some issues, we need to get a new STB.

Unfortunately, we have several recorded programs we use with the grandkids - over and over...

Tech Support says there is no way to transfer those programs to the new STB.

I've seen plenty of solutions for transfering that essentially require a TV card in the PC to play and record programs in realtime.

Since these are just files on a hard drive, isn't there some way to just copy files to a PC, then re-copy them back to the new STB. I don't need to watch them on the PC, just cache them for restoreing.

Seems like this should be a simple, straightforward process. Tech Support says, no.

What say yoiu?

John L

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Re: Downloading Recorded DVR Files to PC for Trasnfer to new STB
Tomato
Newbie

Theoretically it is totally possible. In reality it is as likely you can do it as it is that you can get to Mars. They will claim that if the files are outside the DVRs, that the data can be unencrypted and we will be able to watch programs anywhere anytime. I am not an encryption specialist, but it seems to me that it should be possible to allow data to be transferred out as encrypted data in the manner you describe and then transferred back. Also, some channels are not encrypted; the broadcast channels that are in the 1-49 range, so encryption is not relevant to those programs yet we cannot transfer them either. As far as I can tell, it is possible but Verizon won't do it.

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Re: Downloading Recorded DVR Files to PC for Trasnfer to new STB
Hubrisnxs
Legend

@JohnBop wrote:

Our DVR STB is going gunny-sack, according to Tech Support. To resolve some issues, we need to get a new STB.

Unfortunately, we have several recorded programs we use with the grandkids - over and over...

Tech Support says there is no way to transfer those programs to the new STB.

I've seen plenty of solutions for transfering that essentially require a TV card in the PC to play and record programs in realtime.

Since these are just files on a hard drive, isn't there some way to just copy files to a PC, then re-copy them back to the new STB. I don't need to watch them on the PC, just cache them for restoreing.

Seems like this should be a simple, straightforward process. Tech Support says, no.

What say yoiu?

John L


you can either do it through Firewire or if you have a video card with RCA or coax or HDMI then you can pipe those files into the PC.  BUT you have to do it in real time, which means you have to simply play the episode, and hit record on your PC.

It's going to be a slow and arduous process but you can do it.  It's not like hooking up with USB and downloading which is super fast, so it's possible.   is it easy?   meh.   not really easy.    should it be easier?   yeah it would be nice.

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Re: Downloading Recorded DVR Files to PC for Transfer to new STB
spacedebris
Master - Level 2

Transferring the files from one STB to another, is a simple matter in terms of file to file. BUT the problem is that the STB's...

1. Do not have the software loaded in them to accomplish this

2. More importantly, do not have the connectors on the back (USB, ETHERNET) of the STB connected. They are physically disconnected by Motorola so there is no way to connect the two boxes to do the transfer, even if the software was loaded.

This is one of the things that will hopefully come in the next generation of Verizon STB's. External storage capability. But for right now, its a no go.

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Re: Downloading Recorded DVR Files to PC for Transfer to new STB
tjm0071
Newbie

It would be simple if verizon would supply the tools to open the box and just swap the old hard drive to the new box. Or provide service to do this for you. I can read the model of the hard disk and they are sata disks its not that difficult to do, but for the security of their products they will most likely not allow this. But I belive they should offer this as one service they provide even if they charge 5-10 dollars for the service it would be worth it to some people out there.

I would like to see larger drives in the newer boxes because they are getting cheaper and these 160gb fill up so fast

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Re: Downloading Recorded DVR Files to PC for Transfer to new STB
darrenhundt
Newbie

I'm so furious with Verizon right now.  No support whatsoever or billing considerations to me for losing all my recordings.  Sports, movies and series.  What an over-priced joke 😞  So upset.

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Re: Downloading Recorded DVR Files to PC for Transfer to new STB
MarySue1964
Newbie

My stepfather just upgraded to Vios Fios Quantum and I'm encountering the same problems.  Verizon sent us new settop boxes and everyone else in the household already installed the new boxes on their TVs.  I tried installing the new settop box on my TV and encountered the same problem other people on here are decribing. The recorded DVR programs from the old box did not transfer to the new box.  I called Verizon and a tech support person said to plug a USB cable (there is a USB outlet on the old box) into the old box and into a laptop computer and transfer the old programs to the laptop.  Then plug the USB cable into the laptop computer and the new box and transfer the programs to the new box.  I ordered a USB cable from Best Buy and plugged one end into the settop box and the other into the laptop and nothing happened.  I found an old Easy Transfer cable and plugged that in and though it recognized the laptop, it didn't recognize the settop box. I'm thinking of ordering a data transfer cable from Best Buy and seeing if that will work.  In the meantime, I am working on clearing out (watching and then deleting) the old programs from the old set top box.

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Re: Downloading Recorded DVR Files to PC for Transfer to new STB
ElizabethS
Moderator Emeritus

As this thread is now over two years old, it will be locked in order to keep discussions current. If you have the same or a similar question/issue we invite you to start a new thread on the topic.

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