Dvr

[CableDude]

Anyone have experience moving recordings off a DVR to a usb or external drive? Would like to move some stuff off a DVR before I return it (think something is wrong with it)

Thanks.

[RaisinCain]

Hook the drive up and go into the settings menu. There should be an option to transfer the recordings to the external drive.

[Philip]

Unless, of course, if the DVR is provided by your cable company, they may have disabled any copying and DRM encrypted the content.

With Comcast, for example, their old Scientific Atlanta DVRs may still have the USB enabled for additional external storage. However, the newer Motorola DVRs have the USB disabled, and the only way to retreive content from them is by replaying and using a HDMI/Component output, you can't just copy the files.

I'd still try to connect external drive as RaisinCain suggested, or even a laptop via USB and check whether you can see/copy any files.

[CableDude]

Love the idea of connecting a laptop via USB (have no usb cable, thought I did.)

USB drive does nothing (probably disabled).

Oh well guess it's not meant to be. Not the end of the world.


Also, wanted to check signal levels on this thing, can't get that to work either.


Scientific Atlanta 8300HD Box

[Philip]

On SA boxes, you should be able to see signal strength from the diagnostic screens:

1. Press and hold the front-panel CENTER key (between ch+/- and vol +/-) until the message light blinks (about 3 seconds)
2. Press the front-panel DIAMOND or INFO key

Most Cable Companies' DVRs have the files encrypted, so I doubt you'll get anywhere through the USB, even if you see the contents... Another possibility is streaming through a Firewire port (since it is not direct file copying).

[RaisinCain]

When you copy the content from the cable box to the external it formats the external HDD and encrypts the content as it copies (at least that is my experience with Dish & Comcast).

[Leatherneck]

Depending on the DVR and revision it can be a pain in the a$$ and HUGE files. It is doable though, but worth it is up to you. I know guys who have carefully removed the drive, used an enclosure then copied the contents to work on it later, but unless you have nakey vids of Scarlett Johansson it may not be worth it.

[CableDude]

depending on the dvr and revision it can be a pain in the a$$ and huge files. It is doable though, but worth it is up to you. I know guys who have carefully removed the drive, used an enclosure then copied the contents to work on it later, but unless you have nakey vids of scarlett johansson it may not be worth it. :d

[Humboldt]

Sorry , only DVR I've worked with is our security camera system at work.
Pretty straightforward but no encryption to deal with.