Pioneer DVR-510HS Hard Drive Upgrade?

[jerry62]

Yo out there... has anyone attempted to find out if it's possible to upgrade the hard drive in the Pioneer DVR-510HS ? I'd be interested to know if this is possible... Of course, there may be some issues if the firmware is pre-configured to only recognize a certain amount of disk space... however, this would be quite nice to know if it can be upgraded... anyone out there have a clue on this ? Let me know, thanks!

[jerry62]

I found these 2 links, but it seems that there may be some special formatting done to the disks, or else specific files that are placed on the disk that the system needs to have there...

https://www.videohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=192334&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=75

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=4e2894d87b5891d0ee2b9bf29db7dfe4&threa...&highlight=510


re: Pioneer dvr-510h-s hard drive

[Frobozz]

I can find info on upgrading the hard drive in a Pioneer DVR-810 with TIVO but nothing about the 510. The sales person I bought mine from says he does hard drive upgrades on the side and it isn't as simple as putting in a new hard drive because of special requirements. Then again, would you trust a person who says he does this on the side? Not me.

[seb]

On page 93 of the UK user manual, there's info about the HDD Initialize function -

HDD Initialize
When your DVD recorder is working without a problem
this option is not visible in the Disc Setup menu.
However, if the HDD file system becomes corrupted for
some reason, you initialize the HDD to fix the problem.
Note that initializing the HDD will erase all the data on it.

I assume that this is similar to a PC's formatting process - but whether the unit would be able to format a new HDD just the same as an existing one whose filesystem had become corrupted is the key question!

Just needs one of us to take the plunge and try it......

[nixie]

I've read other posts here that say the service remote is required to clear the error message and format a new drive. People who aren't authorized dealers or service centers have been having trouble buying the remote

Others here have said that the 510 uses the Unix system. One might be able to format a drive on a Unix system then insert it into the 510 and see what happens.

There may be another option somewhere in the 510 itself that allows a new drive to be formatted. The question is whether there's an option that can be accessed by the regular remote and not the service remote and if the firmware allows formatting higher than 80G.

[jerry62]

Yes, that initialize HDD option... has anyone every tried that? And if that displays as an option when you place a new hard drive in, where is it requiring the service remote? I have read that someone placed a new hard drive in that didn't work, but I don't recall that he tried to use the initialize function... At any rate, it would be interesting to see if any more information is available.

[Frobozz]

The initialize option automatically is available when the hard drive is not formatted correctly. My first 510 had a hard drive crash a few days after I bought it. The unit froze so I had to force a restart. Then the message came up that I needed to initialize the hard drive. So I went to that option and it completed successfully. A couple minutes later the unit froze again. Again and again. So I replaced the machine. I hope to never see that option available again.

[jerry62]

Sorry to hear about the problems... sounds like your hard drive was kaput altogether and you never attempted to place one of your own drives in the unit...

[jerry62]

From what I've heard, the only hope is to obtain a service remote, which can only be sold to Pioneer resellers... that is.. unless someone can find software that can succesfully image the original hard drives, which seem to have some sort of proprietary format... The service manual and service cd are easily able to be obtained, but not the service remote.

[pingping]

From what I've heard, the only hope is to obtain a service remote, which can only be sold to Pioneer resellers... that is.. unless someone can find software that can succesfully image the original hard drives, which seem to have some sort of proprietary format... The service manual and service cd are easily able to be obtained, but not the service remote.

Guess it must be some key sequence to press on the remote control. Saw the service center done it once.

[jerry62]

Isn't there a separate remote device? I know there is a part number for it... is this not what you saw when you were observing the unit being worked on by a service center?

It would be nice to have additional feedback if someone has attempted to use imagining software such as Ranish Partition Manager, Drive Image, etc..

[jerry62]

It seems that robke51 had success!

see this post:

https://www.videohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=253998&highlight=pioneer+hard+drive+upgrade

This person was able to get ahold of a service remote.