What if the harddrive fails!!!!

[Dilemma]

It's been my experience that if you have enough i/o read/writes to a hd on a computer the hd will eventually fail. I can't imagine this would be any different on any DVR(PVR). The best solution I saw for a DVR with no subscription is the RCA DRS7000N. I guess buying a new HD is no big deal but does anyone know what would have to be loaded unto the HD such as OS, software, FAT32 or NTFS, and such? Just wanted to know before I buy one. Thanks in advance.

[lordsmurf]

Especially if all you have is LARGE files, it'll fail.

[Denvers Dawgs]

how long are we talking here, for read writes to fail a HDD? And how LARGE of files?

[Dilemma]

I have bought Western Digital Hard Drives ever since I had a computer and this is what I noticed:


1.) The HD with the OS almost never fails (less I/O read/writes.....at least big ones.)

2.) The HD that I use to download media usually fails within 1.5 years. (more big I/O read/writes).

When I say download I mean at least 2-3 gigs a week. Does that answer your question? Are you having a similar problem?

[theDruid]

I don't know much about this, but a couple of thoughts:

(I'm presuming you're talking about a standalone PVR like a TIVO or something similar..)

1) I highly doubt that the filesystem would be based on a Windows filesystem like FAT32 or NTFS. More likely to be a Linux/Unix type IMHO.

2) The only way I could think of ensuring you could replace a failed harddisk and have the OS etc.. in place on your new disc would be to remove the disc that comes with the unit while it is still functioning, connect it to a computer and use a tool like Drive Image etc.. to create an image of the contents. That way, in theory, you could write that image onto a new HD some time later and fit that into your PVR. A bit like a system restore.

I say in theory because I have no idea if this is possible, but it makes sense to me, if nobody else!

3) You'd have to weigh up whether doing something like what I outlined above is worth it if it voids the warranty etc.. also bearing in mind that within the time the warranty runs, PVRs are like to keep coming down in price as do most consumer electronic goods.

cheers,
theDruid.

[Dilemma]

Thanks theDruid! That was brilliant. I can't believe I didn't think of that. It just makes perfect sense. I'll try it out and see. Thanks again!

[lordsmurf]

You also have to worry about whether the HDD is locked or not. Things like XBOX, ATMs, etc ... all locked drives, harder to work with.

[Dilemma]

How do you get around the HD being locked?

[ps2daddy]

How do you get around the HD being locked?

Goto weakknees.com they have tivo and replay tv info links on how to format drives and the like

As far as the xbox that is why I always copy my eeprom as soon as I get a chance on any xbox I work on for anybody just in case they ever have a hard drive problem they can use the eeprom from the old one and they are back in business

[Dilemma]

Thanks a lot guys for your replys. I really appreciate it. I guess this problem won't go away until Solid State Hard Drives come down in the price (1gig for $1,500.....give me a break!)

[bazooka]

but does anyone know what would have to be loaded unto the HD such as OS, software, FAT32 or NTFS, and such? Just wanted to know before I buy one. Thanks in advance.

That is strictly up to you and what you want to do.

We cannot help you in that area.

You have to decide for yourself.

[Dilemma]

I said that because maybe the DVR won't work with NTFS or FAT32 for that matter.

[Dilemma]

Goto weakknees.com they have tivo and replay tv info links on how to format drives and the like

I looked at that site and could not find any instructions on how to reformat the drives.......only information on how to get replacement drives and how to test them.[/quote]