Replacing HDD on Toshiba RD-XS52 DVD Recorder?

[DVWannaB]

All,

Has anyone tried and had success replacing their hard drive in any Toshiba DVD recorders? I have a refurbished Toshiba RD-XS52 for about 9 months now and the hard drive is all of a sudden giving me errors and so I think it is going south. I would like to replace it myself as the original warranty is no longer valid.

Any thoughts/ideas how to get this done?

[LCSHG]

While I don;t have a Toshiba unit, I should think that you could replace the HDD with a reg. HDD.

Check these sites

http://www.techolio.com/forums/phpBB2/viewforum.php?f=7&sid=c0bd5581a1fb81fbca5021ae671f8d96

http://www.normediasolutions.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=12

[RabidDog]

Make sure to buy an ACE hrd drive, more difficult to get than std HD. But designed from the outset to be fitted in CE devices, prioritises streaming over accuracy (paraphrasing).

[trhouse]

I would suggest getting a copy of the service manual for the recorder. It should explain what you need to replace the drive. Pioneer hard drive models require a special service remote and disk to exchange a hard drive. Others like the new Polaroid DRM2001G are reported to require nothing.

[DVWannaB]

rabidog,

when I opened the machine it has a standard maxtor diamondmax16 ATA-133 160GB hard drive (manufactured june 2004).

tr,
I have a users manual, so I will see online if a service manual exists. thnaks.

[LCSHG]

DVWannaB

Most recorders used a standard HDD as you have found. If the HDD was made in June of 04 I should think it is still in warranty.
Replacement of the HDD is really not a problem especially if you replace the 160 with a 160. The recprder should format and install the proper files but will most likely format a larger HDD to 160gb
If you replace with a larger HDD, and want full capacity, than you may have to use a PC. While someone will like one HDD over another. They are all [31/2"] and the same configuation.
The sites I gave are basically for the LiteOn/ilo but the prociedure and any problems are somewhat the same.
I really doubt it but your unit could present some problems and just because a service manual says that It can't be done doesn't mean it can't

I have replaced a damaged 80gb Segate HDD with a standard 120gb HDD sent as a replacement. The unit installed the drive as a 80gb.

You should Check it out but I don't feel you would have problems, Check those sites There is a lot of info there

Good Luck

[DVWannaB]

LCSHG,

many thanks. As a matter of fact I have already started moving down that path. Before I saw your post, I read a thread in this forum by a poster named totoro who linked the very same info you did.

I already have a 250GB Western Digital on the way (cant beat $79), so I hope to get it up and running by the end of the week if all goes well.

Thanks.

[LCSHG]

[ DVWannaB ]

Totoro168 Has posted good info as have others on this issue. But read the post on this thread.

http://www.techolio.com/forums/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=2285

The use of a larger sector size than 32 has been done and the programs are there to do so.

The use of a larger HDD has been done some time ago by [Harpmaker] on the links given

I could have used the 120gb HDD in the post above, to fill capacity. The goal was too repair the unit to original with all functions

Be aware that if you go over the 160gb drive you will most likely have to format ir in a PC. If you do, you will most likely not be able to use the recorders complete erase [format] option as the unit would want to format the drive to 160gb
Also if you use the units defrag it will be trying to Defrag a 160gb HDD and could lead to loss of programs and or lockup.

EDit
To retain the HDD full cap. and erase the disk, would likely have to be done on a PC

[DVWannaB]

SO let me get this straight. If I use the same sized HDD that I am trying to replace, then I dont have to go the computer route and just install in the recorder and fire it up wth no intermediate steps? Or do I still need to follow the guide to setup the new HDD even when the same size as the one replaced? Thanks.

[LCSHG]

As I said I cannot speak in total to the Toshiba . But as to HDD I feel that most are the same.

Replacing the HDD in a unit should not be a problem, as the unit should format the drive for the capacity of the original HDD in the unit [ie] 80gb – 160gb etc.

You should not have to follow the guide if you only want to replace the existing HDD, size for size. As an example If you replace the 160 gb drive with a 250 gb that is OK but the unit will format the HDD as a 160gb
You only have to use the guide and procedure if you want to get the full capacity of the replacement drive. If larger than the orig

A thought, while I have not done so I should think that using a smaller HDD as a 40gb to replace a 80gb could lead to problems unless you use the guide.

As an example the HDD in the iloRHD04 is 80gb. Segate replaced a 80gb with a 120gb. The ilo formatted the HDD as a 80gb and all functions remained the same, If I wanted to use the full capacity of 120gb I would have to go the Guide route.

Now some have said that there machine will accept the full capacity of the drive directly in the recorder. [this site, another thread] and that would be great but I cannot substantiate this and I asked the question
https://forum.videohelp.com/viewtopic.php?t=253998&start=360

This has not been answered and neither has another at this site on a yet another thread.
So at this point I can only feel that if you replace the 160 with a 250gb, the unit will format it to 160gb, If you want the full 250gb you will have to use the guide.

Just for info
The discussion on sector size is because Video files are very large and continuous. Fat32 format can deal better with large files than NTFS in XP This is why DVD recorders use Fat 32 [and I know of none that do not]
The guide should format the HDD to FAT 32 specs

Most if not all recorder mfg. have tweaked Fat 32 so the cluster size is say 64k rather than 32k, feeling that the size increase gives better response and speed
But this also increases the problems with a bad HDD sector [ 32k is bad enough] but this is another issue.

My response is for info in general and hopefully to help
If all you want to do is replace the existing 160gb HDD with one of the same capacity.
In My Opinion
NO You Would Not Have To Use The Quide
But Go to that site I gave and ask. Get another opinion I'm sure that you will get a response and we may both learn something.

[DVWannaB]

ok, will do. thanks for the time and detailed answers. great great help.

[LCSHG]

DVWannab

Your Welcome

I should add that the Guide as written by Normando at

http://www.techolio.com/forums/phpBB2/viewforum.php?f=7&sid=7b1ca82f9f1cd95db190ac81fcea1d58

http://www.normediasolutions.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=12

are very good and while pointed to the LiteOn/ilo, basicly cover most any recorder.
I feel that that they are [as indicated] for those that wish to upgrade ther HDD to a larger one

[trhouse]

I would recommend getting the service manual first because of the experience I had with the Pioneer DVR-531H. You cannot replace the drive with another identical drive or even take the original drive out and reinstall it and expect it to work. I took the original drive out, reinstalled it and it displayed HDD ERR.

The reason this happens is that the drive has embedded in it a CPRM ID# which is lost when it is removed from the recorder. It takes the service remote and service disk just to get the original drive to work again.

Without the service manual, you have no idea if your recorder is like the iLo or Pioneer. Another example, the Pioneer requires a computer running Linux to increase the size of the drive.

[DVWannaB]

Just wanted to again thank all for responses and help given. Wanted to give you a "how it turned out" quick stroy.

Well I tried the above methods provided in the links, but it did not work. Toshiba did not recognize anything I did and the screen was just blank with a ERR displayed on the front of the machine. So I took the new HDD out and replaced with old. I took it to a Toshiba authorized service dealer who charged $37.50 just to look at it.

After about 10 days they called back and what I thought he said was that they couldnt get it to work and no further charge. I took home and dumbed it in my trash container which was going to be picked up the next day.

I went into the house and after about 6 hours I decided to read the wrok order form the repair shop gave me. In some ancient scripting language that probably could not be read by anyone living today, I saw a "played disc OK". Thats the only thing I could read. I got curious and decided to take the box out of the trash. Opened it up and connected to my TV and satellite. TO MY OVERWHELMING SHOCK it not only played a disc, it recorded and everything like it was doing prior to the this journey it took me on.

It has been about 3 weeks and it is still going fine. Go figure. This one is a true head-scratcher. This story could have had an opposite ending, but needles to say I am glad it turned out the way it did.

[stopher999]

Hello,
I am having the same problem. I would have the recorder setup to tape a tv show. It will start taping but after some time, 15 mins, 45 mins, the unit will beep and the recording will stop. It does this if I just press record or if I have the timer setup. Also it sounds like a grinding noise coming from the HDD when recording. Everything else with the unit runs fine.

Also if the HDD is bad can I just buy any 160 GB hard drive and put that in the machine or do I need a certain type? Reading from previous posts, somthing about the hard drive number not matching.

Anyone have any info on this please let me know.

Thanks

LAter


Thanks and take care

[samijubal]

You can't just use any HDD. Look here for compatible HDDs:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=10405753

[stopher999]

Hello,
Thanks for the info. When I get a chance I will try it. Right now have too much going on. If I do a swap, I will post my results.

Thanks again.

Later

[samijubal]

I've swapped HDDs in a Toshiba recorder, it's pretty simple, just follow the steps in that thread.