Replacing Sky HDD help

lee87 · 21 May 2010 at 11:55

My Sky+ hard drive is about to break so i'm replacing it with a spare maxtor hard drive I have lying around.
I've backed up up the old HDD and used Copy+ to get the recordings on to the new one. Plugged it in to the sky box and it finds and plays everything fine but it won't let me record or rewind live tv.

The HDD is fine because if do a full system reset from the menu it works but i've then lost my recordings.

Anyone know how to sort this?
Thanks

Bubo · 21 May 2010 at 13:40

Be aware that you can't simply slap any old hdd in a sky+ box and expect it work work perfectly unfortunately. Drives intended for PVRs are different to those meant for computer use. One of the key differences I believe is error checking. Drives meant for PVRs are more defect tolerant and thus won't skip/jump so much if they encounter a glitch during recording, whereas a drive meant for a pc will be much more fastidious about every bit/byte being accounted for at all times, which can cause problems whilst it phaffs about trying to resolve the error, whilst the BBC hasn't had the deceny to pause Eastenders for your drive to catch up

.

blastman · 21 May 2010 at 15:02

Bubo said:
Be aware that you can't simply slap any old hdd in a sky+ box and expect it work work perfectly unfortunately. Drives intended for PVRs are different to those meant for computer use. One of the key differences I believe is error checking. Drives meant for PVRs are more defect tolerant and thus won't skip/jump so much if they encounter a glitch during recording, whereas a drive meant for a pc will be much more fastidious about every bit/byte being accounted for at all times, which can cause problems whilst it phaffs about trying to resolve the error, whilst the BBC hasn't had the deceny to pause Eastenders for your drive to catch up .

Although mostly correct, you can use a PC HDD in a SKY box. best suggestion is to buy the same model off the bay. Seagate i believe.

PiKe · 21 May 2010 at 15:05

Bubo said:
Be aware that you can't simply slap any old hdd in a sky+ box and expect it work work perfectly unfortunately. Drives intended for PVRs are different to those meant for computer use. One of the key differences I believe is error checking. Drives meant for PVRs are more defect tolerant and thus won't skip/jump so much if they encounter a glitch during recording, whereas a drive meant for a pc will be much more fastidious about every bit/byte being accounted for at all times, which can cause problems whilst it phaffs about trying to resolve the error, whilst the BBC hasn't had the deceny to pause Eastenders for your drive to catch up .

This isn't correct at all, a drive 'faffing about' trying to correct an error, is a broken drive.

lee87 · 21 May 2010 at 15:27

Thanks but I don't think there is anything wrong the compatibility between the HDD and sky box.
If I connect it and do a system reset everything works perfectly. I can record and rewind etc, but doing this deletes everything on the HDD.

The only issue is when I connect the drive after using copy+, I can't record or rewind. It's like the drive has been write protected.

iv-tecman · 21 May 2010 at 17:00

Maybe you'll be lucky and get a card from Sky inviting you to upgrade your Sky+HD box to a 1TB box for £149..!! Sky are trying to roll out a new digibox for 3D TV support and Anytime + and a faster EPG etc...

Its a 1.5TB HDD in fact, 500 for anytime + and 1TB for personal storage. Sadly, box has no component so if you've been using component then might not be for you.

I believe Sky want to phase out component support, for reasons not totally clear (I'd say copyright infringements) however maybe you'll be able to upgrade to a shinny new box if you're lucky enough..