Reformat DVR hard drive for PC use

Discussion in 'PC hardware help' started by Vejeta77, Dec 8, 2010.

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  1. ddp

    ddp Moderator Staff Member

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    jazzy, are you trying to use it for pc purposes & if yes then does it show in device management?
     
    ddp, Jan 10, 2015
    #61
  2. jazzy15

    jazzy15 Newbie

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    Sometimes it does, but it won't format, sky have done something to the hard drives, as I have 3 .1 works perfect, but the other 2 don't. So hdat2 must be the only way to take the settings off the hard drive.
     
    jazzy15, Jan 11, 2015
    #62
  3. jazzy15

    jazzy15 Newbie

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    Hi can you help please. Thanks
     
    jazzy15, Jan 11, 2015
    #63
  4. jazzy15

    jazzy15 Newbie

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    I think the issue to the steps is the version of hdat2 as the new version doesn't have these options.
     
    jazzy15, Jan 11, 2015
    #64
  5. ddp

    ddp Moderator Staff Member

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    does it show in disk management in control panel & did you delete the partition, make a new partition then format the drive?
     
    ddp, Jan 11, 2015
    #65
  6. jazzy15

    jazzy15 Newbie

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    Doesn't really show in disk management, it did once but hangs, and become unresponsive.
     
    jazzy15, Jan 11, 2015
    #66
  7. ddp

    ddp Moderator Staff Member

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    could then be the drive is dying,
     
    ddp, Jan 11, 2015
    #67
  8. jazzy15

    jazzy15 Newbie

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    I would try the hdat2 but I don't know the steps as the dco option is not there on the new version.
     
    jazzy15, Jan 11, 2015
    #68
  9. ddp

    ddp Moderator Staff Member

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    check the site that you got the software from as it might have that info.
     
    ddp, Jan 11, 2015
    #69
  10. jazzy15

    jazzy15 Newbie

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    Hi do you have the steps for the new version?
     
    jazzy15, Jan 12, 2015
    #70
  11. Emrys

    Emrys Newbie

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    This procedure didn't work for me exactly as written. I have a Seagate ST3500312CS that I removed from a DirectTV DVR. The drive was setup to start in idle so it would work inside the DVR. For some reason Partition Wizzard 8.1.1 was able to spin up this drive so after exiting partition wizard I followed your procedure to unlock the drive. I followed the following procedure:

    1. Boot computer from Partition Wizzard 8.1.1

    2. Select Direct TV Hard Drive

    3. Delete all partitions

    4. Create new partition and format the drive

    5. Exit Partition Wizard. Very Important, keep the computer on. Do not turn it off.

    6. Insert the HDAT2 Boot CD and re-boot the computer

    7. Select option 1 from the Win98 boot menu

    8. Select the correct drive and press <enter>

    9. Select “Drive Configuration Overlay (DCO)” from the menu

    10. Now Select “Restore” and press <enter>

    11. Answer Yes when prompted

    12. When finished hit the escape key to go back to the previous menu.

    13. Select the “Commands Menu”

    14. Select “Commands/Features Set”

    15. Select “Power Up in Standby (PUIS) and answer Yes when asked if you want to run.

    16. If all goes well PUIS should be disabled. The drive can now be used in a PC.
    Note: I deleted all partitions and then created a new NTFS partition. You may not have to do this. When partition wizard boots up it automatically retrieves information on all drives connected to the computer. At that point the drive may already have been spun up. I'm not sure of this because this drive is very quiet.

    If I had saved the DVR I could have activated the drive by turning on the DVR and then hot swapping the drive with my PC while keeping the DVR power supply connected.
     
    Emrys, Jan 13, 2015
    #71
  12. jazzy15

    jazzy15 Newbie

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    Select “Drive Configuration Overlay (DCO)” from the menu is not on hdat2 version I have.


    Hdat2 what version do you have?
     
    jazzy15, Jan 22, 2015
    #72
  13. gva27v

    gva27v Newbie

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    I found that this can be done without the DVR power.
    1. Download and burn a cd of gpartd 0.4.1-2 or comparable version.
    2. Install the DVR HDD in your PC.
    3. Insert gpartd cd on power on. Let the pc error out, and boot from the cd.
    4. select option 1
    5. next screen select the second option to not load keyboard options
    6. it will ask you language info, then graphics info. Use option 1 for graphics info, then "enter" 3 times.
    7. once you are in the screen that shows hdd info, double click the red "X" in the top left corner, and select reboot. Once it starts to shutdown, the gpartd disc will eject, replace the disc with the hdat2 cd, and it should restart normal
    8. boot into the hdat 2 cd and follow wvtimberwolf's procedure from here, excluding the DVR box in the procedure.

    Worked like a charm.
     
    gva27v, Mar 1, 2015
    #73
  14. 4POD

    4POD Member

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    Does anyone know if it is possible to format a write protected hard rive?
     
    4POD, Mar 17, 2015
    #74
  15. ddp

    ddp Moderator Staff Member

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    who makes the hard drive?
     
    ddp, Mar 17, 2015
    #75
  16. 4POD

    4POD Member

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    Its a Western Digital HD
     
    4POD, Mar 17, 2015
    #76
  17. ddp

    ddp Moderator Staff Member

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    I presume the motherboard & windows sees the drive?
     
    ddp, Mar 17, 2015
    #77
  18. 4POD

    4POD Member

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    Yes they pick it up but look for a boot password to continue boot. I have a few Lenovo Laptops that have been decommissioned if I can't wipe the HD then I will have to purchase new ones.
     
    4POD, Mar 17, 2015
    #78
  19. ddp

    ddp Moderator Staff Member

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    have the drive connected to your desktop as a secondary drive so you can delete the partition, make a new partition then format it.
     
    ddp, Mar 17, 2015
    #79
  20. 4POD

    4POD Member

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    So if I connect drive via USB to a desktop will it see the drive so I can delete the partition even though its protected?
     
    4POD, Mar 17, 2015
    #80
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