hr20-700 swap / replace internal harddrive

[polarpop]

Sorry for this but, I searched and found numerous posts about people asking but no meaningful replies... (everyone just makes comments about going esata...)

What is involved in just swapping the internal hard with a new larger drive? Is it as simple as opening up, removing and replacing, closing up, turning on? Will it format itself? Any sata drive? Anything else to know about doing this?

...maybe make it a sticky or faq or something... or did I miss it on all these 100 page threads?

Thanks, Mark

[Clemsole]

Isn't your HR20 leased? If so I don't think you want to open the box.

[polarpop]

Isn't your HR20 leased? If so I don't think you want to open the box.

It is, but i would just reinstall the original drive back in when I'd need to. I was thinking it would be easier to swap the drive internally (and cheaper) than go esata external enclosure + drive.

-Mark

[houskamp]

step 1: throw warantee away
step 2: open case remove OEM drive
step 3: install new drive (300gb-2tb)
step 4: power up
step 5: reset series links/ favs..

[polarpop]

thank you houskamp :) I'm off to order a new drive from newegg...

[Sirshagg]

step 1: throw warantee away
step 2: open case remove OEM drive
step 3: install new drive (300gb-2tb)
step 4: power up
step 5: reset series links/ favs..

Is there anything tricky about step 2?

[cartrivision]

Is there anything tricky about step 2?

The trickiest part is that the HR20-700s require removing the front faceplate to get the disk out. The HR20-100s and the HR21s are easier and don’t require removing the front faceplate.

[JayDog08]

thank you houskamp :) I'm off to order a new drive from newegg...

Let us know which one you decide on.

[InterMurph]

For me, the hardest part was removing the Torx screws that connected the plastic mount to the motherboard. They are at the bottom of two long straw-like tubes, and my Torx screwdrivers couldn't reach them.

I ended up buying a set of long-stemmed Torx screwdrivers, and that did the trick.

[polarpop]

Let us know which one you decide on.

I ordered a western digital gp 750gb drive for 139.99 I'll be installing today... :)


http://promotions.newegg.com/NEemail/Feb-0-2008/Promo021408in/index-landing.html?nm_mc=EMC-IGNEFL021408&cm_mmc=EMC-IGNEFL021408-_-email-_-E0C-_-Moredeals

[rcayers]

If you do this, what is the internal connection in the HR20 box? SATA, IDE, or what?

[Richierich]

The connection should be SATA.

[houskamp]

Is there anything tricky about step 2?
see next line....

The trickiest part is that the HR20-700s require removing the front faceplate to get the disk out. The HR20-100s and the HR21s are easier and don’t require removing the front faceplate.
Front plate has to come off hr21-700 too.. bunch of small screwdrivers and an extra hand or two helps..

If you do this, what is the internal connection in the HR20 box? SATA, IDE, or what?
Standard SATA drive and connections..

[Richierich]

Below is a copy of a link I found earlier.

Only Torx T10 and T15 screwdrivers are needed.

Here's the procedure:

1. Remove five screws form the back and slide the cover back a bit, up at the back and then away.
2. The drive is mounted in a black plastic holder. The holder is attached to the box on the front side. A separate black plastic bracket clamps the holder down on the rear side. A fan on the underside of the holder vents out the box through slots in the bottom.
3. Unplug the fan cable from the motherboard. Unplug the SATA and power cables from the drive.
4. Unscrew seven screws and remove the drive holder and bracket.
5. Flip the holder over and detach the drive from the holder by unscrewing four screws. On one side they are clearly visible. On the other side, they must be accessed through the fan blades.
6. Pop in the new drive and reattach with screws.
7. Put the holder back in the box and reattach the bracket.
8. Plug in the fan cable, power and SATA cables.
9. Close the box.

You're done. Total time is 15 minutes at the most. Obviously, if you want to preserve drive contents you'll have to copy partitions as described earlier.

[spunkyvision]

I had an issue with 1 or 2 of the hex screws on the back of the unit. 2 of them seemed to have a "nub" that prevent the torx screwdriver from getting in there. Is that normal or is it a special torx screwdriver?

[houskamp]

I had an issue with 1 or 2 of the hex screws on the back of the unit. 2 of them seemed to have a "nub" that prevent the torx screwdriver from getting in there. Is that normal or is it a special torx screwdriver?
called a tamperproof torx.. easy to find at tool stores..

[armophob]

I had an issue with 1 or 2 of the hex screws on the back of the unit. 2 of them seemed to have a "nub" that prevent the torx screwdriver from getting in there. Is that normal or is it a special torx screwdriver?

they sell security bits that have a hole in the center.

[spunkyvision]

called a tamperproof torx.. easy to find at tool stores..
they sell security bits that have a hole in the center.
D'Oh!..thanks..at lowes or home depot?

[dtrell]

The connection should be SATA.

well richie, i can see by the equipment you have that your last "name" fits...

[Richierich]

well richie, i can see by the equipment you have that your last "name" fits...


That is HOW I GOT MY NICKNAME!!! LOL!!! Two guys used to call me that and I didn't know why. One of them asked if I had seen the movie and I said no.

He explained that since I had so many TOYS that they had decided to call me RICHIERICH and the name stuck!!!

[spunkyvision]

http://images.lowes.com/product/converted/000346/000346319033md.jpg

[spunkyvision]

another stupid question, is Tamper Proof Torx the same as Security Torx?

[houskamp]

yep

[armophob]

another stupid question, is Tamper Proof Torx the same as Security Torx?

Yes, security was my name for them. I have never seen them in a store. I have seen complete bit kits with them included online. Cannot offer a location though.

[kcopen]

When you install a new drive, do you have to somehow reinstall the software that actually makes the DVR operate? That's the part that doesn't seem to compute to me. Seems like taking out the drive and installing a new one would be easy enough to for someone who has done this in many computers like myself, but isn't what your installing just an empty drive? It has to have the DirecTV DVR operating software installed on it to work right?

[jonaswan2]

When you install a new drive, do you have to somehow reinstall the software that actually makes the DVR operate? That's the part that doesn't seem to compute to me. Seems like taking out the drive and installing a new one would be easy enough to for someone who has done this in many computers like myself, but isn't what your installing just an empty drive? It has to have the DirecTV DVR operating software installed on it to work right?

The OS is located in the flash memory. Installing a new hard drive really is about as easy as pluging the device in.

[kcopen]

The OS is located in the flash memory. Installing a new hard drive really is about as easy as pluging the device in.

Ah cool thanks! I've been wanting to upgrade the drive on my HR20 for awhile. 320 gigs! Bah!

[Richierich]

I'm installing a 1TB Seagate drive today in my HR20-700, can't wait to GITRDONE!!!

[GregAmy]

When you install a new drive, do you have to somehow reinstall the software that actually makes the DVR operate?
No. It's not like the older boxes (e.g., HR10-250) where you had to do copy the O/S over. The new ones (well, at least on my HR21-700) have all that in firmware now, and you just drop the drive in, fire it up, it formats the drive, and you're done.

My Seagate 750Gb dropped right into my 20-minutes-old HR21 and has been working like a champ since.

I don't why you guys are all bent about opening up those boxes; the worst you're risking is the $200 to buy a new on retail it if it breaks "out of warranty". DTV is probably never gonna want that box back unless you cancel your service, and if they do take it back it's gonna get anonymously dropped onto a pile someplace in China for remanufacturing... - GA

[Sirshagg]

Yes, security was my name for them. I have never seen them in a store. I have seen complete bit kits with them included online. Cannot offer a location though.

Ace hardware in Phoenix has them. They used to sell individual bits, but the last time I needed one they only sold sets - still only about $15.

[Richierich]

Here is a link to a TORX SET!!!

http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?&Partnumber=360-097

[rudeney]

When you install a new drive, do you have to somehow reinstall the software that actually makes the DVR operate? That's the part that doesn't seem to compute to me. Seems like taking out the drive and installing a new one would be easy enough to for someone who has done this in many computers like myself, but isn't what your installing just an empty drive? It has to have the DirecTV DVR operating software installed on it to work right?

You’re probably thinking in terms of the old TiVo and Ultimate TV DVR’s where the O/S was installed on the hard drive. On the new D* DVR’s (R15, HR2x) the O/S is actually stored on a flash ROM chip on the main circuit board, separate from the hard drive. The hard drive is used for nothing but buffer and recordings. It does store your “To Do” list, so anything set recordings you have scheduled on the existing drive will have to be reconfigured on the new drive.

Also, unlike the old UTV, the HR2x doesn’t “security lock” the drive. If you want, you can reuse the old drive in another unit or a computer without any special processes. Note that recordings are encrypted using the serial number from the specific DVR that created them as an encryption key, so it’s not possible to access the recordings on any other device (PC or DVR).

As for the tools required, I bought a nice 30-somthign piece “security” bit set at Sears a few years back. IIRC, it was less than $30. I haven’t found a “tamper proof” fastener it can’t handle.

[Stuart Sweet]

This site does not support opening up leased equipment or reusing DIRECTV property (their hard drive) in your PC.

[Richierich]

There was a limitation awhile back that when you replaced your internal drive there was a problem once it reached the 320 GB limitation.

I guess that has been changed via Directv's software so that is no longer a problem.

[chumbley]

There was a limitation awhile back that when you replaced your internal drive there was a problem once it reached the 320 GB limitation.

I guess that has been changed via Directv's software so that is no longer a problem.

I think that limitation was only if you tried to copy the existing data, and I believe that has been resolved as well.

[spunkyvision]

Ace hardware in Phoenix has them. They used to sell individual bits, but the last time I needed one they only sold sets - still only about $15.
thanks..got them at Frys for 8.99 6 bits. They did have a 100 piece set for $16