Sky+ HDD

Hi,
Sky+ box has just gone t**s up tonight (just what i didn't need for crimbo!!!:cry) so have pulled the hard drive to see if i can salvage my films that i've recorded. What i need to know is if it is possible to slave it to my laptop using a caddy and burning the recorded stuff to disc, the HDD is a Seagate 160GB IDE, if its poss any input on how best to do it will be gratefully appreciated. Don't realy want to lose all my stuff that is on it. Looking now for a replacement box on flea bay,if i get a second user box will i be able to put that HD in that box without losing the stuff also???.
Thanks in advance for any input..
iain.t :major:major

 

Not sure about SKY's DVR service; however I suspect they use a similar file and digital rights management (DRM) system as DirecTV and Dish Network here in the States. Based on this, I'll at least try to point you in the right direction.

The first thing I'd do is call SKY or check their support website to see if file transfer is allowed. If the files are DRM protected, the DRM is likely tied to the specific player that died. In the US, Dish Network allows you to use the old drive and its recorded content via USB connection if you contact them for permission; however DirecTV does not.

The files are likely in a mystery Linux-based format. As such, a Windows PC may not even recognize them (again, courtesy of the DRM copy protection goon squad). Although there are (ahem...) questionably legal ways of retrieving and converting the files, it isn't worth the time or risk involved.

 

Thanks for the heads up this,I am currently looking on the sky forums to see if it is possible, though like you say, its looking like it will be well encrypted so not viewable, so looks like drive will be getting wiped and used as a portable!!!
iain.t :major

 

Got this from Sky support....

http://www.skycopyplus.co.uk/

so it seems that i can copy whatever i have on that drive to disc or another HD....well chuffed about that!!!:-D

 

Sign...I wish my DirecTV service gave me that option.