Transferring content from a HDD recorder

T

TarfHead

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I bought an LG (RH 178) HDD recorder over 2 years ago. Some time ago it stopped recognising DVDs (i.e. stopped working as a DVD player) but since the HDD recording and DVD writing still worked, I wasn't too bothered.

Now the DVD writing is starting to break down so I am concerned that the HDD may be the next to fail.

Is there a way of transferring the content on the HDD to a PC ? I assume that the HDD content is stored in a standard format (e.g. .VOB ?). The device supports the 'standard' AV connections (SCART, S Video, red/yellow/white) connections, but not USB.

For example, as a last resort, it may be possible to cannibalise the HDD unit to remove the HDD and rehouse it as an external hard drive, but I'd rather a cleaner method.
 
TarfHead said:
Now the DVD writing is starting to break down so I am concerned that the HDD may be the next to fail.
Click to expand...

just because the dvd writing is starting to fail does not of course mean that the HDD is about to fail, the HDD could continue to work for years to come

TarfHead said:
Is there a way of transferring the content on the HDD to a PC ? I assume that the HDD content is stored in a standard format (e.g. .VOB ?). The device supports the 'standard' AV connections (SCART, S Video, red/yellow/white) connections, but not USB.

For example, as a last resort, it may be possible to cannibalise the HDD unit to remove the HDD and rehouse it as an external hard drive, but I'd rather a cleaner method.
Click to expand...

You could connect up a second dvd tv recorder machine to the current writer, and write to dvd on the other machine. Stating the obvious I know.
Or, you could buy an identical machine to the one you have already, and put the HDD into that. Again stating the obvious.

Yes you could rehouse it as an external drive. Should contain vob files encoded in mpeg ii.
 
Your HDD has a FireWire port making high-speed transfer to a suitably equipped computer / laptop / external storage device very fast and reliable.
 
mathepac said:
Your HDD has a FireWire port making high-speed transfer to a suitably equipped computer / laptop / external storage device very fast and reliable.
Click to expand...

Thanks for all of those responses.

I wasn't aware that it had a Firewire port :eek: until I checked the unit specification again.

I know it has a DV IN connection which, I assumed (but never used), was for camcorders. Would this be the firewire port and, if so, do they operate both as input and output - the labelling of it as DV IN creates the doubt in my mind.

So all I need is a suitable equipped PC ? Fingers crossed that the Mrs' laptop (bought 2008) has one.
 
TarfHead said:
... I know it has a DV IN connection which, I assumed (but never used), was for camcorders. Would this be the firewire port and, if so, do they operate both as input and output - the labelling of it as DV IN creates the doubt in my mind. ...
Click to expand...
Sounds like it and the is no such thing as a "FireWire In Only port" - all ports are In and Out; by definition you can daisy-chain up to 64 hot-swappable devices (including multiple host computers) at speeds up to 100 mbs. Below are sample pictures of IEEE 1394 / FireWire ports and a cable. In general you will find the lager port on a host PC / mass-storage device and the smaller port on a peripheral device e.g. camera. All of Apple's computers and mass-storage devices have included FireWire ports since the mid 90's (excluding iPhone, iPod, iPad)

[broken link removed]

[broken link removed]

http://gadgetophilia.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/firewire.jpg
 
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I have found that all these recorders write in a format that other devices can read. I know someone with a Philips one that burns disc that nothing else seems to read. I have a Sony that works on other machines only if I close the discs, which is ok. But even then the disks haven't worked on one or two machines.
 
mathepac said:
Sounds like it and the is no such thing as a "FireWire In Only port" - all ports are In and Out
Click to expand...

Hmm ..

Bought a Firewire cable this afternoon. Got home and connected the HDD to a laptop using same.

Can't 'see' anything different in My Computer. Manual for HDD list the Firewire port as an INPUT port (DV IN 4 pin (IEEE 1394 standard). On the HDD, on the DV IN, it displays 'Not Connected to Camcorder'.

Any other suggestions ?
 
if you google it, you'll see that most hdd recorders (nearly all) with firewire operate only firewire in.


Just put "hdd recorder firewire out" in a google search....

Your machine clearly is dv in only, because it says it on the machine

I know what mathepac said about the firewire interface being both in and out is true, firewire allows data to flow both ways

But

the software on you HDD machine supports only dv in , same with my machine which is a liteon 5045, its dv in only.......

It only only allows camcorders to connect, i.e, my liteon doesnt recognise a laptop, or an external hdd with a firewire interface........the firmware in the hdd recorder was written for one purpose only, to transfer minidv casettes onto the dard drive of the hdd recorder.......
 
Apologies. total bummer, and it sounds like LouisCribben is correct, DV in only; the four-pin connector (rather than eight) should have been the giveaway (half the bandwidth for a unidirectional transfers).
 
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