External Hard Drive Archive Bug Thread

[dfergie]

How do I force the receiver to reformat the EHD so I can at least get the space back?

By the way, its a MyBook Essential 750.

If you have exhausted all possible avenues, hook the drive to your pc and format... then hook back to Dvr and it should see it as a new drive and go from there...

 

[120inna55]

Did you find anything out? I just got a new 750gb western external hard drive yesterday and am having the same problem. Did they fix anythig yet?

I'm assuming the data is corrupt and irretrievable. I doubt a "fix" from DISH will resolve it. I think the only way out is to reformat.

If you have exhausted all possible avenues, hook the drive to your pc and format... then hook back to Dvr and it should see it as a new drive and go from there...

I tried that. When I hook it up to my PC (laptop), Windows XP says it found new hardware and that it's ready to use, but I can't actually see the drive (I assume because it's not in a file system Windows recognizes). So how do I reformat it?

 

[dfergie]

Try Maxtor Maxblast or the Seagate Drive Utilities... they may be freeware...

 

[David_Levin]

I tried that. When I hook it up to my PC (laptop), Windows XP says it found new hardware and that it's ready to use, but I can't actually see the drive (I assume because it's not in a file system Windows recognizes). So how do I reformat it?

You can do it on the pc...

(note, if you pick the wrong drive you're SOL. Don't blame me)

Plug in the drive
Right-click "My Computer" and select "Manage"
Select Disk Management on the Left side.

You'll now see the drive listed in the main window. It'll have 3 partitions on it (1 small, one approx 500gig, and one approx 200gig). Select each partition and hit the delete key.

Now Right-click the empty space and create/format a new partition.
Close out the management window.

Now you can move the drive back to the 622 and reformat.

I believe that some WD models have problems with the 622/722. I believe your problems will return (I went through this same process).

I'd suggest keeping the drive for use on a PC, or rip out the internal drive and put it in a different case.

 

[mstregamer]

How come I cannot see my external hard drive hardware on my computer?

 

[harshness]

How come I cannot see my external hard drive hardware on my computer?

Perhaps because you ignored David_Levin's advice in the post immediately preceding your own?

 

[mstregamer]

nope want the logo when i access my computer so i can see what is on my drive

 

[mstregamer]

Whenever I fast forward x15 x60 or x300 when using my new western my book 750 gb essential it always freezes up and goes to the end of my program then I cannot even access anything else until I power it down then power it on I've lost some programs like they never existed.....then when I go to playback another one It does the same thing over again.......Any suggestions? I've since returned it back to Best Buy and will be picking up my replacement tonight and will try that one.....but I have a feeling that maybe It is not compatible to my vip622dvr?

 

[JEFFinINDY]

Ok. Add me to the list of those with External Hard Drive problems. I just found out recently that I can not view any of my recordings on the EHD for more than about 2 ~ 5 minutes. I play a recording and a few minutes into the recording, I will notice hiccup, a slight hesitation. Within about 30 seconds my recording will cease playing. If I try to play it, or any other program on my external hard drive, they will not play and will just return me to the menu as if I had hit stop, or the program had ended.

If I power cycle the My Book hard drive, or the 622, I can then play the recording again. But again with in about 5 minutes, it will lock up. This behavior is consistent. I know that if I call dish I will just get the "power cycle" dance, and that the best their support could end up doing to me would be to swap out the 622 receiver which I am not convienced hardware wise is the problem.

Any others seen this?

This exact symptom is now happening to me. I cannot play or retrieve anything from my EHD (a Seagate FreeAgent Pro 750). I ran the diagnostic utility from Windows and everything passed, so this appears to be a Dish 622 bug.

Has anyone found a solution for this? I'm guessing we'll just have to wait for a firmware update from Dish.

 

[mstregamer]

Got my replacement western 750gb still does the same thing skips to the end of program even if I do not fast forward just watching a program jumps to the end of it cannot watch again until i unplug my drive anybody else having problems with their programs jumping to the end and not being able to watch it again? Or even losing some programs?

 

[Smith P.]

Try to replace USB cable to better one.

 

[charlesrshell]

Got my replacement western 750gb still does the same thing skips to the end of program even if I do not fast forward just watching a program jumps to the end of it cannot watch again until i unplug my drive anybody else having problems with their programs jumping to the end and not being able to watch it again? Or even losing some programs?

I have a Western Digital My Book Essential 500g that is about two years old that is working good. Even moved it once from a 722 to another 722.

 

[guruka]

WD MyBook not reliable

We've discussed this over and over. As David suggested, I reformatted my WD MyBook for use on a PC and setup a completely new drive for my ViP622.

THERMALTAKE N0028USU BlacX 2.5/3.5in SATA Hard Drive USB Docking base

SEAGATE ST3750330AS 750GB SATA 7200 RPM 32MB Hard Drive

It's behaved perfectly and is immediately responsive - unlike the WD MyBook drive.

.....G

 

[David_Levin]

Yea. I've been quiet here because the results with the Western Digital are so mixed.

mstregamer - did you move programs from the old WD to the new one? Or, are these newly recorded programs? If the old WD recordings were somehow corrupt, they may still be messed up after the move.

A different USB cable might help. I think noise (and error correction) are probably a factor. Might not help, or might just change the frequency of the problem.

I'm still guessing that WD is not consistant about what USB controller is in thier boxes. Perhaps the problem would be solved by paying the extra $$$ and getting the WD certified for E* HDD.

 

[charlesrshell]

Yea. I've been quiet here because the results with the Western Digital are so mixed.

mstregamer - did you move programs from the old WD to the new one? Or, are these newly recorded programs? If the old WD recordings were somehow corrupt, they may still be messed up after the move.

A different USB cable might help. I think noise (and error correction) are probably a factor. Might not help, or might just change the frequency of the problem.

I'm still guessing that WD is not consistant about what USB controller is in thier boxes. Perhaps the problem would be solved by paying the extra $$$ and getting the WD certified for E* HDD.

I have one of the certified for E WD EHD on order. Estimated delivery date is tomorrow. I will post here on how it works.

 

[mstregamer]

Yea. I've been quiet here because the results with the Western Digital are so mixed.

mstregamer - did you move programs from the old WD to the new one? Or, are these newly recorded programs? If the old WD recordings were somehow corrupt, they may still be messed up after the move.

A different USB cable might help. I think noise (and error correction) are probably a factor. Might not help, or might just change the frequency of the problem.

I'm still guessing that WD is not consistant about what USB controller is in thier boxes. Perhaps the problem would be solved by paying the extra $$$ and getting the WD certified for E* HDD.

Thanks I think it is the brand I just installed my brand new replacement again and it still skips to the end of the programs (not all) but some.....inconsistetly, not sure what's up with that......To good of a deal to take back for moneyback 94.00 for my 750gb oh well I guess i will keep playing with it and see which shows are good and which are bad it happens intermittenly. Watched part of Pans Laberynth last night it just skipped to the end by itself so I unplugged the power on the drive and rebooted it played it again and it seemed to be fine........not sure what's up?

 

[charlesrshell]

I have one of the certified for E WD EHD on order. Estimated delivery date is tomorrow. I will post here on how it works.

Just installed a new Western Digital My DVR Expander USB 500G. It is that new Dish certified model they came out with. Install was normal and it is working great so far.

 

[guruka]

Yeah, my WD MyBook Essentials 750GB worked just fine for a few months and then one day, out of nowhere, I could see all the recordings but could neither watch them nor restore them. Bye bye.

Time will tell if they have fixed the problem with this new drive. At least, with its being "certified" for Dish DVR use, you can get a refund or replacement if it goes south.

.....G

 

[David_Levin]

My problem was the same at guruka's. I've never seen the "skipping to the end" problem. This might be something different...

 

[charlesrshell]

My problem was the same at guruka's. I've never seen the "skipping to the end" problem. This might be something different...

So far my WD My Book Essential 500G is working good. I checked the receipt, got it September 2006. Installed it on a 722 last September 2007. Moved it to another 722 couple of weeks ago. So far not one bit of trouble. Keeping my fingers crossed.