DVR 501 - Hard Drive is dying.

[DAVIDUCH]

Hey Guys!
My hard drive in DVR 501 is dying. The receiver by itself works very well. I'm thinking to buy same model on eBay and exchange the hard drive.
What do you think?
I found some info on Yahoo group but it is so complicated for me.
I understand it's risky to buy from eBay, but I care only about hard drive.

 

[NightRyder]

Don't pay too much. You may be able to get a refurbished receiver with a 1 year warranty.

http://www.satelliteguys.us/showthread.php?t=87843

NightRyder

 

[TheKrell]

I'm thinking to buy same model on eBay and exchange the hard drive.

Do NOT do that! That will render both receivers useless as DVRs, since the drive in a 501 is married to the receiver. You might just use the working 501 with it's existing drive, and sell your 501 on ebay complete with dead disk. The 5xx series are selling well, and there are people with the expertise to throw out the disk and marry a newer, compatible 120GB model (thereby turning it into a 510). Or you could do that yourself. As far as Dish is concerned, you still have a 501 w/o DVR fee but with the capacity of a 510.

 

[Smith P.]

Tsk, Tsk, Tsk.

 

[TheKrell]

Tsk, Tsk, Tsk.

Well, it's not as though upgrading the disk is an unqualified good... Apparently the increase in disk size alone will get that loathsome VOD stuff foisted upon you to crash your "510" and wear out your new disk. And maybe make Dish some more money by charging you $1 more/movie than PPV.