Panasonic DVR - New HDD

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Sat 23 Mar 2013 22:14
Panasonic DVR - New HDD - Cyd

I have a Panasonic DVR, model DMR-EX77. Recently the playback sound on recorded material has suffered severe deterioration. It sounds rather like the effect you used to get when the stylus got clogged with fluff. i am assuming that this is the HDD head wearing out through use (it gets plenty of use).

The HDD inside is a Hitachi Deskstar 160Gb, model HDS721616PLAT80, also says ATA/IDE on the label.

Would I be correct in believing I can replace the HDD with any model ordinary HDD that meets the same spec (ATA/IDE, whatever that means). Would this one do:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/221203413131?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649

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Mon 25 Mar 2013 17:56
Panasonic DVR - New HDD - Bobbin Threadbare

Physically yes, but you would have to have the software that goes with the DVR in order for the unit to recognise it. You can make a disc image of the current drive using copy+ or daemon tools. You then 'copy' the old drive (when you've removed it) to your pc and the copy software makes a ISO of it - a sort of ghost image, if you will. This then needs copying onto the fresh new drive.

You will need a SATA drive because that's what your ATA/IDE Hitachi one is. It has to spin at 7200 rpm for a DVR. Sometimes DVR units have weird screws too, so check what screwdriver head you'll need!

BTW, ATA is 'advanced technology attachment' and IDE is 'integrated drive electronics'.

The drive you've found on eBay is ok, but you need to check whether the interface for the DVR can support ATA-133 speeds (your Hitachi is a ATA-100 which is slower and usually older)- sometimes if they're too old or the cable doesn't match, it won't work. Also if it were me, I'd buy a HDD with a bigger capacity!

Edited by Bobbin Threadbare on 25/03/2013 at 18:01

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Wed 27 Mar 2013 12:02
Panasonic DVR - New HDD - TeeCee

Er, no!

ATA/IDE is the old 40 pin IDE attachment. SATA is Serial ATA. Also the "Advanced Technology" part of ATA is as in "IBM AT".

The solid giveaway here is the ATA-100 / ATA133 stuff which is irrelevant to SATA. SATA comes in SATA 150 (SATA), SATA 300 (SATA 2) and SATA 600 (SATA 3) flavours.

Any ATA-133 disk will be back compatible with an ATA-100 interface. It's the interface clocking that's important, not what the drive is capable of.

Edit: Just looked that DeathStar up. It is indeed a PATA (Parallel ATA - 40 pin) one. The important bit is "PLAT" rather than "PLA" in the model number. SATA's are PLA models.

Edited by TeeCee on 27/03/2013 at 12:06

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Fri 29 Mar 2013 13:03
Panasonic DVR - New HDD - Bobbin Threadbare

Er, no!

ATA/IDE is the old 40 pin IDE attachment. SATA is Serial ATA. Also the "Advanced Technology" part of ATA is as in "IBM AT".

The solid giveaway here is the ATA-100 / ATA133 stuff which is irrelevant to SATA. SATA comes in SATA 150 (SATA), SATA 300 (SATA 2) and SATA 600 (SATA 3) flavours.

Any ATA-133 disk will be back compatible with an ATA-100 interface. It's the interface clocking that's important, not what the drive is capable of.

Edit: Just looked that DeathStar up. It is indeed a PATA (Parallel ATA - 40 pin) one. The important bit is "PLAT" rather than "PLA" in the model number. SATA's are PLA models.

Teecee, that's not what I was saying at all. I am pointing out that it's a compatibility issue - things that used PATA 133 can use SATA kit without too much trouble. There needs to be the right ports inside the DVR for this to work. The newest version of the Hitachi drive mentioned is now a SATA one, like I said. I also see you have just put the wikipedia stuff about ATA - I'm afraid I'm still correct on that one as well, and wkipedia does back me up there too. I have been building my own computers for quite some time.

The main issue here is making the disc image so that whatever you plug in, the DVR will recognise it.

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Mon 8 Apr 2013 17:26
Panasonic DVR - New HDD - concrete

Hello Bobbin, I thought you had retired from posting, it seems to have been a long time since I read your nomenclature. Same for me actually, time constraints plus nothing to grab my attention have seen a reduction in activity on the forum. Nice to see you in 'print' again. Your two post are magnificent. With reference to previous posts however, can you do it all again in English? Only joking. I do admire your consumate grasp of electronics and software. When I finally retire I intend to take instruction on the subjects and surprise my offspring with superior knowledge, hopefully! Cheers Concrete

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Mon 8 Apr 2013 18:34
Panasonic DVR - New HDD - Bobbin Threadbare

It's easy to teach yourself all of this computer stuff Concrete. It's quite hard to break a computer unless you go at it with a lump hammer etc ;-) I haven't retired from posting, but I started a new career which has been taking up a lot of time and I've not been enjoying the giant, argumentative threads on here of late.

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Mon 8 Apr 2013 23:21
Panasonic DVR - New HDD - Avant

"I've not been enjoying the giant, argumentative threads on here of late."

Nor have I - and I have to read the damned things in case there's somnething abusive in them. But I'm making sure that any threads that start with motoring but descend into politics are moved over to this section (or stopped altogether if they become offensive).

Some people just can't get the message that this isn't the right forum for political discussions. There must be lots of forums out there that are.

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Tue 9 Apr 2013 00:37
Panasonic DVR - New HDD - Bobbin Threadbare

I must admit I do give up reading threads over a certain length - I don't have time! I'm not political at all and some of the 'immigrant' threads have made distinctly uncomfortable reading for a motoring forum.

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Wed 10 Apr 2013 15:00
Panasonic DVR - New HDD - concrete

I must admit I do give up reading threads over a certain length - I don't have time! I'm not political at all and some of the 'immigrant' threads have made distinctly uncomfortable reading for a motoring forum.

Hear, hear Bobbin, making a political reference that is cogent to the argument is one thing, but to 'seguay' into a political theme from that point is another. Especially when it starts to become paranoid about certain ethnic groups. Happily it doesn't become that serious very often. I am though, still impressed by the in depth knowledge that is available on many aspects of motoring. Certain contributors are really qualified and the way they respond to 'silly' questions innocently put is excellent. In general I like the activity and atmosphere and am prepared to filter the dross and take the gems. I hope your new career is going well and you are enjoying it. You are right about the technical stuff, since I have started to push a few more buttons I have discovered more to use. Cheers Concrete

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Wed 10 Apr 2013 17:50
Panasonic DVR - New HDD - jamie745

Especially when it starts to become paranoid about certain ethnic groups.

Care to provide a quote to back that up? If you do, it won't be a quote of anything I've said.

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Thu 11 Apr 2013 15:35
Panasonic DVR - New HDD - concrete

Especially when it starts to become paranoid about certain ethnic groups.

Care to provide a quote to back that up? If you do, it won't be a quote of anything I've said.

Jamie, in answer to your question. No

As for your statement: which part of paranoid are you struggling with?

There is no need to quote chapter and verse about every thread that meanders into another subject or develops into an arguement that seemingly will never be settled, suffice to say it gets tedious after a while and most people, apart from the one or two sparring partners, switch off. I am not aiming my remarks at anyone in particlar and least of all you. If I had anyone in mind for a specific message then I would say so. Just as this thread has now crossed over from a technical query to a discussion on the ethics of the forum. We should know better, but hey-ho life goes on. Cheers Concrete

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Fri 19 Apr 2013 15:52
Panasonic DVR - New HDD - TeeCee

There needs to be the right ports inside the DVR for this to work.

Aha, now I see your error. Fat chance of that. Appliance manufacturers do not spend 50p on a second controller and port if they do not have to.

Many computers support both. PATA interface specs have no effect on the SATA controller though. There would be nothing to stop you making a motherboard only capable of supporting PATA 66 and yet also supporting SATA 600. It's just that you wouldn't.

I've been building my own computers since I soldered together my first ZX81. My first IBM compatibles used MFM or SCSI disks and the IDE spec (that later became rebadged as ATA) was many years in the future at the time.

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Thu 25 Apr 2013 19:29
Panasonic DVR - New HDD - Mike H

There's a guy called Steve on Ebay, with a username of agoodmorning, who fixes a specific U81 problem on the DMR-EX75, he might be able to help you with your probem. TBH I doubt whether it's actually a hard disk problem. I'm about to send my DMR-EX85 to him.

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Sun 26 May 2013 18:12
Panasonic DVR - New HDD - Mike H

Don't know if you still have the problem Cyd, but I've had my DMR-EX85 fixed by Steve since my last post, and it works fine now. I spoke to him and he can sort out the HDD as well, you could do worse than contact him.

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Sat 17 May 2014 08:44
Panasonic DVR - New HDD - emiltoulson

With the improvement of technology,there are more and more electronic products appear in people's daily life.We have to admit that the mobile phone make our modern life better and more convenient.However the cell phone sometimes cause new problems and breaks up people's peaceful life.

(Edit - link deleted as it could be construed as advertising.)

Edited by Avant on 17/05/2014 at 10:47

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