I've been recording from my 9200 to a Toshiba DVD recorder for about a year now, with great success. Last week we ordered "Must Love Dogs" from one of the movie channels, and when I tried to copy it onto a DVD the Toshiba tells me I can't due to Copy Protection.
This is the first time I have come across this problem (I have been expecting it for awhile). "Sideways" copied no problem this week.
I don't want my PVR drive jammed up with movies, it is much more convenient to have them on DVDs.
Has anyone else run into the same problem?

Latest update news on the program:

From: "pvrexplorerpro" <pvrexplorerpro@...>
Date: Fri Apr 21, 2006 10:49 am
Subject: PvrExplorerPro Source Code Uploaded!

First, I would like to thank every one who has contributed to the
evolution if this program and group. I have decided to open source the
pvrexplorer-pro software. I have uploaded the source to the files
section of the PvrExplorer group, I also have created a project for it
on SourceForge, you can get it at,
http://Sourceforge.net/projects/pvrexplorer-pro

Due to several factors, one being that I cannot devote the time needed
to get this software to the next level, and also the heavy hand of the
FBI and Uncle Charley coming down to try and squash this effort, I did
not wish that this software be buried.
There for I would wish those developers out there to get involved and
continue the efforts, The more copies of the source in peoples hands
will help preserve it.

Thanks Again.
The latest version at the Yahoo site is: 2020
The latest version at the SourceForge site is: 2021
The actual version number doesn't seem to be well marked on the application.
Be careful when downloading and saving, and use the latest version.

i have been trying to transfer my pvr info onto my pc, but i am having some difficulties. i believe i have got my pc so i can watch and record tv , but the problem is with my exsisting pvr shows already saved can i transfer them onto my pc aswell and how. thanks

I have never tried it before, but I think that you have to open up the PVR, disconnect the harddrive, connect it to your pc, and then copy the recorded shows to a hard drive on your pc. The only problem with this, is that you'll void your warranty, and if it's a rented 5900, I don't think BEV will be too happy with you.

Please go back to the start of this thread and read through the posts. Everything you need to know is in this thread. If I can do it you can do it! In particular check out these awesome posts from Anole who taught me everything I know.....!

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showpost.php?p=251129&postcount=22
http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showpost.php?p=251145&postcount=23

I go the route of pulling out the hard drive and connecting into a mounting USB casing that I can then hook directly into my PC without fussing around opening up the computer case. Works great.

I have a rental Bell 5900 PVR and am not interested in opening it up but want to get my recorded shows/movies into my PC and eventually to DVD. I will need to buy a DVD burner for my PC but I need to know what I else I need to add to my PC so that I can connect the PVR to it.

Hi
You can open the PVR without breaking any seals. Just be careful with the 2 screws on the back of the cover.
Once open, disconnect the ribbon cable from PVR mother board and connect it to a USB drive enclosure. Leave the HD in the PVR (this is where the warranty seal is). Power up the PVR, power up the USB interface and then plug the USB cable into your PC.
Using PVRExplorer gets the programs onto your PC.

I'm trying to rip the files from my 5100's hard drive and it's not working very well. I'm using PVRexplorerpro. I tried PVRdSE but it said "program expired", even though I set my computer's date to january 3, 2004. I tried PVRexplorer (non-pro), similar problems to the pro version, listed below.


1. Windows media player will play some files (video and sound seem to work fine) for about 3 or 4 seconds, then error and close (WMP must close, sorry for the inconvenience etc, send error report?...the usual XP nonsense)
Does the same in Realplayer, and Divx player.

2. Video and sound seem to work fine, until I move the progress slider ahead, then the video freezes and it sits there...forever. I have to force-close WMP.

3. Video plays for about 2 or 3 seconds, then stops. No sound at all.

At least one of those problems is apparent on all the rips. I've only done about 4 or 5 so far (short ones, to see that it works), but it doesn't.

I also downloaded and extracted DishMux, which I understand is required if I use the non-pro version of PVRexplorer?

I need some help here please! I'm amazed that NOTHING is working. Maybe if someone has suggestions on making PVRdSE work? The PVRexplorer thing just isn't doing any of the videos right at all.

Thanks.

PS, I did browse through the thread above, but figured a separate thread might get some more traffic. Hope that's ok?

You should be using PVRexplorerPro 2.0.3.0 or later.
Install your PVR Hard Drive in the computer in Master (not slave) mode,
I just unplug my CDRoms and plug in the Hard Drive with its own cable.
Run PVRExplorerPro, it should detect your Drive and show the PVR type.
Select the programs you want and download them to your computers Hard Drive. You should now be able to watch the programs with any program that supports MPEG. A handy program to have is VideoReDo. You can use it to edit out commercials or (in you case) do a steam fix.
I have never had a "Rip" not work so I can only see if you are following the above precess.
Does the Hard Drive work normally in the PVR?
Is there any other device connected to the same cable in your computer?

I hope you get it working

Install your PVR Hard Drive in the computer in Master (not slave) mode,

I don't understand why you would say that.
The OP seems to be able so see the converted files on his computer hard drive, so I don't see that how he has the PVR drive jumpered as part of his problem.

If there is already a master on that IDE port, then he should jumper the PVR drive as a slave; if not, then a master.
If it is a Dell computer, they want drives jumpered in "cable select" mode.

Dave S.

Thanks for the help. I didn't notice my post was moved here, though I know it belongs here.

Anyhow, it was set to master and was on the primary IDE channel. I have my NEC DVD drive on the secondary IDE channel and have a SATA Seagate hard drive as my only hard drive in the computer. So there is no other device connected to the IDE cable.

So my computer is SATA Seagate, with IDE optical drive on secondary channel, which leaves the primary IDE free for the PVR drive.

As mentioned, I can see the drive and moving the files off works just fine. Only upon playing the MPEG do I get the errors. One thing I find very odd is most of the files display different errors.

I did use PVRexplorer pro 2.0.3.0, and it didn't work. Only then did I try using other (and older) software.
I put the drive back in the receiver. Aside from very infrequent seek retries (the loud slapping or clicking noise), the drive works fine. I haven't had one of those clicking noises for over a year now.
All the shows on the drive play fine from the receiver.

I may try again tonight and update here on if it works or not.


PS, what is a steam fix?

OK well I pulled everything off the drive. About half the programs seem to play fine, with the exception that I cannot scroll through them. If I try to move the progress bar ahead, the media player freezes. Both WMP and divx player freeze when I do it, so I'm assuming it's not a single player's fault.

Some of the other files have the problem where video and audio work fine at the very beginning (first 2 seconds), then the video freezes, audio works fine for another 5 seconds or so, then both are frozen. I can still exit the media player just fine though.

So anyone have any idea what the problem may be? Codec issue? I'll try VideoReDo and see what it says about it.

Thanks again.



EDIT. Got some good news, all the videos play just fine in VideoReDo. No video problems, no audio problems, no scrolling problems, no freezing. This tells me the videos came off the drive fine, but then WHY don't they play in any "regular" player?
Anyone know what extra feature or file type that VideoReDo might be able to play that other ones can't?

Yet another post. I downloaded an MPEG2 codec. It seemed to fix the playing problems, but it didn't fix the scrolling problems.
Did anyone else need a codec in order to play the files? I hope this wasn't discussed in this thread. I did scan through it, but at the time I wasn't looking for info on codecs. I'll look again of course.

Codecs needed are usually supplied by proper DVD player software.
I think the one I loaded was PowerDVD...
Playing the files on the computer isn't the main thrust of this thread, and I can't recall off-hand were to get a good codec library to do the job.
Generally, loading the DVD player software is sufficient and the best solution.
As mentioned, VideoReDo editor works fine without any external codecs.

Two things that have come up recently have to do with some bugs and changes.
One is that the "%e" command line parameter to insert the episode name into the file name you save, may cause problems.
I extract everything I can with that parameter, then for video files which crash at extract time, I remove the parameter and go again.
The original author seems to be back participating again, so maybe that'll get fixed.

For Dish users, there has been another change in the formatting of the PVRs directory structure.
If you find that you cannot see clear description of any but the first file listed on your PVR's hard drive, you should run the modified version.
See Yahoo site for download.

I think that's about all for now.
Looking back over this thread, I belive all the info you need to do the job is presented.
Those who followed the directions seemed to be victorious.
Those who didn't follow instructions had some problems.

I now have Windows Vista and have a couple things worth mentioning;

1. PVRExplorerPro now works for me (it didn't when I had XP).
2. It MUST be run as administrator (right click, run as administrator). PVRexpro will not see the PVR drive otherwise.
3. Absolutely no playback issues like I was having before. I opened PVRexpro, extracted the files and played them. They all play perfectly in WMP. I didn't do ANYTHING different than I was doing when I had XP, so it wasn't my fault.:p

For years, I have been extracting in Windows 2000 and Windows XP.
If the machine is set up correctly , it'll work.
Sounds like your Vista install is a little more robust. :rolleyes:

I only make DVDs, and never play the files, other than in VideoReDo, so whether they do or don't play is a moot point.

Glad to see you've had success.
That's what this thread is all about. :)

And may I ask before this thread becomes very active, is this being done ONLY on drives from the 5100/580/5900 models.?

I've also been able to do it from my 9200. The only catch, you need to have the drive powered up via the 9200 itself, then remove the SATA cable and connect a SATA cable from your PC to the drive. Something to do with the model of drive and the way the PVR spins up the drive. So it can be a little annoying but if you really want to offload the recordings it does work.

FYI . . . It does extract the HD content also.

Thank You for that, it has got me thinking....lol

I've only done it with my 5100. So it does work with the 9200, and doesn't require touching the warranty sticker?
It's also ok to unplug the SATA while it's on? I know SATA is hot-pluggable, but I recall hearing not ALL SATA drives are compatible, or something of that nature.

Final question, which ripping software did you use?