REPASSAC – 3 minutes ago  » 

Graham,

Was wondering if looking in settings storage is a factor.

I remember playing with the Foxsat by disconnecting the HD to get it to boot, it was necessary to OK the no hard-disk message once only (the message was not repeated, if rebooted). Just speculating that the disk status might be remembered.

Do you think the reset file might be work a try? (as it has solved issues a default has not).

Edit: Think my no recordings message was prior to the issue of the HB-1000S which may be relevant to the message to attach a USB drive.

I doubt the reset file will fix it, but certainly worth a try. And yes the attach a hard disk option might be some code only intended for the HB1000S. You may remember I had the internal disk mounted externally in a esata cradle on the Foxsat. You could then swap hard drives. Once you had two setup by the box, you could then swap the two with each one reading it’s own recordings list. I don’t think I ever booted it twice without a disk in the cradle though.

I doubt it will work but worth a go.

On another thought.

Barry, do you have a copy of any firmware pre the issue of the HB-1000S or a current reset file?

zoots – 2 days ago  » 

My HDR-1010s 1tb box failed too on Wednesday. Switched on and no recordings and unable to pause or record or detect in storage settings. Box was only 2 years and one month old. Just out of the two year guarantee! Contacted Humax who refused to replace. Removed the HDD and replaced with a new identical one but still no response. Waste of time and money but I took that risk. Searched on eBay and this seems to be a common fault on many of these boxes. The SATA controller fails without any prior symptoms. Need to purchase a new box but have lost faith in Humax.

Exactly the same problem with mine, 2 months out of its warranty and exactly the same response from Humax.

Have read back through all the threads here about hard drive problems and possible ways to remedy the situation ie going into standby/ powering off/ leaving 10 minutes etc etc.

For me, none worked and I suspected there was absolutely nothing wrong with the hard drive, connected it up to my PC and ran seatools for windows, drive tested ok, was also able to install it into a friend’s HDR1000 temporarily, was instantly recognised.

I would suspect that there’s a problem with the sata data controller on the board which seems to be more and more commonplace, I dread to think how many people have probably paid out good money to replace perfectly good hard drives in error.

Not the first time I’ve had a Humax product fail, last year my HDR Fox T2 gave up the ghost just 3 months out of warranty again a suspected motherboard fault.

Hamishrock – 2 minutes ago  » 

zoots – 3 days ago  » 

Worth a try downgrading but still no joy!

Going to purchase a SATA to USB converter and disconnect the internal SATA connection and route HDD to back USB connection.

I am having the same problem on a 1010s.

I have also tried adding a drive to the usb as I have an enclosure which uses an ide drive. This allowed it to be formatted but then no record or pause on live was possible.

Have you been able to record over the USB port?

Only freetime box that can record to usb connected drive is the HB1000S, which doesn’t have an internal drive. The message that comes up is most likely a bit of code intended for the HB1000S only.

zoots – 38 minutes ago  » 

Hamishrock – I have also tried a USB HDD but it still does not detect it. I have tried all possible solutions but sadly without success. Going to have to bite the bullet and purchase a new unit. Will be purchasing the HDR-1100S 500GB. Hope fully they have sourced a different SATA host controller chip to prevent any future failures but I’m not holding my breath!

One last suggestion try some quite old firmware for HDR-1000S (Pre HB-1000S) http://beta.humaxonline.co.uk/downloads/hdr-1000s

I would not try to flash it on the HDR-1010S.

j1bs – 6 minutes ago  » 

I’ve no experience on a Humax PVR, but were it a PC it would be well worth checking the PSU voltages at the drive, in particular, the 12v which supplies the spindle motor.

see below

http://pcsupport.about.com/od/insidethepc/a/sata-pinout-15-pin-psu.htm

Hi and welcome to our forum. Really good advice, but the Humax Freetime boxes (and other recent Humax boxes), use an external switch mode power supply that provides regulated 12V DC to the box, which I guess is passed directly to the 12V sata power connector pins. Checking this should be as easy as a voltmeter connected to the PSU supply output plug. As everything else works OK it seems to be unlikely to be the issue.

Hamishrock – 8 hours ago  » 

Thanks for the advice.

I have now bitten the bullet and ordered an 1100s from currys ebay shop where it is £30 off the usual £190 pound. It should arrive Wednesday – Thursday

Please supply link. Thanks