DVR harddrive in PC?

[alturic]

Hey guys, I have a few questions that have really been irking me lately. I have a few harddrives that were used in old Dish Network DVRs and I know how DVRs "work" as well as been building computers for almost 15 years now so I know how computers work, but I'm at a complete loss for words with this "problem". Also, when I mention "power up" I mean "spin up".

Obviously harddrives used in DVRs are harddrives that you could simply buy off Newegg, etc. I'm almost positive companies don't work with HD manufacters to include some sort of "feature" that only allows the HD's to work (see: power up) in their DVRs but I have tried 3 different HD's from 3 different DVRs and they simply won't power up in my PC. When I tried the first one and it didn't power up, I just thought "Ok maybe I was a bit rough with it", so I tried a second one still wouldn't power up. Those were both WD drives. I just pulled my old Dish Network DVR out of the closet and tried that drive (very nice drive I might add), Seagate Pipeline HD, very thin. Guess what? Won't power up. I thought, ok hey maybe 6 drives (raid array) is "too much" for 1000w PSU, so I unplugged 4 of the drives. STILL wouldn't power up.

So, unless I'm just really overlooking something simple here, does anyone have any thoughts on at as to why they wont power up? Also, that Seagate Pipeline drive, was literally just working in the DVR when I pulled it out of the closet (was watching a old episode of Mythbusters) to make sure after the 2nd drive it wasnt my bad luck

[Adorada]

Are you simply trying to use the drive in the pc or are you trying to get the recordings from the drive? If you are trying to get the recordings off the drive, I believe you can't do it directly due to their encryption. Also, I get that it won't 'spin' but are you trying to say that your pc also won't even recognize it?

Now, you technically can get the recordings off, but like I said, not directly from DVR > PC. You would need some kind of capture card (like a Hauppauge or BlackMagic).

[alturic]

No, I'm not trying to get the data off the drive. I'm trying to use it as a complete fresh drive (going to format it).

Yes, I'm going to do some recabling/yearly cleaning of the PC tommorow but the PC wont show any of the 3 drives, nor will any of the 3 "spin up" and be reconized in BIOS.