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November 29, 2007 05:10 PM

Categories: DirecTV

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currentg58

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Joined: 11/29/2007

I just recieved a replacement Directv DVR and I need to transfer/copy my saved video files in the hard drive inside the other R15-500 DVR.  The following are some questions that I have:

1. Can these video files be copied from the Hard Drive to DVD? If yes, how and what software is needed to perform this task?

2. Are the video files encrypted with CSS/DeCSS or copyright protected using DRM?

Here is what I already know:

A. The Hard Drive (HD) is accessible.

B.  The HD has a series of folders that contain several files with files extensions: .XMA, .XMB, .XMD, .XMI, .XMJ, .XMV, .XMW, and .STR. 

C. The *.STR file is the largest file with a file size just over 1MB.  Recent searches found that this file extension is usually associated with the older Playstation Video Stream or GameJack images.

D.  The *.STR file is the only file that cannot be copied from the HD to any medium or other location.  Hence, the assumption for question 2. above.

E.  There are some good software out there that will RIP and Unprotect most video file types; but, I have NOT been able to find one that will support the .STR file type.

If there is any work around or solution out there, I would be very happy to recieve such information.  Your feedback and comments are always welcome!

Thank you.

Discussion:    Add a Comment | Comments 1-7 of 7 | Latest Comment

Generic Member Avatar
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  • member since: 02/03/2008
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February 3, 2008 12:30 PM

If u FIgure it out me let me know, id like to be able to do the same

Generic Member Avatar
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  • member since: 03/23/2008
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March 23, 2008 1:26 AM

I'd like to know too.

Generic Member Avatar
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  • member since: 03/17/2008
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March 25, 2008 9:41 PM

Please post your results.  I'd like to do download to a dvd as well.

Thanks.

Generic Member Avatar
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  • member since: 03/31/2008
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March 31, 2008 5:38 PM

I just got my new DirecTV DVR - black - not sure which model number it is.  It has ethernet (no open ports, I checked), USB (unchecked) and of course you could always risk opening the box up.  There's even a front SATA connector (!) for future use - probably for eSATA connectors.

I've little information on the service/DVR, but I'll guess it's a Linux kernel.  The binaries are probably digitally signed, etc., and I'm sure they've gone through some trouble to make sure someone is unlikely to access the hard drive content (deliberately via direct access of the disk or via the ports on the unit).

That said, I'm curious if there is a way to get "in" to the box and peek around - without necessarily destroying anything.  Probably illegal, but whatever...  we don't need to bitch about that, as we're all responsible for our own actions and this is just conversation.

If I were to hook this up to a Linux/UNIX system, I'd check the partitioning and see if the filesystem types were compatible and could be mounted.  And/or I would try doing a direct disk copy ("dd" in Linux, or some other raw copying utility) to create a disk image that could be poked around at without harming the hard disk itself.

Sure, I'd love to back up the few programs I record, for my own personal use.  I hate the thought of not having some flexibility with that, as I did with my Tivo.

Anyone want to share some data/information about these boxes? 

Funny side note: I called Tivo and asked them if their HD Tivo was compatible with DirecTV, the customer rep and a supervisor adamantly insisted it was - but posting to Tivo's forums revealed the newer models are not.  They did have a DirecTivo, but that's discontinued.  If someone has more information about that, or a correction in that let me know.  Yeah, I'll post in another forum - just had to mention it as it's slightly related ;-)

Cheers....

Generic Member Avatar
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  • member since: 03/31/2008
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April 9, 2008 1:12 PM

I guess not many people read this column :-(

On a side note to this, I hooked up my Windows Vista system to my LAN and it picked up on the DirecTV DVR on my network, asking if I wanted to access those programs from Windows Media Player (!) - I'm surprised, as I didn't think there was a way - clearly there may be, and it might take some protocol/line sniffing to figure out.

Anyone?

BruceS Avatar
Member
April 10, 2008 4:33 PM

Both the HR20 and HR21 boot from flash memory, not the hard drive.

As far as I can see, this would make them unhackable.

I am not even sure they are Linux based, since the is no sign of the GNU license agreement in the manual. 

Generic Member Avatar
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  • member since: 03/31/2008
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April 10, 2008 4:44 PM

I asked one of the service techs, and he said it's a proprietary OS.  That would make more sense... in fact, it may be UNIX, but licensed from <whomever>.   Booting from flash wouldn't be practical - if an update failed, the entire unit would be useless.

Discussion:    Add a Comment | Back to Top | Comments 1-7 of 7 | Latest Comment

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