Best way to transfer content from HDD to PC/NAS?

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kUD

27 posts

Geek

#31805 31-Mar-2009 11:38

Hi Folks,
I have a Panasonic DMR-EH57GN Hard disk / DVD recorder, and am wanting to transfer a bunch of the content onto my laptop. (I'm considering getting a NAS drive to plug into my router so I can store content in one place and serve it to a number of locations, so putting some movies on my laptop is kind of a trial).

There isn't an ethernet connection on the Panasonic HDD, so the only way that I can think of transferring content is to burn DVDs, and then copy the data onto my laptop's hard drive. Not the most efficient - so are there any other suggestions?

Secondly - by using a DVD to effect the transfer, the programme is split into a series of 1Gb .vob files. What is the best way to convert them to something that Realplayer or WindowsMediaPlayer can use (e.g. avi or mpeg)?

At the moment I use a DIVX player, but have to launch each .vob file separately which interupts viewing a movie; so I'd like to be able to bring all th parts back together as a whole movie.

Any help appreciated.

wellygary

8321 posts

Uber Geek

#204404 31-Mar-2009 12:33

You are probably restricted to using DVDs as the only way to get your content off, ( the other is to get a video encoder and play and extract them in real time off the PVR)

What you want to do is burn your DVD, then copy the entire disk (Video_TS folders etc) to your Hard Drive,

get hold of a program like handbrake

http://handbrake.fr/

Then you can convert the DVD items to Avi mpeg etc ( even if they span multiple vob files)

Just make sure you finalise the DVD so it is viewable on external player

1freediver

4 posts

Wannabe Geek

#204442 31-Mar-2009 15:33

Whats the connection on the HDD inside the recorder. are they just SATA (or IDE) drives?

Ive never opened one up before so have no idea - i was just wondering if you could pull it out the DVD recorder and hook it up directly to the PC via whatever interface it has.

photoman

217 posts

Master Geek

#204475 31-Mar-2009 16:57

1freediver: Whats the connection on the HDD inside the recorder. are they just SATA (or IDE) drives?

Ive never opened one up before so have no idea - i was just wondering if you could pull it out the DVD recorder and hook it up directly to the PC via whatever interface it has.

Not advisable. They tend to use their own propriety formatting. As a result, the PC won't recognise it. Secondly, when you put it back in the recorder, it will need reset, which usually involves a service remote and a service DVD.