How can I extract the video files from my HDD recorder to Mac or PC?

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › How can I extract the video files from my HDD recorder to Mac or PC?

atk1

60 posts

Master Geek

#105123 27-Jun-2012 19:54

Hi all, I have a Panasonic DMR EH57 HDD DVD Recorder. I was hoping to archive the video Ive recorded onto its hard drive onto another external HDD so that I can clear all its contents and start recording more. I brought a hard drive docking station and put the DMRs HDD into it. My Mac Book Pro messaged me with "The disk you inserted was not readable...". My other 2 laptops (XP & Windows 7) know its connected with no issues but it does not show up in My Computer.
Any suggestions will be appreciated.
Cheers

Matt

dontpanic42

1574 posts

Uber Geek

#647208 27-Jun-2012 20:04

You could try going into Disk Management to give the disk a drive letter.

*Windows 7*
Control Panel --> Administrative Tools --> Computer Management --> Disk Management

From there you may be able to see the disk and assign a drive letter to it by right clicking on it.

If this doesn't work, it's probably in a file system that Windows can't recognise either.
It's possible that the file system is also proprietary as well as encrypted.

If Windows 7 fails, you could also try booting up a Live Linux CD/DVD such as Ubuntu or Linux Mint.
Linux might recognise the file system.

http://linuxmint.com/
http://www.ubuntu.com/

atk1

60 posts

Master Geek

#647211 27-Jun-2012 20:15

Thanks, its also an IDE if that means anything. Also what should the jumper switches be set to? i.e Master, Slave, Cable, Forcing Dev1?

sbiddle

30853 posts

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Biddle Corp

Lifetime subscriber

#647212 27-Jun-2012 20:15

Have you actually done any research into this issue before you attempted it?

Many HDD recorders use a proprietory format and file system, if this is the case you're not going to be able to read it, no matter what you do. If it's not proprietory it's likely to be a linux based file system such as EXT2 which you can't read from Windows anyway.

sbiddle

30853 posts

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#647213 27-Jun-2012 20:16

atk1: Thanks, its also an IDE if that means anything. Also what should the jumper switches be set to? i.e Master, Slave, Cable, Forcing Dev1?

The jumper switches will depend entirely on what you're configuring the drive for and the cable type used.

atk1

60 posts

Master Geek

#647215 27-Jun-2012 20:21

Na just chucked it in & hoped lol. Its all good as will just use the machines copy fuction to DVD RAM or DVD if I have to. Was just hoping for a short cut & needed the docking station anyway.
Cheers

atk1

60 posts

Master Geek

#647221 27-Jun-2012 20:24

I just want to see the drive on the PC or Mac and drag the files over. Not sure what the cable thing means. Its a docking station which I assume is kinda like what an external HDD case does via USB

kiwijunglist

2981 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

#652239 7-Jul-2012 13:00

Are the DVDs / mini DVDs that your camocorder records onto playable on other devices? if so you can insert the DVD into your PC and use handbrake to rip the movies. If not what format / extension are the files on the DVD?

HTPC / Home automation (home assistant) enthusiast.

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B1GGLZ

1961 posts

Uber Geek

#652262 7-Jul-2012 14:26

atk1: My other 2 laptops (XP & Windows 7) know its connected with no issues but it does not show up in My Computer.
Any suggestions will be appreciated.
Cheers

Matt

I've had this problem too when adding a HDD to XP or Win7.
Doesn't always accept the HDD even though it sees it.
You have to get into Disk Management and add the HDD.
Long time since I've done it so can't remember much how I did it.
Think you right click on the drive and Add or Import or something.
You probably won't b able to read the files anyway.
Pin configuration should be on a sticker on the HDD. Needs to be set as a slave. Would be set as master in the DVD recorder.
I managed to transfer some files from my BW880 BluRay using Twonky Server but never found any way of playing them or converting.
So.. I just burn them to disc if necessary.

Dunnersfella

4086 posts

Uber Geek

#652372 7-Jul-2012 21:15

In regards to playing content copied over via Twonky...
Use VLC Media Player - it has worked a treat for me.
I use Handbrake to convert the files.