There are several programmes in my planer that my box will just not let me delete. When I try to delete them I get the message "cannot delete file due to file restriction". Then when I got to my media everything has disappeared and I have to reboot to get it back again. Anyone got any ideas?

Have tried factory reset and also upgrading using usb stick.

See previous thread on topic http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/s...62&postcount=1

Hi - thanks for intefering but that previous post you linked to was for a different problem I was having. That problem was rectified and this is now a seperate issue.

I would appreciate any helpful comments from anyone.

I was trying to help! There was no post back from you so I assumed you had not seen the thread as it is not on front page.

Is you current problem that you cannot delete some recordings from the hard drive?

Sorry I didnt mean to suggest that you werent being helpful and I appreciate you taking the time to reply.

My intial problem was one programme that would not delete and when I tried to delete it the box froze. I got around that one by doing a factory reset and all was fine.

Now however I have about 10 programmes that I cant get rid of - the box doesnt freeze any more but I get the message "cannot delete file due to file restrictions".

Not sure where to go from here.

Is it possible to make a new folder, say JUNK for example, move the bad recordings to that folder, and then delete the whole JUNK folder?

Have tried that but get the same problem unfortunatly

I can only suggest some basics to try and flush out the problem[LIST=1][*]How full is the Humax HDR hard drive?[*]Were the problematic recordings made originally on the same Humax or were they imported from an external source?[*]Are the affected recordings HD or SD?[*]Do the recordings you wish to delete actually play back on the Humax?[*]Would it be possible to archive any precious recordings to an external drive and then format the Humax hard drive?[/LIST]
I wonder if something was corrupted during your original problem and you new problem is a consequence of that?

I have exactly the same problem that Footys described (so in a way I'm a tad relieved that it's not just me!)

It's only started happening since the new year (is that coincidence? or a clue?).

To answer the diagnostic questions asked by germanycalling:

1. How full is the Humax HDR hard drive?
A. I've been maintaining it between about 70% - 82% for the past few weeks.

2. Were the problematic recordings made originally on the same Humax or were they imported from an external source?
A. All recorded on my own FoxSat HDR box.

3. Are the affected recordings HD or SD?
A. I have examples of both. e.g. Doctor Who 2nd episode in HD, and Dickenson's Real Deal in SD.

4. Do the recordings you wish to delete actually play back on the Humax?
A. Yes, they play back fine.

5. Would it be possible to archive any precious recordings to an external drive and then format the Humax hard drive?
A. Yes, I was thinking about this solution myself but I'd like to consider it as an absolute last resort due to all the time & hassle required. I'm hoping that someone reading this thread will be able to suggest an easier alternative (and also shed light on the cause of the problem itself).

Does the Humax FoxSat HDR have any "secret" diagnostics menus? Is it possible to control the unit from a USB-connected PC and perhaps repair permissions etc. on the drive? Any other ideas?

By the way, as the error message suggests a problem with "file restrictions" I also tried locking/unlocking and restricting/unrestricting one of my problem files but it made no difference - the next time I attempted to delete the file I got the same error message and the ostensibly empty Media List (it's empty and yet it still shows usage at 81%).

The only way I've been able to get it back is boy powering up whilst holding down the standby button on the front of the unit. (what does that do precisely?)

Any help appreciated. This is a most irritating problem.

Cheers,

Meme.

PS Some files still delete as normal. I can't see any obvious pattern about the ones that fail to delete and screw up the Media List.

Yes, I know someone who had a recording stuck like that on their HDR.

Only way out was to reformat hard drive and of course loose all recordings.

Automan.

I too have developed this problem after installing the latest s/w level. My drive is 77% full and I cannot delete ANY file; I just get the "Cannot Delet File" msg followed by the disappearance of all the files prviously displayde by the File Mgr.

I wonder if this is the bug resurfacing that caused the quick upgrade from V01 to V02 stopping deleting while recording.

I really hope it's not. The latest firmware has a auto delete option that deletes the oldest non protected files when the hdd runs out of space.

Hi all. I've just joined this forum after searching the internet for a resolution to this problem that others appear to have come across with deleting programmes only I cant find anywhere here where someone has actually found a resolution.

Is anyone that has had this problem in the past still here that can help please.

Have you inadvertently protected the programmes. If so you need to unprotect before you can delete them.

Press media and then opt+ choose FIle Manager.

Locate an affected file. Press the blue (function) button and if the file is locked you will have an unlock option.

II had the problem I would decide on one of two approaches.
1. Phone Humax support.
2. Install Raydon's add-on ftp and telnet servers and go into the HDR filing system and see what the problem is. You could also repair the filing system - NOT for the faint hearted - but if you or a friend have some linux experience !!

Yes I've tried that just in case they had been protected by mistake. I'ts baffling as I can delete some programmes from a particular folder but not others even though they are all the same series of progammes.

Once the "file restriction" message comes up then the whole library vanishes and I need to re-boot to get everything back.

Can the file be played?

Yes the files will play once I reboot the box. Everything is fine apart from deleting some of them. Most of the programmes I record are set to record the whole series and I wondered if it was to do with that but even then, some episodes delete and others have this same error message.

Can you delete the folder (and all it's contents) ?. Very strange one this. How are you trying to delete them ?

From the delete option after pressing OK in media on a file.

The delete option in File Manager.

The edit mode option in File Manager and choosing multiple files or folders.

Hi Graham, I'm baffled too. I've tried to delete a folder that contains one of the problem programmes and the same message comes up; I've gone into file manager to do this and it makes no difference. I called the Humax helpline today and he told me to try what I had already done. He said the only other option is to format the HD which I did about two months ago; I lost all my recorded programmes and the problem has re-surfaced so I see no point doing that again right now. I have checked for updates in the munu section and it says all up to date so I'm well and truly lost. Others have obviously had this problem from previous posts but have not heard from anyone that has found a resolution. I appreciate your interest Graham even if you can't help.....

How old is the box ? If out of warranty you could try changing the hdd for a 1TB, they are pretty cheap these days.

Yes it is out of warranty unfortunately, is it easy enough to change the HDD?

If you can use a screwdriver, choose a 1TB drive or smaller with a AV spec it's dead simple. Basically you remove the old drive replace it with new one. Reboot the hdr, it will format it for you. That's it.

This might be a bit out of date in respect of suitable drives now available but it shows you the basics

http://foxsatdisk.wikispaces.com/Simple+HDD+swap

Thank you for all your advice Graham, I think I will try changing the HDD and see if that does the trick.

Hi Vince.

Have you managed to swap out the drive yet and if so has it cured the problem or is it too soon to say?

I too have just started getting this for the first time this week.

My box is getting on a bit now, bought in Nov '08 and to be honest I think it's on it's last legs.

In recent months, the box has taken to refusing to start recording timer events even though it wakes up 15 minutes before the programme is due to record. I've had to resort to setting the box to wake up early in the evening so that it's already on as each timer event is encountered. This cured the problem although isn't ideal.

I've had a couple of lockups and when powering off at the back, waiting and powering on again, the box boots and displays a channel but the programme banner remains on screen and all device and remote buttons are unresponsive. The only way past this was to hold the power button on the front whilst booting.

Finally, it's taking a while to boot. Sometimes it's less than a minute but sometimes it's nearer five minutes.

This latest problem though is possibly the most annoying as I lose all of the programmes listed in the library seemingly at random. I can be watching a live programme, iPlayer or a programme I've previously recorded, go into the library and it's empty. If a recording has been taking place in the meantime, the recording stops mid-programme even though the REC indicator is still on the display. If another time event occurs whilst in this state, the REC indicator doesn't appear. Also whilst like this, you cannot pause the current live programme.

At first I thought it was the drive but although the library is empty, I can still view the contents of the music partition and I can still see and play all programmes if I connect via FTP/Samba/Twonky. By the way, this latest problem occurred whilst using the latest firmware without the Media extras installed. I only installed that this week as a test to see if it was just the box software itself that is somehow losing access to the video partition. The reason why I'm posting in this thread is that a couple of times I have been deleting programmes and it's failed with the files restriction message. At this point as per above, the entire library disappears until the next reboot.

I'm presently copying all programmes off the box so that I can reformat but I'm disheartened that by the sound of it this problem can reoccur a couple of months later.

Time for a new box maybe.