Thanks for clarifying these details.

I am not totally discounting replacing the hard drive. And I really did appreciate your offer on that score, although it was too generous.

I will talk over the options with mum.

Have you considered the option of getting a local computer repairer to do it? It is a very straight forward job for somebody who is used to working on computers. Three screws to remove the lid. Four screws to detach the carrier from the base of the case. Four screws to remove hard drive from carrier. Fit new hard drive and put it all back together. Turn on Humax which will then notice new drive and format it. Fifteen minute job. If you do get someone to do it you need to ensure they fit the correct type of drive intended for PVR usage; I can supply the necessary details.

That would be very helpful. I would be very happy for you do it (if I could find a way to get it to you). But only if we paid the proper rate as you have been incredibly generous with your time and resources over the past week.

But I imagine that a local computer repairer might be the fastest way not to leave mum without her box for a week or so. Being bedbound all the time and with limited ability to do other things it has a big role in her daily life.

Though I should be able to cover that using my Sky box in the bedroom via an old video sender that I have.

The correct drive type is 500MB Seagate Pipeline ST3500312CS see for instance Link to SavaStore (£43) or 1TB Seagate Pipeline ST1000VM002 see for instance Link to ebuyer.com (£53). Personally I would go for double the storage for an extra £10. I am quite happy to fit it for free as it is such an easy job but I understand about time in transit. I will leave it with you.

Many thanks, Martin. Mum has developed shingles so at present there are other priorities and I cannot get out at all.

Hi, I came across this thread recently and found it very helpful but when I come to a certain point my problem changes. When I press for the command to run the error through the Telnet section it comes back with command Error at LBA 1953523512 and whether I press Y or N it keeps coming back to this error. Could anybody help with this? Thanks

Sorry I don't know the answer and the person who was the expert on this (and very helpful) and developed fix-disk can no longer be contacted;I don't know why. If you can install the web interface for the custom firmware can you cut and paste the output from Diagnostics>Hard drive which will allow an assessment of whether it is worth spending time on the drive. The only way to possibly fix the issue that I know of that has a reasonable chance of success is to do a security erase using the instructions at Link to hummy.tv Forum