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Disable HDD on Sony
Arandora
18-04-2008
I have a Sony DVD/HDD recorder model RDR-HX725 on which the HDD has crashed. A replacement HDD (only genuine Sony will work I am told!) is uneconomical so I have bought a new Panasonic.
Is it possible to disable the HDD completely on the Sony so that I can just use it in the bedroom as a DVD player/Recorder or even just DVD player? When I switch it on, nothing will work at the moment.
Nigel Goodwin
18-04-2008
Originally Posted by Arandora:
“I have a Sony DVD/HDD recorder model RDR-HX725 on which the HDD has crashed. A replacement HDD (only genuine Sony will work I am told!) is uneconomical so I have bought a new Panasonic.
Is it possible to disable the HDD completely on the Sony so that I can just use it in the bedroom as a DVD player/Recorder or even just DVD player? When I switch it on, nothing will work at the moment.”

The drive is a standard one, most probably a Maxtor - but you need to initialise it from within the service menus - but even the service manual is completely vague on how to actually do it.
Arandora
18-04-2008
I tried that from the very vague instructions in the manual by pressing a combination of buttons - sorry, I'm away from home so can't be more precise - but I just kept getting the HDD error message and the DVD function didn't work. I'll try the authorised dealer and see if he can/will help. It's not that he was unhelpful, just expensive!!!
Thanks
Nigel Goodwin
18-04-2008
As far as I know you can't disable it?, but you can replace it with a PC drive - at a fraction of the cost of a Sony drive.
Arandora
18-04-2008
Will that drive work? or just allow the dvd functions to work? If it is just the DVD will PC HHD cost be better value than just buying a cheap DVD player/recorder?
blackcow
18-04-2008
Nigel - I have a Panasonic DMR-EH60D - and I always thought that the HDD will need a 'special' type to replace it - are you saying that this is not the case? No problem with my disk yet - but just in case... Are there 'service menus' in the pana? Can the Pana disk be read by a PC? Sorry this in a Sony question.
Arandora
18-04-2008
Just jumping in. I was categorically told that ONLY a Sony HDD and a particular one at that would work. That was why it was so expensive. If that is not the case, it's a scam.
bobcar
18-04-2008
Originally Posted by Arandora:
“Just jumping in. I was categorically told that ONLY a Sony HDD and a particular one at that would work. That was why it was so expensive. If that is not the case, it's a scam.”

To be honest if it was the case it would be a scam. The only sensible reason they could have for enforcing a Sony only HDD would be to make it difficult to repair. It's not like other manufacturers can't make good STANDARD HDDs.
Nigel Goodwin
18-04-2008
Originally Posted by Arandora:
“Just jumping in. I was categorically told that ONLY a Sony HDD and a particular one at that would work. That was why it was so expensive. If that is not the case, it's a scam.”

The Sony ones I've seen use either Maxtor or WD HDD's, they appear to be perfectly normal drives? - and they DON'T WORK when you replace them with a new drive from Sony. You have to go through a lot of options on the service menu - basically 'making it up' as you go along, as the manual doesn't tell you how to replace the drive.

But Sony certainly say you've got to buy their extremely expensive HDD to replace it, but I strongly suspect that you don't need to at all.

'blackcow' - the Pansonic ones I've seen use Maxtor drives as well, and presumably they have service functions for installing repalcement HDD's?.
Arandora
18-04-2008
The Service Manual with apparently more information in it than the one supplied is available at:
http://pdf.crse.com/manuals/2672838122.pdf

According to the Forum where I found this the manual says:
"You need to go into service mode: While pressing the Open/Close button
and the PLAY button at the same time, connect the AC power cord to the power outlet.
In the main menu goto 9 (hdd mode).
You find there some test and a format options. I think you need to perform the operation "Write ID", then "Format" then Write Registration Code (for DiVX). "

This presumes of course, as Nigel says, you have been able replace the original Sony (Maxtor) HDD with another cheaper brand.
sila1999
21-04-2008
Any HDD should work, i have repalced mine with just a standard 160Gb into my HX900 and replaced the one in my HXD870 with a 1Tb western digital
Nigel Goodwin
21-04-2008
Originally Posted by sila1999:
“replaced the one in my HXD870 with a 1Tb western digital”

Nice!
Arandora
21-04-2008
So a replacement 160gb for mine should be no problem then?!
Any ideas of type and cost and cost of installing it?
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