JVC DR-mh20 PVR Problem

Yorks · 29-05-07, 09:02 PM

Although not strictly a PC, my questions are computer related.

I have had the above PVR for about 2 years, and have the following problem.

When turning it off it displayed the 'goodbye' message, and I fear this time it really was! The unit just 'hanged' and did not turn off. It would not turn off using the standby button, so I chose the 'reboot' function by pressing standby and stop button. The PVR should turn off and reload settings when this option is selected, and normally takes about 1 minute to complete (the HDD 'rattles' until finished). But this time, when it restarted, it just carried on flashing 'loading', but never completed the process. It will not respond to anything, including the reboot function! The only option is to unplug at the mains. I have left it unplugged overnight, but the problem persists. The HDD powers up, it rattles (as though it's reading) for a couple of seconds and then goes quiet (still spinning) but not loading.

The HDD is a Maxtor DiamondMax 16 80GB ATA/133.

I decided to connect it to my PC to see if I could find any problems with it (maybe bad sectors or something). :?

I set it to slave and booted it up. It was recognised in the bios settings, but not shown in windows xp. When I looked on Administrative Tools in control panel, it is shown as 'not initialized', but recognizes it as 80GB.

Is this because it is not formatted for Windows, or is this the reason the PVR won't boot up?
Is there anything I can do? Can I re-format the HDD or is that not required on a PVR?
Is there any data other than recorded stuff stored on the disk?

Any help most welcome.

Regards,

Yorks.

PS. You can guaratee that there will be some fantastic films on while ever my recorder is down :

, but please don't let this deter you from helping - if you can.

BGonaSTICK · 30-05-07, 02:09 AM

It may well not be a disk format recognised by Windows - so don't format it just yet.

It does sound like a disk problem though. I doubt there is much on the disk other than your recordings, but there might be an index file, or some sort on config. file(s). I'd imagine they could be rebuilt by the recorder itself, and that suggests to me that the disk is sending the recorder into a tail-spin for some reason. Maybe they were corrupt during the last shutdown?

You could use a good Windows-based tool for examining the disk in more detail. Jim's quite good on this sort of stuff, so hopefully he'll have some good suggestions. Otherwise you could try a basic tool like Partition Magic. That will ID most partition types and let you perform some basic analysis.

Is there a disk-format option in the recorder handbook? Perhaps if you could get it to boot (maybe without the disk?) then you could use this to re-format it.

Have you got another (known, working) disk you could chuck in it for a test?

Did you check to make sure the IDE cable was attached correctly, and had not come loose at either end?

nousernamesleft · 30-05-07, 07:59 AM

Pc check might see it. You'll need to boot from a cd with pc check on it then select which drive you want to test. Some tests can destroy data so if you do trry this be careful! Have never tried pc check on a non windows disk so don't know if this will work. Maybe wait for Jim to see if he has a better answer..

Yorks · 30-05-07, 09:08 AM

Thanks for the replies guys.

I'm afraid that there are no utilities for formatting in situ. Yes Stick, I have tried rebooting with the HDD removed, to try and break the loop, (both power and data cable unplugged) - but it behaved exactly the same. :'(
Unfortunately I don't have a spare HDD to try on it.
Do you need to format the HDD when installing on a new DM? What file format does that use?
If I can't prove that the HDD is screwed, then I'm not going to fork out for a new one (I'm a yorkshireman - remember), but as it is, I'm prepared to have a little play with it - as I've got nothing to lose :?.

Think I'll see if Jim has any ideas.

Jim, where are you :clap: lol.

Regards,

Yorks.

BGonaSTICK · 30-05-07, 12:27 PM

Yeah, there is a format option on the Dreamboxes, and it uses a Linux file system - ext2 or ext3. Yours may be the same, but I doubt it.

Yorks · 30-05-07, 08:15 PM

Found a utility called PowerMax.

The POWERMAX.EXE utility is designed to perform diagnostic read/write verifications on Maxtor/Quantum hard drives. These tests will determine hard drive integrity. The POWERMAX.EXE utility is effective on all ATA (IDE) hard drives with a capacity greater than or equal to 500 MB. Maxtor recommends the use of this utility for troubleshooting potential hard drive problems. These problems include, but are not limited to the following:

- Potential hard drive surface problems (e.g., bad clusters, bad sectors, partitioning/formatting problems, etc.).
- Drive recognition problems (e.g. hard drive that is not recognized by the operating system).

Looks like I'm going to be dismantling the desktop..................again!

BGonaSTICK · 30-05-07, 11:20 PM

You even bother to put the lid back on the case?

Very optimistic! :spite:

Yorks · 31-05-07, 01:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BGonaSTICK

You even bother to put the lid back on the case?

Very optimistic! :spite:

No. Just avoids a major catastrophe when I nod off with can in my hand.

ops:

Well if it wasn't f**ked, it is now. :

Ran PowerMax utility.
Did Quick Scan.

Did Full Scan.

Tried in PVR.

No good

So I thought bugger this for a game of soldiers, and decided to do a low level format. (I have read that this is the format used by PVR's, and was the only format option).

Did Full Low Level Format

The process started and after about ten seconds the HDD started to make a rather concerning clicking noise, as though the heads were crasing into the disc. The screen reported that the hard disc was failing and to back-up data immediately.

Now I prefer to believe that this has found a fault with the HDD, a physical problem - and not a cause of trying to format it. It is no longer detected by PowerMax!

So I think rather than risk buying another hard drive, I'll have to look around for a new PVR >

(I may look at putting an old HDD in it, in the future, if I stumble accross one - it's amazing what you trip over on the way home from the pub

.

And while ever I'm pondering over this, they'll be showing some crackin' films on the telly :

.

Regards,

Yorks.

BGonaSTICK · 31-05-07, 03:39 PM

Chuck it in a £5 external USB caddy and see what the PC can do with it. I've had drives sound like a bag of nails and still work OK.

GeoffH · 16-08-07, 05:57 PM

Yorks, I suggest you get in touch with JVC and ask if they can do anything for you.

I wrote to them last week about my DR-MH20 which I bought almost 2 years ago. I sent them a copy of my purchase receipt and quoted the serial no. I said that I had read on various forums on the web that this and other models had "loading" problems.

I received a letter from them on Tuesday stating "....only 12 months warranty.....however, as a gesture of goodwill they will fix it for me for free...". I had to take it to the nearest JVC authorised repairer and yesterday I picked it up with a new hdd installed.

If you don't ask, you don't get.

Give it a try

29-05-07, 09:02 PM	#1 (permalink)
Yorks Nook in footer Join Date: May 2006 Location: S. Yorks Posts: 1,760	JVC DR-mh20 PVR Problem Although not strictly a PC, my questions are computer related. I have had the above PVR for about 2 years, and have the following problem. When turning it off it displayed the 'goodbye' message, and I fear this time it really was! The unit just 'hanged' and did not turn off. It would not turn off using the standby button, so I chose the 'reboot' function by pressing standby and stop button. The PVR should turn off and reload settings when this option is selected, and normally takes about 1 minute to complete (the HDD 'rattles' until finished). But this time, when it restarted, it just carried on flashing 'loading', but never completed the process. It will not respond to anything, including the reboot function! The only option is to unplug at the mains. I have left it unplugged overnight, but the problem persists. The HDD powers up, it rattles (as though it's reading) for a couple of seconds and then goes quiet (still spinning) but not loading. The HDD is a Maxtor DiamondMax 16 80GB ATA/133. I decided to connect it to my PC to see if I could find any problems with it (maybe bad sectors or something). :? I set it to slave and booted it up. It was recognised in the bios settings, but not shown in windows xp. When I looked on Administrative Tools in control panel, it is shown as 'not initialized', but recognizes it as 80GB. Is this because it is not formatted for Windows, or is this the reason the PVR won't boot up? Is there anything I can do? Can I re-format the HDD or is that not required on a PVR? Is there any data other than recorded stuff stored on the disk? Any help most welcome. Regards, Yorks. PS. You can guaratee that there will be some fantastic films on while ever my recorder is down :, but please don't let this deter you from helping - if you can. __________________ They're coming to take me away haha TM1500CI, 53E to 61W

30-05-07, 02:09 AM	#2 (permalink)
BGonaSTICK Dodgy Geezer Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Brighton Posts: 9,718	Re: JVC DR-mh20 PVR Problem It may well not be a disk format recognised by Windows - so don't format it just yet. It does sound like a disk problem though. I doubt there is much on the disk other than your recordings, but there might be an index file, or some sort on config. file(s). I'd imagine they could be rebuilt by the recorder itself, and that suggests to me that the disk is sending the recorder into a tail-spin for some reason. Maybe they were corrupt during the last shutdown? You could use a good Windows-based tool for examining the disk in more detail. Jim's quite good on this sort of stuff, so hopefully he'll have some good suggestions. Otherwise you could try a basic tool like Partition Magic. That will ID most partition types and let you perform some basic analysis. Is there a disk-format option in the recorder handbook? Perhaps if you could get it to boot (maybe without the disk?) then you could use this to re-format it. Have you got another (known, working) disk you could chuck in it for a test? Did you check to make sure the IDE cable was attached correctly, and had not come loose at either end? __________________ Dreambox 7000, Skystar2 PCI, Skystar USB, Fibo 90cm on Moteck SG2100, Triax TD110 multi-LNB. Sky + ART cards. 45.0°E - 58.0°W

30-05-07, 07:59 AM	#3 (permalink)
nousernamesleft Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 158	Re: JVC DR-mh20 PVR Problem Pc check might see it. You'll need to boot from a cd with pc check on it then select which drive you want to test. Some tests can destroy data so if you do trry this be careful! Have never tried pc check on a non windows disk so don't know if this will work. Maybe wait for Jim to see if he has a better answer.. __________________ X38-DQ6 Q6600 @ 3.0Ghz 8Gb 1066Mhz 640Gb raid stripe 8800GTX Vista X64 24 Dell Flat Panel SkyStar 2 Sky Dish Motorised 1M Dish TM1000D New V*rgin box.

30-05-07, 09:08 AM	#4 (permalink)
Yorks Nook in footer Join Date: May 2006 Location: S. Yorks Posts: 1,760	Re: JVC DR-mh20 PVR Problem Thanks for the replies guys. I'm afraid that there are no utilities for formatting in situ. Yes Stick, I have tried rebooting with the HDD removed, to try and break the loop, (both power and data cable unplugged) - but it behaved exactly the same. :'( Unfortunately I don't have a spare HDD to try on it. Do you need to format the HDD when installing on a new DM? What file format does that use? If I can't prove that the HDD is screwed, then I'm not going to fork out for a new one (I'm a yorkshireman - remember), but as it is, I'm prepared to have a little play with it - as I've got nothing to lose :?. Think I'll see if Jim has any ideas. Jim, where are you :clap: lol. Regards, Yorks. __________________ They're coming to take me away haha TM1500CI, 53E to 61W

30-05-07, 12:27 PM	#5 (permalink)
BGonaSTICK Dodgy Geezer Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Brighton Posts: 9,718	Re: JVC DR-mh20 PVR Problem Yeah, there is a format option on the Dreamboxes, and it uses a Linux file system - ext2 or ext3. Yours may be the same, but I doubt it. __________________ Dreambox 7000, Skystar2 PCI, Skystar USB, Fibo 90cm on Moteck SG2100, Triax TD110 multi-LNB. Sky + ART cards. 45.0°E - 58.0°W

30-05-07, 08:15 PM	#6 (permalink)
Yorks Nook in footer Join Date: May 2006 Location: S. Yorks Posts: 1,760	Re: JVC DR-mh20 PVR Problem Found a utility called PowerMax. The POWERMAX.EXE utility is designed to perform diagnostic read/write verifications on Maxtor/Quantum hard drives. These tests will determine hard drive integrity. The POWERMAX.EXE utility is effective on all ATA (IDE) hard drives with a capacity greater than or equal to 500 MB. Maxtor recommends the use of this utility for troubleshooting potential hard drive problems. These problems include, but are not limited to the following: - Potential hard drive surface problems (e.g., bad clusters, bad sectors, partitioning/formatting problems, etc.). - Drive recognition problems (e.g. hard drive that is not recognized by the operating system). Looks like I'm going to be dismantling the desktop..................again! __________________ They're coming to take me away haha TM1500CI, 53E to 61W

30-05-07, 11:20 PM	#7 (permalink)
BGonaSTICK Dodgy Geezer Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Brighton Posts: 9,718	Re: JVC DR-mh20 PVR Problem You even bother to put the lid back on the case? Very optimistic! :spite: __________________ Dreambox 7000, Skystar2 PCI, Skystar USB, Fibo 90cm on Moteck SG2100, Triax TD110 multi-LNB. Sky + ART cards. 45.0°E - 58.0°W

31-05-07, 03:39 PM	#9 (permalink)
BGonaSTICK Dodgy Geezer Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Brighton Posts: 9,718	Re: JVC DR-mh20 PVR Problem Chuck it in a £5 external USB caddy and see what the PC can do with it. I've had drives sound like a bag of nails and still work OK. __________________ Dreambox 7000, Skystar2 PCI, Skystar USB, Fibo 90cm on Moteck SG2100, Triax TD110 multi-LNB. Sky + ART cards. 45.0°E - 58.0°W

16-08-07, 05:57 PM	#10 (permalink)
GeoffH Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 1	Re: JVC DR-mh20 PVR Problem Yorks, I suggest you get in touch with JVC and ask if they can do anything for you. I wrote to them last week about my DR-MH20 which I bought almost 2 years ago. I sent them a copy of my purchase receipt and quoted the serial no. I said that I had read on various forums on the web that this and other models had "loading" problems. I received a letter from them on Tuesday stating "....only 12 months warranty.....however, as a gesture of goodwill they will fix it for me for free...". I had to take it to the nearest JVC authorised repairer and yesterday I picked it up with a new hdd installed. If you don't ask, you don't get. Give it a try