You now have the option of having hard drives connected to your TV decoder in order to record live, pause or record programs. Unfortunately these hard drives are at your expense and rarely refunded in the event of termination. (to my knowledge anyway). So you have the option to "donate" your disk to your access provider or you can recover the hard disk to reuse it.
Only if you just plug it into your computer it will surely not be recognized! To avoid this problem, solve it and simply use your new hard drive, follow this tutorial.
Please note that by doing this operation, you will lose all your data as well as the warranty (useless in the event of termination) on your hard drive.
As an introduction, it should be noted that the standards of Hard disk are not plentiful. Currently, most hard drives are 2,5-inch SATA hard drives.
For this tutorial you will need:
- A blank USB stick (2 GB minimum).
- A version of Linux (1).(Downloadable here – I advise you to save it on the desktop).
- How to boot from a USB key (You have a Tutorial here), but not necessarily.
- An external hard drive (not necessarily mandatory depending on the TV decoder models)(2).
- LinuxLive USB Creator (Downloadable here).
Before starting the tutorial, I advise you to read it in its entirety once, in order to familiarize yourself with it and check that you have understood all the elements.
The principle of the operation is to create a "bootable" USB key on which Linux will be installed. Once in Linux, you can format your hard drive and change the file system of said hard drive so that it is recognized by your PC, Mac, etc. At the end of the article, you will find the footnotes. They will answer the questions you may have while reading.
Step one: prepare your USB key
Connect the USB key to your PC then go to Computer (Start menu -> Computer). Right click on your USB drive (be sure to backup your data before) then click on Format (choose FAT 32 as a file system).
Step Two: Prepare the Linux USB Drive
Now that you have formatted your USB drive, downloaded and installed LinuxLive USB Creator and downloaded your version of Linux (otherwise known as Ubuntu) you can create your bootable USB drive.
- Launch LinuxLive USB Creator.
- Choose your USB key.
- Choose your previously downloaded ISO file and save it on your desktop.
- You do not need to create storage space for persistent mode (put 1 MB for the principle).
- Finally, you don't need to touch the options in step 4.
- Once all the lights are green (See image), click on the lightning bolt and wait.
Step 3: Extract the hard drive
Be careful when disassembling… Most of the time there are screws that can be hidden under the anti-slip pads. There is no universal method unfortunately.
Now that you have your hard drive in your hands, disassemble your external hard drive. This step is for using the USB to SATA connector. But for hard drives Canal + (for example) there is no need since he is already there.
Step Four: Make the Hard Drive Usable
You are now equipped with a USB key on which you will be able to work. Now turn off your computer and turn it back on by booting (Take another look at the tutorial if needed) on your newly created USB drive (trick).
The first loading may take a long time, don't be impatient(3)… Then click on Try Ubuntu.
Once you are on the Ubuntu desktop:
1. Connect your hard drive to your computer;
2. Launch Gparted;
3. Select External Hard Drive (SDC(4)) ;
4. Right-click on the mounted partitions (there is a small key in front) And click Unmount ;
5. Delete all partitions;
6. Create a new partition choosing NTFS as the file system;
7. Start all pending operations;
Step Five: Enjoy Your New Hard Drive
Now you have a hard drive that you can do whatever you want with… For example, you can use it as an external hard drive by purchasing a case designed for this purpose. (around 10 €), You can also transform your new disk into a NAS server thanks to a Nas-Dongle (5)(around 50 €) or you can increase the storage size of any computer. It's up to you to play and enjoy yourself.
As you can imagine, thanks to this technique you can also do the opposite. That is to say, create a hard drive for a TV decoder at a lower cost. To do this, nothing very complicated. Replace the existing hard drive with a larger one by choosing XFS as the file system.
Enjoy!
Notes:
(1) You have the choice between two versions (64 & 32 bits) it depends on the power of your computer. If you have more than 2 GB of RAM, choose the 64-bit version otherwise the 32. (↑)
(2) The most important thing to know is whether your hard drive is connected using a USB connector or not.↑)
(3) Be careful, since the file is downloaded, it may have been corrupted and therefore the startup bug. To avoid these problems, check the MD5 fingerprint (I refer you to this tutorial very well done by the Ubuntu community) (↑)
(4) Be careful when choosing the disk to be analyzed. SDA corresponds to that of your computer, SDB to the USB key and SDC to the newly connected disk. (↑)
(5) This is a small box that will allow you to connect your hard drive to the network and thus benefit from your documents on all the devices connected to the same network.↑)
Trick:
How? VirtualBox, you can usually avoid having to boot from the USB stick. To launch VirtualBox, go to the newly created key then to the folder VirtualBox and finally launch the program Virtualize_This_Key (↑)
Hello and thank you for this very complete tutorial, I wanted to point out that it does not work with the 160GB Hitachi hard drive from Orange TV Boxes, I searched the entire internet and it is very well locked :/
And unfortunately no, it is very well locked :/
I tested with several disks from the Orange Play decoder, but they are not visible in Gparted, I tested under Mac and error during formatting.
Who has a solution?
Hello,
I tested with a 320GB Seagate hard drive recovered from a Bbox sensation, but it doesn't work. Gparted is slow and only displays the other hard drives on the PC when I unplug the one from the Bbox. Too bad!
My hard drive is recognized in gparted and in kill disk I connected it in sata on the motherboard directly on the other hand hot to format I did not succeed if anyone has an idea
Complete tutorial, for sure, but a little complex in my opinion to simply erase the existing partitions and create a new one.
Isn't it better to simply use the Windows administration tool to create NTFS (I'm talking about HD channel here).
As for the other disks, in my opinion, if they are locked, you have to go to the disk manufacturer's website and find either a low-level formatting tool or a firmware update for the HD (if the disk is locked at the chip level)
thank you for the clarification
I have a 320GB Toshiba hard drive that comes from an Orange Play box and it doesn't work. Does anyone have a solution? I can't find anything on the net.
Hello,
I have the same disk in 160 GB, for the moment there is no solution, the firmware is modified internally by Orange so that it only works on Orange TV Boxes 🙁
If anyone knows about modified firmware, I'm interested in "transforming" it into a classic disk.
Bonjour,
So first of all thanks for the info but this is the second time I've tried but when I get to the point of selecting "g parted" it can't find my hard drive.
So if you have a tip.
cordially
Hello,
I just got a BBOX sensation, I took out the hard drive, but unfortunately it is impossible to access it, nor to partition it, nor to format it, no software can do anything on it, whether it is the repair boot of seagate, gparted of ubuntu, disks, or all the windows tools… yet the box is new it has not taken any shock.
So I guess it's a lock from Bouygues...
Hi,
Frederiiiic
I'm in the same situation, I have recovered a 320gb hdd from a BBox sensation fiber, I tried to delete the partition but without success, I think too, that Bouygues had locked the hdd.
Another tutorial without any real tests before! And especially do not follow the advice "you can install Linux instead of Windows if you want" "this is complete nonsense DO NOT DO THIS FOR AN UNAWARE USER IN ORDER TO AVOID REAL PROBLEMS!!!!!!
The tutorial has been fully tested by the author and is functional... as for Linux, it involves creating a bootable USB key... so don't panic...
In addition, we must not forget that the goal of this tutorial is to transform an unusable brick into a functional hard drive...
The tutorial works perfectly.
Thank you very much
@ benoit du 69: which box did this disk come from please – I have a bbox sensation from which I would like to recover the files from the HDD of the TV decoder before moving to Miami, but it seems very problematic to me!!!
Thank you in advance…
@mytaz.: it was a 500GB numericable HDD
@benoit: OK – Thanks!!!
But would there be a distinguished geek who has managed to recover files recorded on the HD of a TV decoder of a Bbox Sensation; I manage to copy and recover files from this or that computer, iPhone or tablet in FTP, but impossible to recover the other files from the internal HD (concerts, documentaries...), which bothers me a lot in the perspective of the transition to the Miami decoder...
thank you in advance
Hello everybody
Has anyone found the solution for Bbox sensation hard drives?
Thank you in advance for your feedback
Hello,
Apparently it's not possible to do it simply, there must be a hack but hey if you have to buy capture equipment or something else I'll drop it.
I have to return my bbox sensation because it has a problem, I was hoping to be able to recover the little ones' cartoons, I don't think that will be possible.
What I don't understand is how some people use the disk in their box when it doesn't normally belong to them?
Hello
It's also impossible for me to find the DD with Gparted. It's a Hitachi 160 GB Sata, blocked at 80 GB by Orange. This is the model mounted in a white plastic case perforated with square holes. It fits into the receptacle on the right side of the Orange TV decoder and allows recording (paid option or not depending on the internet subscription).
So this tutorial doesn't work for this type of hard drive either. Too bad.
Hello everyone, first of all I would like to point out that I removed the 320 GB hard drive from the bbox sensation fibre. I tried to connect it via an external hard drive and it was not recognised in the computer, however in disk management it was recognised but it was impossible to do anything. Now I have connected the hard drive via SATA directly to the motherboard and used gparted and kill disk. I was not able to do much on gparted and on kill disk I have an error, the disk is recognised, it says
»MBR NEEDS TO BE FIXED »
but I didn't understand very well but the procedure starts well but it remains at 0% indicating
error:the request could not be performed but I can't read the rest...
In any case, I hope to move things forward with you...
Disk write protected on its mbr part. All that remains is to use professional software to format the disk by creating another boot partition…
Hello,
The explanations are clear, the article is clean, but:
– for such a basic operation, you might as well go through the Windows disk manager. I don’t see the added value of gparted.
– it works with a Numericable disk, that’s understood, but for Orange and BBox it seems to be blocked, and no solution has been provided.
Only having the right software, which is my case, solves this little problem. I prefer the one I use rather than gparted, which does not allow you to do everything; but, hey, it's already a start.
Don't hesitate to tell us what software you use!
Good evening, which software is this please? Reply by PM to j_felas@orange.fr. Thank you very much in advance, I really need it.
Good evening, can you provide the name of this software.
thanks in advance and for all the others who are in the same case.
in copy to: asyo87@hotmail.fr
Hello,
Is there a solution with an SFR Evolution hard drive?
D'avance goods.
I recovered 8 320GB disks from Orange boxes
I tested gparted in live CD, formatting with several NAS, formatting Mac and PC, I used the software provided by HGST (hitashi) to blow up the MBR
Nothing, nothing to do 🙁 Orange really has a stupid policy, and long live the environment!
If a solution appears on the horizon...
Hello, after much research here is my conclusion, if like me the serial number ends with VS this means that the disk is dedicated to the SECURITY PAIRING box.
I have not yet found how to bypass this security ha yes security pairing means pairing between two devices.
A good HDPARM track under linux live cd ATTENTION to handle with great care, for my part not locked, but well Frozen Hdd Toshiba N° ending with VS (SECURITY FROZEN), personally I have not yet completely succeeded I find myself with a hdd with 0 Bytes instead of 320 GB and a good clicking sound when starting the hdd case to be continued.
Hello,
I have an external hard drive from Free. Of course it is therefore not compatible with the PC since the USB plug is only there to provide power to the battery and the other plug does not connect. Free does not reimburse it, I confirm this to you as you had stipulated. I will have to try your technique. 500 GB is not nothing.
you say "you can increase the storage size of any computer. It's up to you to play and enjoy yourself."
can I do this for a surface pro without turning the said hard drive into an external hard drive..?
but surface pro has 0 memory I can't even do the updates, when I put win 10 when I bought my surface pro it took 3/4 of the pc's memory to put the old version on it and there is no way to recover this memory.
so it would be a solution idea to be able to put this “hard drive” in place or in addition.
Would you know how to do it?
Hello and thank you for this very complete tutorial, I wanted to point out that it does not work with the Western Digital hard drive (WD5000LUCT WD AV-25) of 500 GB from SFR Boxes, I cannot see it on Gparted is there another solution please?
Well, it's been 3 years, but I see so many inaccuracies that I have to clarify certain things about the 160 GB disks of the Orange decoders.
In fact, what is causing the problem is that it is a specific series of hard disks ordered by Orange from the manufacturer WD, by having it flash a specific "Orange" firmware to work ONLY ON A LIVEBOX, the flashing being possible then in OTA via the decoder according to the type of subscription, to have either a 160 GB hardware with 80 GB max, or 160 GB max, depending on the firmware injected into the hard disk.
In short, looking at the hard drive reference, we should be able to reflash with the original manufacturer firmware... This same system is used on bboxes, and freeboxes, SFR boxes seem to be exempt from this restriction, having been able to reuse SFR box disks.
On the other hand, in view of this information on software bridging of the hard drive, this article is complete nonsense, we can use any method in the world, WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO UNLOCK THE HARD DRIVE UNTIL WE INSTALL AN ORIGINAL FIRMWARE, whether we play with Linux, Windows or any OS or tools for these OSes... Nothing more to say.
Really a hoax article that doesn't work with any of the box hard drives, apart from the SFR... I agree with another contributor, just hoax, nothing really tried otherwise you wouldn't say it works when it doesn't and for good reason, it's the firmware that blocks...