Forum Archive Home -> DVD Recorders -> I fixed my Philips DVDR 3455H dvd/hdd recorder
I fixed my Philips DVDR 3455H dvd/hdd recorder | ||
| dphirschler posted 2009 Oct 17 21:51 | ||
| My Hpilips DVD/hdd recorder died recently, and before throwing it out I decided to try to fix it by replacing the hdd. I was successful and I wrote some notes in case I have to do it again. Here are those notes:
--- Philips DVDR 3455H (DVD recorder with 160GB hard drive) Replacing the harddrive. 1. Get the new hdd ready to install. - The old hdd is an IDE WD 160GB. Replace with similar (larger sizes have been reported to work). Format your new drive FAT32 using SwissKnife (freeware) utility in Windows XP. Remove the jumper. 2. Replace old hdd with new hdd. - Remove three screws on back of unit (left, right, middle) - Remove two screws on left side of case. - Remove two screws on right side of case.- - Lift up on cover in the back to 45 degree angle. - Pull back on cover and it comes loose. - Unplug power connector from hdd. - Unplug IDE cable from hdd. - Remove two screws on left side of hdd base. - Remove three screws on right side of hdd case. - Remove hdd. - Remove four screws on bottom side of hdd to get the hdd mount. - Install mount on new hdd. - Put case back together. 3. Boot new system and install firmware. - Power on the system. - Press 'eject' button. - Place firmware disc in drive. - Close drive by pressing 'eject' button. - Follow on-screen prompts to upgrade/install firmware. --- Those are my notes. The firmware is available on Philips' website and so are instructions for installing it. I hope these notes help somebody else. It's a great recorder even if the remote could be better. I was shocked to see the price for used 3455H's when mine died, so they must still be valuable. Darryl | ||
| MaccaM72 posted 2009 Nov 08 16:59 | ||
| Darryl,
I really didn't want to throw out mine either so finally after hours of scouring the net for solutions I came upon this post. There really isn't alot of repair instructions out there so just know that you helped at least 1 person to fix their unit. Thank you for your instructions as they led me to reviving my 3455h from the dead. Your instructions saved me between $25(for a firmware preloaded HD on ebay $85+$15shipping)and $400cdn for a new recorder. It works just like it did before. I went with the 160gb hd as a precautionary measure to match at least the size of the original hd that was already in the unit. I'd just like to add a couple of things. The drive I got was a WD 160gb. It was a PATA. My eject wouldn't work because it would hang on the Philips screen and then restart. I had to use a small screwdriver to slide the manual mechanism under the cd drive. I then put the firmware disc in the tray and plugged in the unit and when I turned the power on it auto-closed and started reading the firmware disc. So if the eject button is not an option use this method. The loading of the firmware was tedious it took a couple of tries but after waiting it out with the display going from Load to Copy to Boot (I think in that order) the firmware loaded on the new HDD. Affter the firmware loaded I went into the SETUP SCREEN then to the HDD options and deleted HDD. It formatted the HDD as it deleted it. NOTE FOR OTHERS THAT MAY GO THIS REPAIR ROUTE, NEVER TRY AND PRY THE CD DOOR OPEN! Look at the bottom of your recorder and you will see a slot with a plastic tab inside, slide it to the opposite side and the door will open. Wait out the loading and copy of the new firmware. If at first it doesn't take give it a little time or a few tries. Awesome man (hope you get to see my thanks!), Thanks again and Peace, MaccaM | ||
| handyguy posted 2009 Nov 09 10:02 | ||
| I find a lot of electronics work again if you just unplug from wall for a minute, this resets them. | ||
| MaccaM72 posted 2009 Nov 09 11:49 | ||
While that is very true and was the first thing I tried. I left it unplugged for 8 hrs and 27 hrs and it didn't do any good. Personally I knew that it was a dead hard drive based on the hangs and resets on the Philips opening screen. That and the clicking noises the hd made at startup. I tried to get the firmware to take but it just wouldn't work. I have a fair amount of PC history to know that when a drive is dead it is dead. I'm not saying I will throw my old drive away quite yet but I really do think it is dead (hoping 1 day I can get the vids off of it but really doubt I will be able to). Nonetheless if it is a bad hd it really isn't that hard to fix if you know what you are doing or at least have a rough idea of what to do. |
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