topic Re: Moving hard disks between 4K PVRs in TV & Streaming

Replaced my 4K PVR - Can I recover recordings?

MarkM — Tue, 18 Mar 2025 12:05:00 GMT

I just replaced the Arris VIP5662W 4K PVR. Can I move the hard disk between units to recover the recorded media?

Re: Moving hard disks between 4K PVRs

BellPatricia — Wed, 13 Jul 2022 18:05:25 GMT

Hi there @MarkM. Thanks for your post, and welcome to the Bell Community.

The option to move the hard drive from one receiver to another is not available. You may still be able to access any recordings from the older PVR on your Fibe TV app for about 24hrs after changing PVRs though.

- Patricia

Re: Moving hard disks between 4K PVRs

LB110 — Fri, 02 Feb 2024 20:30:19 GMT

How would it be possible to access recordings if the original PVR is not connected??

Re: Moving hard disks between 4K PVRs

WelshTerrier — Sat, 03 Feb 2024 12:50:56 GMT

You will not be able access recordings & move them if the VIP5662W 4K PVR is replaced. Future TV programs scheduled to record will remain. PVR recordings stored on the hard drive can not be viewed or transferred to the replacement PVR.

Thank you for contacting the Bell Community Forum.

Take care.

Re: Moving hard disks between 4K PVRs

LB110 — Sat, 03 Feb 2024 14:01:37 GMT

a disc pops right out with no tools. it’s very easy to do. What happens when you do swap them?

Re: Moving hard disks between 4K PVRs

LB110 — Wed, 07 Feb 2024 15:35:42 GMT

Yes you can keep all your recordings if you have to change a VIP5662 4K receiver box. Provided of course that it's the receiver and not the disk drive that failed.

Not only is the hard disc drive swappable, it's an end user manageable task. No tools. Like replacing a battery.

Make sure the units are unplugged and just pinch the tabs on the hard disc carrier on the bottom of the unit, slide the drive out and slide the new one in so it clicks in place. Turn it back on and voila, all your recordings are back. Why don't techs know this?

It would save a lot of end user time and grief.

Re: Moving hard disks between 4K PVRs

WelshTerrier — Thu, 08 Feb 2024 12:27:28 GMT

I do not disagree with you that the hard drives can be physically swapped out. Keep in mind that this is not the recommended solution to solving this problem. What if in doing this swap, the existing hard drive does have a disk failure or in the process damages the replacement VIP5662?

Who is responsible for costs? If you damage the existing and / or replacement VIP5662 while making this disk drive swap, you will be ultimately responsible for the costs & any replacements charges.

I will leave that with you to mull over!

Take care.

Re: Moving hard disks between 4K PVRs

JimW — Fri, 06 Dec 2024 16:20:43 GMT

How can I access recordings from my defective / replaced 5662 PVR ?

Replaced my 4K PVR - Can I recover recordings?

644 — Tue, 18 Mar 2025 12:05:17 GMT

My current Bell PVR (4K Whole Home PVR) is no longer working properly and I am being sent a new one. Will I still have access to the programmes I have recorded once my new PVR is installed?

Re: Replaced my 4K PVR - Can I recover recordings?

LB110 — Tue, 18 Mar 2025 13:39:06 GMT

Hey Mark,

it is absolutely possible to swap out to your previous disk drive into the new replacement PVR unit and as long as it isn’t the disc drive that was faulty. no special tools required. It will work just fine and your recordings will be preserved.

I’m curious as to why they are trying to discourage people it techs from doing this. Is it ignorance, liability or some other reason.
just swap it. If it doesn’t work, swap it back.

good luck Mark

Re: Replaced my 4K PVR - Can I recover recordings?

xyzxyz — Tue, 26 Aug 2025 02:50:40 GMT

it seems to be a flimsy design. I have replaced a similar drive in other devices without any problem. Here I replaced my old drive for a new one, it showed 0 capacity. I went back to the old one that was working fine previously and had some recording on it.Now this one also shows 0 capacity. it prompts for rebooting all receivers, and still shows no capacity. Must be some pairing or install procedure that is required to access the disk.

Re: Replaced my 4K PVR - Can I recover recordings?

WelshTerrier — Tue, 26 Aug 2025 10:18:43 GMT

Good Day.

I do not disagree with you that hard drives can be physically swapped out. The option to move the hard drive from one receiver to another is not available on the VIP5662W 4K PVR.

This is not the recommended solution for solving this problem. What if in doing this swap, the existing hard drive does have a disk failure or in the process damages the replacement VIP5662?

Who is responsible for costs? If you damage the existing and / or replacement VIP5662 while making this disk drive swap, you will be ultimately responsible for the costs & any replacements charges.

You will not be able access recordings & move them if the VIP5662W 4K PVR is replaced. Future TV programs scheduled to record will remain. PVR recordings stored on the hard drive cannot be viewed or transferred to the replacement PVR.

Take care.

Re: Replaced my 4K PVR - Can I recover recordings?

xyzxyz — Tue, 26 Aug 2025 14:00:09 GMT

how can you damage the disk while replacing it, if this is a standard procedure described both in manufacturer's user manual and the instruction is placed on device's label. I believe that Bell's software make it impossible, because Bell wants to control it.

Re: Replaced my 4K PVR - Can I recover recordings?

WelshTerrier — Tue, 26 Aug 2025 18:54:58 GMT

Good Day.

Thank you for your input.

Yes. This this is the recommended solution for solving this hard disk problem.

It is what it is and there is little more that I can add that will change this.

Take care.

Re: Replaced my 4K PVR - Can I recover recordings?

FibeTroubleTO — Fri, 05 Sep 2025 01:33:56 GMT

Swaping the hard disks used to work. I’ve done it twice before. My box seems to die and needs to be replaced once a year. This time, the new box is telling me that all of my recordings are “not accessible” and that they will be erased! Bell has now done something to disable the ability to swap the drives. So bloody maddening.

Re: Replaced my 4K PVR - Can I recover recordings?

xyzxyz — Fri, 05 Sep 2025 02:06:12 GMT

This is what I said before. It is probably enough to unplug the disk even with power off, and it is no longer recognized when you plug it back in. Then I called support, complaining that I cannot access my pvr, which now shows capacity=0, and they remotely enabled it and all my recording were still there. This is another way to control people.

Re: Replaced my 4K PVR - Can I recover recordings?

xyzxyz — Fri, 05 Sep 2025 02:11:46 GMT

you say: "The option to move the hard drive from one receiver to another is not available on the VIP5662W 4K PVR." but you forgot to add: "The option to move the hard drive from one receiver to another is not available on the BELL VIP5662W 4K PVR.

Re: Replaced my 4K PVR - Can I recover recordings?

WelshTerrier — Fri, 05 Sep 2025 09:44:58 GMT

Good Day.

That is correct. "The option to move the hard drive from one receiver to another is not available on the Bell VIP5662W 4K PVR."

The recommended solution for solving this problem is to contact Bell Fibe TV Tech support. Bell Fibe TV Tech support will decide on whether the VIP5662W needs to be returned for repair and replaced.

Thank you for your input.

Take care.