Sky HD+ box replacing the hard drive

[Another+One]

I like my hd+ box's functionality and EPG and don't want to move to Q.  If the hard drive should fail due to age can I replace it and carrying on viewing using my current paired viewing card?

[David+NE]

You can't get specific hard drives for your SKY box, however you cannot simply just buy a hard drive for your SKY TV box, this is due to the hard drive functionality.! Basically when you turn on your SKY box if you put a standard hard driving your SKY will not work! This is due to when your TV box is powered on a standard hard drive will not run fast enough when you try to access it and when you power on your TV box stand hard will not work.

[Removed]

Good luck do not pay anybody to simply spot your hard drive for you as they will be literally ripping you off there are guys online you can watch it's a very simple process to do as long as you're meeting Sheara that the hard drive you're putting in is exactly the same hard drive you have on your current system good luck [Removed]

Moderator notes: Removed missinformation

[Daniel0210]

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@David+NE wrote:
the easiest way is to go onto eBay and purchase a new SKY box as in someone saying that all SKY box and they're not expensive and to be honest that's the easiest way sadly!

I would simply buy a new SKY box as in the version you currently have on eBay there are loads of them and that quite cheap.

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@David+NE 

Purchasing a second hand Sky+ box is pointless for the reason provided below…

@Another+One 

If and when the hard drive goes don't waste money on purchasing a second hand box.

Sky+, being a legacy package, is no longer supported by Sky.

You can no longer pair a viewing card to any other Sky+ / Sky+HD box that it wasn't paired to at the end of October 2024.

You can still call Sky to discuss your options which will be upgrading to Sky Q or moving to Glass / Steam to continue to view Sky content through a Sky subscription.

[Mark39]

@Another+One replacing the hard drive can be done, though the innards of the box are quite compact making it a fiddly job. There are a number of guides on YouTube which show you how to go about it.

As @Daniel0210 posted, it's no longer possible to pair a Viewing Card with a replacement box, so there's no point investing in one.

[Another+One]

Thank you for your replies.  

I should have been more explicit originally so that my question becomes:

if my hard drive fails and I replace it (probably with an SSD for speed and efficiency) will my viewing card still pair with it because as @Daniel0210 and @Mark39  state, pairing with another box is no longer possible.  I assuming the pairing is with the box's firmware rather than software on the HDD  but I don't know, hence my question.

A supplementary question is if I subscribe to a Sky HD+ service for the required two years and my box dies before the term can I simply transfer at no charge to Q for the remaining period (assuming the box is terminal rather than just a dead HDD)?

Thanks.

[Mark39 · Accepted solution]

@Another+One yes, my understanding is that the Viewing Card pairs with the box firmware, not the software, so changing the hard drive doesn't involve the need to re-pair.

I'd suggest checking with Sky at the time re the cost of switching your subscription to Sky Q. In the past there's been no additional charge.

[rscott]

There's no benefit to using an SSD - the additional performance won't have any impact and they tend not to last long when used within PVRs.

[David+NE]

Many apologies for the delayed response. I've been really ill. Hospital yes since February I've only got 30% lung functionality and spinal fusion but I just want to thank you for your help and reply. Take care Ann And thank you very much again. It was very kind of you to respond. I made me change my mind with your advice. Thank you again

[David+NE]

Hello, the strangest thing is I was talking to SKY a few days ago and asked if my HD+ box breaks down and I purchased another one they will pair my current you fearing Card to the box. If they're unable to pair the viewing Card, they advise they would send a replacement viewing Card. I deliberately asked this question as I know SKY no longer Support HD+ boxes and they were not Repair them however if you purchased one, they will link your SKY card with that box and if not replace it and it only takes a few days apparently I don't think SKY Q is a very good system, you cannot record on them but they say you don't need to you can view whatever you like however when something is removed from the SKY lineup I've been told you will not be able to view that content on your Q box. I don't understand why they did not just add the functionality. to record on the system, I'm sure it wouldn't take much effort to re-create the system software to allow this functionality

[Daniel0210]

@David+NE 

You can no longer pair a viewing card to any other Sky+ / Sky+HD box that it wasn't paired to at the end of October 2024.

You can still call Sky to discuss your options which will be upgrading to Sky Q or moving to Glass / Steam to continue to view Sky content through a Sky subscription.

You can certainly record on Sky Q, I'm watching a recording as I post. 

[Mark39]

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@David+NE wrote:

I don't think SKY Q is a very good system, you cannot record on them but they say you don't need to you can view whatever you like however when something is removed from the SKY lineup I've been told you will not be able to view that content on your Q box. 

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I think you're confusing Sky Q and Sky Stream.

Sky Q is the current satellite platform, and most definitely allows local recording on a hard disk as Sky+ does.

Sky Stream is a broadband based service, and as the name implies, everything is streamed, both live and non-live programmes. Sky Stream has no local recording functionality.

[TimmyBGood]

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@David+NE wrote:

 I don't think SKY Q is a very good system, you cannot record on them but they say you don't need to you can view whatever you like however when something is removed from the SKY lineup I've been told you will not be able to view that content on your Q box. I don't understand why they did not just add the functionality. to record on the system, I'm sure it wouldn't take much effort to re-create the system software to allow this functionality

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Sky Q was released over a decade ago (February 2016) and is based around a local hard drive in the main box: this is shared by the additional 'Mini' boxes.

As noted above, it's Sky Stream (from October 2021 onwards) which doesn't have local recording because there's no disk: this was a fundamental design decision in making an online-only platform and isn't something which can be changed in software.

[CaptainW]

Yes you can replace the HDD (I tried this) but it's unlikely to wear out. Also, sky+ hd boxes will work for basic free channels with no HDD or internet/phone connection as long as there's the original valid sky card in the slot. I did this with 2 inherited sky boxes recently. However they're difficult to get into - getting the HDDs out took me a good couple of hours.

[stephblaxley]

@CaptainW 

When you swapped out the HD box did it keep all the previous recordings, or does it wipe the HD.

I see so many people responding with different replies and yours seems the most possitive so far.

[Mark39]

@stephblaxley recordings are stored on the hard disk, so if you replace the hard disk you'll lose them.