# Recovering DVR'd Material? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 19, 2022, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recovering-dvrd-material/964652 "2022-05-19T00:09:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![LurkMeister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@LurkMeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkMeister)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2022, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recovering-dvrd-material/964652/21 "2022-05-19T20:42:27Z")
I’ve also lost things when I had to replace DVRs. The only time I ever able to salvage anything was when I had switched cable providers. My old company gave me several weeks from the date my service ended to return my DVR, and I was able to play some movies and record the output on my VHS unit. Of course, now I have movies on VHS tapes that I’d like to transfer to DVD. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2022, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recovering-dvrd-material/964652/22 "2022-06-08T23:45:43Z")
> [@gnoitall](#): > > If the DVR protects its output HDMI stream with HDCP, you would have to find a recorder device that is authorized to decode the encrypted HDMI stream, and I don’t think those exist (and if they were, they would be outrageously expensive to “compensate” for the “piracy” they could enable). $20 is hardly “outrageously expensive”. (For some reason my fingers wanted type “… same as downtown.” there.) ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2022, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recovering-dvrd-material/964652/23 "2022-06-08T23:46:39Z")
Linky? ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2022, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recovering-dvrd-material/964652/24 "2022-06-08T23:49:18Z")
Not the forum for such details. If only there were some sort of AV(S) Forum where such things could be openly discussed. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2022, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recovering-dvrd-material/964652/25 "2022-06-09T00:00:03Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > Not the forum for such details. Oh yeah? > **[How to Bypassing HDCP](https://www.instructables.com/How-to-Bypassing-HDCP/)** > > How to Bypassing HDCP: If you want to record HDCP content or see HDCP content on Non-HDCP TV. You need a splitter or analog connection. ---
**Author:** ![Ranch\_Dip](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranch_dip/32/5238_2.png) [@Ranch\_Dip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranch_Dip)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2022, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recovering-dvrd-material/964652/26 "2022-06-09T00:05:03Z")
Not an answer to this question. But my smart TV has a slot for a thumb drive. You can record shows to that. I don’t. But I could. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2022, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recovering-dvrd-material/964652/27 "2022-06-09T00:09:16Z")
Your smart TV is also a DVR? ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2022, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recovering-dvrd-material/964652/28 "2022-06-09T14:15:03Z")
> [@Ranch\_Dip](#): > > Not an answer to this question. But my smart TV has a slot for a thumb drive. You can record shows to that. I don’t. But I could. What model is this? I’m curious because I’m pretty sure that smart TV’s don’t allow you to record onto a thumbdrive or anything else. ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2022, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recovering-dvrd-material/964652/29 "2022-06-09T15:41:25Z")
Are you sure about that? Because that thumb drive is there so you can watch files on a usb drive, I’ve never heard of a TV that allows you to record to it. ---
**Author:** ![Ranch\_Dip](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranch_dip/32/5238_2.png) [@Ranch\_Dip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranch_Dip)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2022, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recovering-dvrd-material/964652/30 "2022-07-01T20:44:16Z")
My Roku did for sure. I have a newer TV and it may actually not. I haven’t actually looked at it for that. It is a TCL. It’s google based, I bought it at Costco. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2022, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recovering-dvrd-material/964652/31 "2022-07-01T21:15:01Z")
I recommend looking into YouTubeTV. Unlimited DVR space. I love it. mmm ETA: I know that doesn’t solve your immediate problem. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recovering-dvrd-material/964652.md?page=1)