How to Use a DVR Drive in a PC (8 Steps)

By Alice Godfrey

i Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images

A digital video recorder contains a hard drive for storing video. The hard drive, while physically similar to those found in desktop computers, is formatted specifically for use with a DVR. To use a DVR's hard drive in a computer, reformat the drive to enable the computer's operating system to access it. You will need household tools, but no special software since the computer's operating system already has the necessary software built into it.

Step 1

Unplug the computer's power cord from the outlet. Remove the screws from the side panel, using a Phillips screwdriver.

Step 2

Remove the screw at the edge of an empty drive bay inside the computer, near its top edge, using the screwdriver. Pull the drive tray out of the drive bay.

Step 3

Remove the two screws from the sides of the drive tray with the screwdriver. Slide the DVR drive into the drive tray's slot, connector side out. Reattach the screws.

Step 4

Pull the power plug and data cable plug out of the drive bay. Connect the power plug to the power socket on the back of the DVR drive. Connect the data cable plug to the data socket on the back of the DVR.

Step 5

Insert the drive tray back into the drive bay and reattach the screw. Close the side panel, reattach the screws and plug the power cord back in.

Step 6

Turn the computer on. Let the desktop come up on the screen. Click "Start," followed by "Computer."

Step 7

Right-click the icon of the DVR drive that is in the window that appears. Select "Format" from the pop-up window. Name the drive with a name of your choosing in the "Name" text field at the top of the window that appears. Leave the rest of the settings on the window as is. Click the "Format" button at the bottom of the window.

Step 8

Close the window when the formatting has been finished -- the window will inform you of this -- by clicking the "X" button in its upper right corner.

References

Writer Bio