Hi JamesB and Repassac,
Thanks for all your help so far, This has just got really weird though!!
I run lost partion software all last night and data recovery stuff but to no avail.
even some Linux stuff don't see this HDD.
couple of programs recognise the hdd and find errors on it.
The Western Digital lifegaurd diagnostic finds fault but can't fix.
So I guess the drive is gone.
So why is it when I give up all hope and reasemble ready for the exchage on Monday it now suddenly works including the remote!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
All recordings are there and the old and new remote now both work!!
Is it really possible that errors on a HDD can cause this much grief!!
Now the box is working what is the best way to get these recording off of it please???
Many Thanks
James