Freebox Revolution: Internal HDD Disassembly Solved

Question

Hello everyone,

I recently decided that I didn't want to lose all the data on my Freebox Revolution's hard drive.

So I undertook a proper disassembly of the Freebox Revolution (server) and extracted the hard drive. I put the HDD in an external enclosure to access it and try to repair it.

1. I connected the disk to my Mac. It gives me the following error message:

"The disk you inserted is not readable by this computer"
initialize/eject/ignore

I initialized... nothing. The disk does not mount on the desktop. The Disk Utility finds it but does not allow me to access it.

->stuck

2. Okay, I connect it to a computer running Win7.

Installing devices... the devices are correctly installed..

But I can't find it anywhere. Looking closely, it's in the "printers and devices" and it works correctly... but I can't access it.

After many searches, I can't find any leads (as if I'm the only one who decided to jeopardize my warranty....

Thank you in advance for your constructive responses!

Configuration: Mac OS X / Safari 535.11

epsilon17 · Accepted Answer

Oh come on, don't try to dismantle the disk  come on, I'm nice, I'll give you the tip: http://laselec.net/recuperer-ses-fichier-sur-le-disque-de-la-freebox-v6-apres-resiliation/

Géca · Answer

Good evening,

In theory, all your data on this disk is available via FTP access to the Freebox.
Why did you dismantle it?

I haven't experienced it on the v6, but on the v5, the hard drive of the multimedia box is formatted in XFS. By default, Windows only recognizes NTFS as an "advanced" file system, and for Mac OS, it's HFS/HFS+.

You can switch to Linux to get support for XFS or find a third-party application (it should exist for Windows, not sure for Mac OS).

Finally, since the boxes are rented, they belong to Free. Free would be entitled to charge you for the intentional degradation of equipment that does not belong to you.

--

Le Gbel · Answer

Hi Géca,

Indeed, they will be able to charge me in case of damage.

The problem is that I stored data on the hard drive and I have no other way to retrieve it: the hard drive was out of order and Free didn't offer me a solution to recover the data.

In any case, thanks for the info, I'll try to boot in Linux to see if I can find a way to salvage the situation. I'll keep you updated.

clemmilo · Answer

A bit of the same problem:

A 250 GB hard drive in the box: great!!!

But if you don't have a phone line (in my case because Free confused moving and cancellation), access to the Freebox interface is restricted and access to the internal hard drive is denied!!! So personal data (movies, photos, etc.) stored on the Free hard drive is lost!!! Do not try to disassemble the box to access the HDD: very difficult and if you break it: huge bill!! When calling Free's technical support, several responses: we will unblock your @MAC so you can access the box, but if one technician tells you it will be possible, another assures you it's impossible after asking their superior... In short: files in the box, files lost!!!

Why block access to your personal data, the box is the unseizable property of Free => ok // but your data is your property and is unseizable ====> in short: Free forbids you to use your own files!!! (ILLEGAL)

IDEA: to be able to view the Freebox HDD v6 even without an active connection...

mjux · Answer

Hi Gbel, I have the same problem as you, have you found a solution since you've been wondering about this issue?

I need to mount the hard drive on a computer and recover the data (movies, photos, etc.).

Thanks in advance for your reply.

4jng730 · Answer

Good evening.
In one word as in ten, only use the Freebox to store very temporary and very impersonal files like movies or TV recordings.
Do not put your personal data on it, as it would be lost in case of a BOX crash.
In this case, this box is by no means a NAS and especially do not consider it as such.

Bye

no_barh · Answer

Good evening,

After cancellation and rebooting the V6 box, there is no legal way to access the NAS!
Mandatory disassembly:
- remove the black bezel from the back of the box
- gently insert 2 flat, non-serrated knives on each side of the box (go slowly), and pull on the orange part of the Freebox, it should come off.
- remove the 3 screws that secure the disk holder
- disconnect the disk
- remove the 4 fixing screws from the holder
- connect the disk to an external 2.5-inch enclosure (you need to have one...)
- on Windows, install and use DiskInternals Linux Reader to back up the unencrypted public directories. Only video recordings are encrypted.

the moral: do not use the NAS of the Freebox V6 to store your data.

Tomax · Answer

Good evening everyone.
Personally, I'm going to dismantle this damn freebox and recover all MY FILES!
Regardless of what Free thinks! If necessary, it will end up in court but I won't lose my files!
To read the Freebox hard drive on Windows, you need an app that allows you to read LINUX disks on Windows, or simpler, have a bootable LINUX on USB! It’s straightforward, you boot into Linux, read the disk, and copy onto the Windows drive ALL THE FILES, encrypted or not!
Then the encrypted files will be decryptable but I don’t know how! In any case, all the rest is 10% readable, including the *.ts files which are perfectly readable by VLS Media Player.
Thank you for providing other useful information. Warnings like "Don't dismantle the box" we don't care as long as we recover our property!
USEFUL LINKS:
Freeware Linux Reader for Windows: http://www.diskinternals.com/linux-reader/
VLC media player: http://www.videolan.org/vlc/

A+++ Tom's.

Pierrecastor · Answer

Hey, silly idea:

Take your Freebox and bring it to a neighbor / family / friend who has a Free connection to plug it into the phone and retrieve the contents of the disk.

Less risky and easier in my opinion than opening up the thing.

--
As for those fierce soldiers, I say, it's not to tattle,
but they do nothing but roar in our countryside.
-Pierre Desproges-

Freebox Revolution: Internal HDD Disassembly

9 answers

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