Wouldn’t that be stealing? Does the contract with Dish allow you to copy the movies out of their licensed devices?
set up a linux partition on your computer?
The USB is likely formatted to a file system version that windows doesn’t read. Try formatting the USB to FAT32 and copying over the data again.
What are the filenames -- in particular, the filename extensions -- you think are "Linux format"?
Just play the movies and record to a dvd via a dvd recorder.
Can’t be done. The movies stored on your drive are encrypted in some Dish format and you can’t play them unless they are connected to a Dish receiver. I’ve been through it. Maybe FBI could do it with tremendous allocation of resources, but short of that, can’t be done.
They are very likely encrypted. I don’t know how strong of encryption but it will require more than just copying the files. I had the same problem with getting files from my Time Warner DVR. I can see the files on the network and copy them to my computer. I just can’t use them for anything yet.
Have you tried installing and using VLC media player on your windows machine? That will play pretty much any format. If that does not work, then the files probably have some DRM installed on them so they can only be played by authorized players.
excerpt:
How to Decode Dish Network PVR Files
By Marshal M. Rosenthal
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The video file stored on a Dish Network PVR (personal video recorder) is slightly different than that found on DVDs. Convert the Dish PVR video file so that it becomes compatible with DVDs and programs that use the DVD video file format. No software program needs to be downloaded or purchased because there are free online video conversion websites that will convert the Dish PVR file. The online video conversion websites operate in a similar manner to upload the file from the hard drive, convert them online and return the converted file to the hard drive.....continued on linked page
Most likely the biggest problem you’re going to have is with the vids themselves. It’s not that they are in a “linux format”, but rather because the DVR makers caved into the *IAA demands that there be some kind of encryption around the video files themselves. You will likely have to search around a bit to determine if there is a hack for the ‘wrapper’ that contains the files. It’s a major PITA.
Is it that you cannot read the movie files or you cannot read the flash drive?
The movie file formats are pretty universal nowadays, most will be either avi, mpeg or quicktime and you can get viewers for all of those on any system.
Now, the file system on the drive may be specific to one OS or another, so that is a bigger problem. There seem to be tools out there to read files from linux partitions in Windows, so I would look into those:
https://www.pendrivelinux.com/accessing-a-linux-ext2-or-ext3-partiton-from-windows/
Take note: While it is in a Linux format, it is a proprietary Linux format. It is not likely you could stand up a Linux PC and just plug in the flash drive and copy/move them and be able to view them.
Believe me, I tried. Your only option is to get a video out capable interface that will use USB to plug in to your Windows laptop/PC and view the movies real time...each one at a time...and save them that way. Time consuming to say the least.
why would you want to convert anything to Windows? Horrible operating system, even though used world-wide.
Spend $50 on an Amazon Firestick and install Kodi. You can watch any movies you had streaming. No need to keep a local copy.
Use VLC Media player. It runs on Linux OR Windows, is free and comes with any codec and file format ability you can find (practically).
You would be much better off converting your
Windows system to Linux. It is about freedom - not free-software. I recommend Debian...
Did you Ask Alexa? The NSA ma know.
Consider a Hauppauge TV tuner for your computer and connect the receiver to your computer. (make sure your output cable to input cable match- IE : ‘F’ to ‘F’). Then transfer them to your computer.