The new youview software that TalkTalk are rolling out over the next couple of months should improve at least some aspects of the slowness. For full details see https://support.youview.com/youview-box/box-and-remote/using-maintenance-mode/

Question - BT DTR-T2100 HDMI / HDCP Problems? | AVForums Question - BT DTR-T2100 HDMI / HDCP Problems? | AVForums

Assuming it was the HDD at fault, if I put another new/blank 2.5" drive in there would the box know what to do with it? i.e. could I (potentially) restore it to working if I replaced the HDD? look carefully at the top of the can. It should be slightly concave, if it looks convex then chances are the capacitor is on it's way out even though it may otherwise look OK.West Mids = Sutton Coldfield COM7 = freq.ch 33 @ -4dB... but received via an aerial pointing the wrong way. SC is often very good if not better than Waltham in parts of the E.Mids for the main channels at least... so that may explain why it works when set like that even though the aerial is pointing the wrong way? East Mids = Waltham (Talking Pictures on COM7 = freq.ch 31@ -7dB cf the PSB muxes but outwith a C/D aerial - as Waltham used to use - so may be further attenuated). Hmm, my thinking was that if it behaves exactly the same with the HDD out as in, then the HDD is not making itself known, because it has some fault, and so the box is forever looping i.e. trying but failing to make any communication with the HDD. Try unplugging the HDD and see if it will boot, it will likely protest about not having a drive but you should get some response out of it.

YouView Support BT software update 32.53.0 / 3.7.54 - YouView Support

The only other thing I can think of is if you get any problems due to BT ISP subscription/menu maybe slightly different software then you need to do a software reset via Maintenance mode setup.

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I had a spare laptop hard disk (Hitachi, 80Gb) so I followed these instructions to fit, and it kinda worked – the box was now ‘alive’, it would record the current programme if I pressed the record button, but anything I set to record failed. Maybe it was something to do with the hard disk not being ‘video’ grade, or the small size… There are no fans, so it’s virtually silent except for the exceptionally quiet whirring of the laptop-style hard drive. Unless you’re right next to the box, this is inaudible, so it’s ideal for bedrooms as well as the living room or kitchen. Note that the Ultra HD version does have a fan, which can be a little irritating in a quiet room.

Unlock BT TV - Humax 91-00438 « My Humax Forum

Thank you for your replies, I read some where that the HD content only is encrypted, can anyone confirm this. The new box is now complete with BT branding front and centre, which BT is probably rather pleased about and you most probably don't give a hoot about. The design matches that of the latest generation Home Hub 5. I tried your first suggestion of trying the PVR with no HDD and it behaves EXACTLY the same as it did with the HDD in! The same looping logos forever, the recovery menu comes up but as before none of the option will do anything. So I think from this we can conclude the HDD is almost certainly dead as the box works just as well (not at all) with it as without. If I take their box to my house still set to the East Midlands it fails to get the channels. If I set the box with a West Midlands B1 postcode the box gets Talking Pictures, but of course the regional programming is incorrect. For recording radio programes all youview boxes are unreliable. This is due to the youview boxes having no manual option for setting up timers. Even when I was trying to use my DTR-T2100 as my prime device I had to keep my HDR-FOX T2 fully running in parallel for radio programmes.These instructions to fix my BT box are an absolute godsend. The tell-tale sign of a beeping HDD was enough to convince me that this was worthwhile pursuing….and sure enough it worked. The only problem I had was trying to get the maintenance screen up once the HDD had been replaced – it took about 3-4 attempts before the box finally responded and after that it was plain sailing from then on in. Box is fully up and running now. So thanks for the instructions and saving another bit of kit from going to set top box heaven – as well as doing my bit for saving the planet. You may already have received this or your box is due soon to obtain it. Youview roll the updates out in batches, not everyone gets them at same time. But if you are referring to the new features with the BT Pro box, this is not available on your box (as far as I know currently/not sure about future updates being rolled out).