HR54-500 makes loud hard drive noises?

He could have gotten a Regular H24 or (Doesn't have) an Internal Hard Drive. -The "TECH" most likely did not have HD receiver and installed the HR54 -Causing Him to be Charged for DVR service as well as whole home service -- I suggest You or Him Call 1-800-531-5000 and explain what happened and get a service visit to get him a Regular HD Receiver. 

You cannot disable the Hard Drive-on any DVR --when the Receiver it is still ON (working) even when the unit is turned off. Because it will record Scheduled Shows all the time.

The only sounds made from a DVR are the hard drive along with the system fan. If the hard drive is making loud noises, this is definitely abnormal and could mean a failing hard drive. Your friend could replace the HR54 with an H25 receiver to not pay for DVR service or Whole-Home DVR. These two fees amount to $13/month.

Although, as the tech told your friend, DIRECTV rarely does give out HD only boxes these days like the H25. So, your friend may resort to purchasing one from Solid Signal for the retail price.

Otherwise, if he is fine with another Genie receiver, he can ask for a replacement receiver. This costs $19.95 for delivery, or if he has the Protection Plan with DIRECTV then it is FREE of charge. 

As far as turning off the hard drive in the current HR54, this would require opening up the receiver which is against the Terms of Conditions since all Receivers are leased to customers by DIRECTV.

Thanks for this info!

So I'll tell him to  call and ask for an H24 or H25.

I'm pretty sure when he called to schedule the SD -> HD  stb replacement he told them he didn't want/need a DVR and he still ended-up with the HR54-500.

At this point, it seems DirecTV is only doing Genie setups as MPEG swap. Otherwise an H25 (or H24 if any were left in stock) would have been a direct swap.

DVR is always doing a mini record, as that is how you pause and even REW/FF live TV. It buffers a bit when on the channel.

Hard drive cannot be disabled. It is a required function of the box so was not built with a way to turn it off.

If the noise is from a faulty hard drive or cooling fan, then your friend will need to call DirecTV. Though a warranty replacement is normally $19.95 delivery, if he is within 90 days of install that cost should be waived.

To get a HD non-DVR to replace the Genie would be a one-time lease cost of $99, unless he has a free upgrade available with DirecTV (assuming the Genie wasn't processed as one). Either way that comes with a 24 month agreement. Even though DVR and Whole Home DVR wouldn't be there, he would be paying $10 monthly for HD service (only waived with MPEG swap which an upgrade would replace).

Apparently, the box makes noise even when it is turned off.

DVRs are never off only in standby mode as the hard drive runs 24/7 to buffer the channels, record programs, receive guide data and updates.

Mine does that also and it’s fairly new. For months I thought I was hearing my neighbors TV or stereo.  It wasn’t until I unplugged everything in my HEC and started plugging each device in one at a time until I identified the DVR box was the culprit.  I repositioned it and it’s much better now. 

It’s definitely the hard drive. 

Try repositioning his and see if it helps.