Ugh. So I've had a PhatBox in my various VWs for the last ten or twelve years and knew about the hacks long ago, but never took the time to do the job on mine. Bad decision, because a few months ago a spare quart of oil leaked and dripped onto the exposed end of my only (and original) DMS. The oil worked itself into the HDD, which now seems to be dead. The phatbox itself didn't get oil in the works, but without having hacked it already, it's going to be *fun* trying to resurrect this dinosaur.
Am starting this thread for anyone who wants to follow along...