it wont record?

my settop box keeps saying please format device everytime i try to record i format it and it says the same
sharyn, February 2016


done
One has to assume this is some kind of satellite TV receiver. You don't say.

You also don't give any clue as to the make or model. Clever. Not.

These often fail due to electrolytic capacitors inside deteriorating.

You could try to help yourself with a couple of Google searches for:

MAKE MODEL bad capacitors

MAKE MODEL format

(replacing MAKE MODEL with details (accurately) of your own box)

You may turn up a common fault and its solution.

XXX, February 2016