Optik 4K Arris STB

I got a new 4K Arris set top box to replace a defective one today.

These 4K ARRIS boxes have the easy open (after removing 4 screws) hatch on the bottom, with a 1TB 2.5" Toshiba HD (MQ01 ABD110V) which easily disconnects and slides out.

It looks like a bog standard SATA 6 data and power interface on this Toshiba 2.5 laptop HD. It is recognized by my USB-SATA adapter, but of course Windows says its an unknown disk and unknown format.

.Can I replace the new Toshiba 1TB with the old one and possibly get my old recordings back?  The current new box has been registered and cofigured to my TELUS account, so I don't want to try pluging in the old drive prematurely in case there's identifier or account data being read by the ARRIS box that will brick the new box.   

Alternatively, if that's not possible, what about reformatting the Toshiba 1TB to NTFS and re purpose it for extra storage on my Windows system.