|
-- TIVO Hard Drive
Upgrade --
Printable Version
 |
**All files required for this procedure are
available from our Members
Area
|
One of the major complaints about stock TIVO and other PVR systems is their relatively small hard drives (Some as small as 13GB), and small recording time. The most popular and rewarding upgrade for any TIVO owner is upgrading the size of the hard drive, which will dramatically increase your recording time, up to 340 hours. Following this guide will help you to upgrade your TIVO and you will soon be enjoying the many extra hours of recording time that it brings you.
This guide is for all TIVO models, both standalone and DirecTivo combination receivers. Remember that in upgrading your TIVO, you will be modifying it from factory specs and as such there are no guarantees of the tools or instructions provided. If you run into a problem, you can make a post in our TIVO Upgrade Forum
 |
Windows XP/NT/2000 Users: Do not boot into Windows XP/NT/2000 with your original Tivo drives attached to your computer as a Windows signature can be attached to the drive that will create problems. If you should need to boot into Windows during the upgrade, you will need to create a primary or extended FAT32 partition on your C: drive and know the name of the partition table. (In DOS, run fdisk -1 to display partitions) Then you can follow this upgrade guide, replacing the /dev/hda1(If applicable) with the name of the appropriate FAT32 partition. (IE /dev/hda5 if first extended partition, /dev/hda6 if second extended partition)
If you are a Member, A program like Bootit, which is available on the File Downloads page or a program like partition magic can create the necessary FAT32 partition. Or you can also aquire a small hard drive and format it as Fat32. If you need to have/create a DOS boot disk in order to run the qunlock program to unlock your Tivo drive, you can download a bootdisk from Bootdisk.com
|
 |
Locked Drive If you have a
Quantum or Maxtor drive and it is locked, (Reporting as 9-10MB)
then you should unlock it using your QUnlock boot disk, which is
available on the Download Area. Place your QUnlock bootable
floppy in your disk drive and reboot to the floppy by pressing
Ctrl-Alt-Del and waiting until it reports "no more processes".
Note: Do not use the QUnlock utility unless
you are certain that you need to. Hard drive damage could occur
if used inappropriately. Use only if your BIOS or Linux boot up
report is reporting a 9-10MB drive size. It is generally only
needed with older series 1 units.
At the A:\ prompt after booting to the QUnlock floppy,
type
qunlock 2
This assumes that you have your locked Tivo drive connected as
Secondary Master. If this is not the case, replace the numeral
with the appropriate number to your configuration
0 for IDE Primary Master
1 for IDE Primary Slave
2 for Secondary Master
3 for IDE Secondary Slave
The unlocking procedure will only take a few seconds. After it
is complete, replace the floppy with your MFS CD or Floppy and
reboot to the Linux # prompt again. Again, ensure that all drives
are now reporting their full size.
|
 |
The following will be needed in order to upgrade your TIVO
- A TiVo
- New drive for your TiVo
- Power cable “Y” adapter (For Series 1 Hughes DirecTiVo models)
- Drive mounting bracket (For Series 1 Phillips or Sony standalone models)
- Torx #10 screwdriver
- Pentium™ based PC with at least 2 IDE channels and CD-ROM drive or floppy drive, 32MB of RAM, and PS/2 keyboard (Not USB)
- CD-R or CD-RW drive and CD-R or CD-RW blank media (Optional)
- MFS Tools upgrade CD or floppy
|
 |
Step 1: Introduction to TIVO
TIVO receivers come in standalone or satellite integrated units. The standalone TIVO is capable of recording over the air broadcasts, cable, satellite or any other analog source. Satellite integrated units, such as DirecTivo can only record programming from the satellite provider. Aside from some cosmetic and operational differences, all TIVO units operate the same and can be upgraded to provide additional recording time. The new TIVO Series 2 and DirecTivo series 2 offer more RAM and faster processors than earlier models, in addition to USB ethernet ports and more for future features. If you do not currently own a TIVO, you simply need to weigh the options of what you are looking for. If you want a TIVO will all the bells and whistles, you can purchase a top of the line unit. If all you are looking for is a simple unit, then you have plenty of options as well. When upgrading, you will be retaining all your settings and seasons passes. Some upgrade configurations will also allow you to retain your recordings as well.
|
Tivo Hard Drive Upgrade Page 2

|
08/04/2008 11:20 AM
In order to give the website a better focus, we are phasing out the less popular areas of the site, including the high definition and digital video recorder areas and forums. This will leave the site focused on digital satellite television and satellite radio.
|
 |
 |
Cycling
VERSUS
9:30 am ET
When viewers tune in today to the opening of the 96th Tour de France in Monaco, they'll see at least one familiar face. Lance Armstrong, the seven-time champ, will return to compete on the nearly 2,200-mile route for the first time since 2005. This year, a particularly difficult mountain stage has been added at the end of the 21-stage race, which runs until July 26.
A Capitol Fourth
PBS
8:00 pm ET
Jimmy Smits hosts the Independence Day concert at the U.S. Capitol, welcoming a slate of performers that includes Barry Manilow, Aretha Franklin, the cast of "Jersey Boys," Michael Feinstein and classical pianist Andrew von Oeyen. Erich Kunzel returns as conductor of the National Symphony Orchestra. Also: fireworks!
Macy's 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular
NBC
9:00 pm ET
Natalie Morales and Tiki Barber of "Today" host this broadcast of the annual gala fireworks display from New York, featuring such A-list musical acts as country superstar Kenny Chesney, Katharine McPhee and Jordin Sparks.
2009 Hot Dog Eating Contest
ESPN
12:00 pm ET
Nathan's Famous' yearly salute to acid reflux comes live today from Coney Island in Brooklyn, N.Y., where American Joey "Jaws" Chestnut will defend his title in the 94th annual event. Last year, the 24-year-old Californian downed 55 franks and buns in 10 minutes, tying six-time champ Takeru Kobayashi of Japan, whom he then defeated him in a five-dog "eat-off." Those two men return today to compete in an international field of "eaters."
Apollo 13
MAX
7:30 pm ET
Tom Hanks stars as Cmdr. Jim Lovell in director Ron Howard's 1995 theatrical hit about the near-disastrous 1970 Apollo 13 mission. Headed for the moon, Lovell and his crew, Fred Haise and Jack Swigert (Bill Paxton, Kevin Bacon), experience an on-board explosion. On the ground, their colleagues scramble for a solution while the world holds its breath. Gary Sinise and Ed Harris also star. Jim Lovell appears in a cameo role as captain of the USS Iwo Jima.
Burn After Reading
HBOE
8:00 pm ET
The star quality certainly is present in the latest film from Joel and Ethan Coen, the Oscar-winning makers of "Fargo" and "No Country for Old Men," but the story gets too frantic for its own good. John Malkovich plays a newly resigned CIA agent whose secrets are swiped by his divorce-seeking wife (Tilda Swinton) and ultimately land in the hands of gym workers (Brad Pitt and Frances McDormand, alias Mrs. Joel Coen). George Clooney also appears.
Far From Home
MNT
8:00 pm ET
And far from good, this movie marked young Drew Barrymore's attempt to transition from kiddie fare into more adult roles. She plays a teenager on a tour of national parks with her dad (Matt Frewer). The pair gets stranded without gasoline at a trailer park in a remote area where a serial killer is picking off people. Unfortuntely, this poorly written film runs out of gas just as quickly. Richard Masur and Karen Austin also star.
Kings
NBC
8:00 pm ET
King Silas (Ian McShane) sends David (Chris Egan) on a mission to recover a national treasure, the Charter of Gilboa, but David learns shocking news about his father's death while carrying out the assignment; Jack and Katrina's (Sebastian Stan, guest star Leslie Bibb) engagement gets attention and decidedly mixed reactions from Queen Rose (Susanna Thompson) and the king. Dylan Baker also stars in "Chapter One."
NASCAR Racing
TNT
8:00 pm ET
NASCAR action continues tonight in Daytona Beach, Fla., where top Sprint Cup drivers square off in the traditional Fourth of July weekend race, the Coke Zero 400. Last year, Kyle Busch benefited from a last-lap wreck that brought out the race's 11th caution and gave him a narrow victory over Carl Edwards in a green-white-checkered finish. He'll return to defend his title against the likes of Edwards, Jimmie Johnson and Tony Stewart, among others.
Rocky
TCM
8:00 pm ET
Sylvester Stallone rose to superstardom with this 1976 blockbuster about a small-time boxer who reclaims his self-respect by taking on the world heavyweight champion (Carl Weathers) in a well-hyped title bout. Taking his long shot seriously, the challenger prepares with the help of a wise old trainer (Burgess Meredith). Talia Shire and Burt Young also star in the film, which inspired four sequels.
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
NBC
10:00 pm ET
While hearing a harassment case involving a woman (guest star Sprague Grayden, "Jericho") and her ex-boyfriend, Judge Koehler (guest star Alan Dale, "Ugly Betty") asks Benson and Stabler (Mariska Hargitay, Chrisopher Meloni) to question a convicted serial killer about the location of his son's body. Richard Belzer and Stephanie March also star in "Liberties."
The Keeper
TMC
10:30 pm ET
Dennis Hopper is so good at playing psycho he can phone it in. And that's what he does in this formulaic 2004 thriller. His character, a cop who's a few doughnuts short of a dozen, takes it upon himself to "rehabilitate" a stripper (Asia Argento) ... by locking her up in his basement. Even more ludicrous is the subplot involving the TV producer (Helen Shaver) who's crazy -- and we mean that literally -- about Hopper's copper.
|
 |
|
|