Series2 DT Upgrade kits ?

I have a brand new TiVo Series 2 Dual Tuner (Series2 DT) with a single
80GB hard drive, Model TCD649080. I want to upgrade the HD and I had
a few questions. I've read some of the FAQs and other related info,
so I have an idea what I want to do, but I thought I'd ask here for
the latest feedback from people who have actually made similar
modifications.

I want to buy a HD that is pre-formatted with the TiVo software (not a
blank drive).
The TiVo unit is on a home network with an iMacG5 if that matters.


Questions:

1. From whom should I buy the HD? WeaKnees or the TiVo Community
Store ? WeaKnees is cheaper. Any reason not to go with WeaKnees ?
Do either of these suppliers ever have sales ? Are there any other
suppliers worth looking at ?

2. Is it better to Replace the original HD (Model TCD649080) with a
single new one (I'm thinking 500GB), or Add a second drive ?

All the programs on the original TiVo HD have already been transferred
to my mac (using Roxio Toast8 "TiVo Transfer"), so I'm thinking that
transferring them back to a new HD (with TiVo Desktop System
Preference) will not be an issue....?

3. Will a second drive fit in this Model TCD649080 ? If so, do I want
to add the accessory fan kit ? (The TiVo unit is inside an
entertainment cabinet.)

4. Has anyone had any problems with the larger replacement HDs?
Problems simply related to the size of the drive ? What about
reliability of particular HD brands ? Is there a HD size limit on
this Model TCD649080 ?

4. I gather that TiVo considers this a hack. This will void my
original warranty on the machine ? What other support type issues
should I be aware of ? Will all future TiVo supplied software updates
work correctly on the unauthorized HD ?

Thank you all for any insight,
Larry

Go to:

http://store.tivocommunity.com/

A blank drive works just fine since all the required data is burned
into the S2 unit as I understand it.

This location is a gold mine of information.

On 2 May 2007 04:24:57 -0700, wrote:

I have a brand new TiVo Series 2 Dual Tuner (Series2 DT) with a single
80GB hard drive, Model TCD649080. I want to upgrade the HD and I had
a few questions. I've read some of the FAQs and other related info,
so I have an idea what I want to do, but I thought I'd ask here for
the latest feedback from people who have actually made similar
modifications.

I want to buy a HD that is pre-formatted with the TiVo software (not a
blank drive).
The TiVo unit is on a home network with an iMacG5 if that matters.


Questions:

1. From whom should I buy the HD? WeaKnees or the TiVo Community
Store ? WeaKnees is cheaper. Any reason not to go with WeaKnees ?
Do either of these suppliers ever have sales ? Are there any other
suppliers worth looking at ?

2. Is it better to Replace the original HD (Model TCD649080) with a
single new one (I'm thinking 500GB), or Add a second drive ?

All the programs on the original TiVo HD have already been transferred
to my mac (using Roxio Toast8 "TiVo Transfer"), so I'm thinking that
transferring them back to a new HD (with TiVo Desktop System
Preference) will not be an issue....?

3. Will a second drive fit in this Model TCD649080 ? If so, do I want
to add the accessory fan kit ? (The TiVo unit is inside an
entertainment cabinet.)

4. Has anyone had any problems with the larger replacement HDs?
Problems simply related to the size of the drive ? What about
reliability of particular HD brands ? Is there a HD size limit on
this Model TCD649080 ?

4. I gather that TiVo considers this a hack. This will void my
original warranty on the machine ? What other support type issues
should I be aware of ? Will all future TiVo supplied software updates
work correctly on the unauthorized HD ?

Thank you all for any insight,
Larry

On May 2, 7:24 am, wrote:
I want to buy a HD that is pre-formatted with the TiVo software (not a
blank drive).
The TiVo unit is on a home network with an iMacG5 if that matters.


I would encourage you to do it yourslf. It is not overly difficult
assuming you have an x86 machine you can use to do this. It will also
allow you to preserve your existing recordings most easily.

Questions:


2. Is it better to Replace the original HD (Model TCD649080) with a
single new one (I'm thinking 500GB), or Add a second drive ?

Replace the original, it will run cooler (= more reliable), the
upgrade is considerably more complex if you want to keep the original
drive also.


All the programs on the original TiVo HD have already been transferred
to my mac (using Roxio Toast8 "TiVo Transfer"), so I'm thinking that
transferring them back to a new HD (with TiVo Desktop System
Preference) will not be an issue....?

In less time then it took to xfer the programs over Tivo to Slow, you
could have drove to Best Buy, Bought a 500GB drive, downloaded & built
the MFS tools CD, prepped & installed your drive and began using it!


4. I gather that TiVo considers this a hack. This will void my
original warranty on the machine ? What other support type issues
should I be aware of ? Will all future TiVo supplied software updates
work correctly on the unauthorized HD ?

Yes this will technically void your warrantee. While our resident
troll will tell you Tivo is the devil reincarnated, the truth be told
they really do not care if you do this. If it craps out for some
reason, put the original drive back in and send it in for repair.
There is no tagging of the drive for ID from Tivo or other caveats.

If you do decide to build the drive yourself, be double sure to use a
'large LBA support' MFS tools disk and do this on a machine where the
BIOS can deal with the drive size you are installing.

A blank drives does NOT do the trick here . . . we have info for
formatting drives he

http://www.upgrade-instructions.com

shaped the electrons to say:
1. From whom should I buy the HD? WeaKnees or the TiVo Community
Store ? WeaKnees is cheaper. Any reason not to go with WeaKnees ?

I'd go with WeaKnees.com or DVRupgrade.com, the two big TiVo upgrade
vendors. The TiVoCommunity.com store resells the DVRupgrade.com
drives, so just go with the best price.

I think they have sales and promos from time to time, but nothing big
that I recall.

2. Is it better to Replace the original HD (Model TCD649080) with a
single new one (I'm thinking 500GB), or Add a second drive ?

Replace. If you add a second drive you need to buy a new mounting
bracket, probably one of the power control units, and a new power
cable and data cable.

All the programs on the original TiVo HD have already been transferred
to my mac (using Roxio Toast8 "TiVo Transfer"), so I'm thinking that
transferring them back to a new HD (with TiVo Desktop System
Preference) will not be an issue....?

That'll work fine.

3. Will a second drive fit in this Model TCD649080 ? If so, do I want
to add the accessory fan kit ? (The TiVo unit is inside an
entertainment cabinet.)

Yes it will fit - but as I said above, you need a new bracket, cables,
etc. And yes, you probably want the fan as it alters air flow.

4. Has anyone had any problems with the larger replacement HDs?
Problems simply related to the size of the drive ? What about
reliability of particular HD brands ? Is there a HD size limit on
this Model TCD649080 ?

Nothing unusual, just that there is always the chance of a bad drive
with *any* hard drive. As long as it is imaged correctly, and you can
trust those two vendors, size isn't an issue. And I don't know of any
size limits. I know people use drives of 500GB, 750GB, even 1TB in
TiVos.

4. I gather that TiVo considers this a hack. This will void my
original warranty on the machine ? What other support type issues
should I be aware of ? Will all future TiVo supplied software updates
work correctly on the unauthorized HD ?

Opening the case at all voids your warranty, so yes. That's about the
only concern though, and the warranty is only 90 days on most units.
TiVo also isn't that strict about it. If you replace the drive and
something happens, you can swap the original drive back in and still
have it serviced. (You don't want to send it in for service with the
big drive, since they don't send the same box back - they send another
refurbished unit to speed things up. So you'd lose your drive.)

There has never been a problem with TiVo updates on expanded drives,
as long as they're done correctly. The only problems have been drives
where the swap wasn't expanded correctly, which can cause problems
with updates installing or the unit recovering from any errors.

-MZ
--
URL:mailto:megazoneatmegazone.org Gweep, Discordian, Author, Engineer, me.
"A little nonsense now and then, is relished by the wisest men" 508-852-2171
URL:http://www.megazone.org/ URL:http://www.eyrie-productions.com/ Eris

shaped the electrons to say:
A blank drive works just fine since all the required data is burned
into the S2 unit as I understand it.

Blank drives do not work, the drive contains the TiVo OS. Drives need
to be formatted and imaged for use in TiVo before installing them.

-MZ
--
URL:mailto:megazoneatmegazone.org Gweep, Discordian, Author, Engineer, me.
"A little nonsense now and then, is relished by the wisest men" 508-852-2171
URL:http://www.megazone.org/ URL:http://www.eyrie-productions.com/ Eris

shaped the electrons to say:
I would encourage you to do it yourslf. It is not overly difficult
assuming you have an x86 machine you can use to do this. It will also
allow you to preserve your existing recordings most easily.

Not everyone is comfortable with PC hardware and opening their PC up
to recable drives to do this. And if you screw up, you can ruin the
drive for TiVo - boot Windows accidentally with the new drive attached
and it won't work in a TiVo because Windows writes on the MBR. Lots
of people aren't comfortable opening the case on their PC.

In less time then it took to xfer the programs over Tivo to Slow, you
could have drove to Best Buy, Bought a 500GB drive, downloaded & built
the MFS tools CD, prepped & installed your drive and began using it!

It really depends on the number of shows, of course. And with a TiVo
Adapter, or using the wired network, the S2DT transfers shows much
faster than real time, so it isn't that slow.


An option for someone comfortable opening their PC and connecting the
drives, but not up to building their own tools CD, is DVRupgrade.com's
Instant Cake CD. Only $20 and it comes with everything you need - a
drive image and a wizard that walks you through imaging the drive.
You just connect the drive, boot the CD, and follow the prompts. I'm
perfectly comfortable making my own tools CD, but even I use
InstantCake because it is just so easy and the time and effort saved
is worth $20 to me. ;-)

-MZ
--
URL:mailto:megazoneatmegazone.org Gweep, Discordian, Author, Engineer, me.
"A little nonsense now and then, is relished by the wisest men" 508-852-2171
URL:http://www.megazone.org/ URL:http://www.eyrie-productions.com/ Eris

If you are asking, IMHO, go with Weakness.com.
Techies can find a little cheaper solutions, but man, Weaknees.com is
sooooo easy. I have bought 3 so far. real nice and easy.

DAve

wrote:
Go to:

http://store.tivocommunity.com/

A blank drive works just fine since all the required data is burned
into the S2 unit as I understand it.

This location is a gold mine of information.

On 2 May 2007 04:24:57 -0700, wrote:

I have a brand new TiVo Series 2 Dual Tuner (Series2 DT) with a single
80GB hard drive, Model TCD649080. I want to upgrade the HD and I had
a few questions. I've read some of the FAQs and other related info,
so I have an idea what I want to do, but I thought I'd ask here for
the latest feedback from people who have actually made similar
modifications.

I want to buy a HD that is pre-formatted with the TiVo software (not a
blank drive).
The TiVo unit is on a home network with an iMacG5 if that matters.


Questions:

1. From whom should I buy the HD? WeaKnees or the TiVo Community
Store ? WeaKnees is cheaper. Any reason not to go with WeaKnees ?
Do either of these suppliers ever have sales ? Are there any other
suppliers worth looking at ?

2. Is it better to Replace the original HD (Model TCD649080) with a
single new one (I'm thinking 500GB), or Add a second drive ?

All the programs on the original TiVo HD have already been transferred
to my mac (using Roxio Toast8 "TiVo Transfer"), so I'm thinking that
transferring them back to a new HD (with TiVo Desktop System
Preference) will not be an issue....?

3. Will a second drive fit in this Model TCD649080 ? If so, do I want
to add the accessory fan kit ? (The TiVo unit is inside an
entertainment cabinet.)

4. Has anyone had any problems with the larger replacement HDs?
Problems simply related to the size of the drive ? What about
reliability of particular HD brands ? Is there a HD size limit on
this Model TCD649080 ?

4. I gather that TiVo considers this a hack. This will void my
original warranty on the machine ? What other support type issues
should I be aware of ? Will all future TiVo supplied software updates
work correctly on the unauthorized HD ?

Thank you all for any insight,
Larry

wrote:

2. Is it better to Replace the original HD (Model TCD649080) with a
single new one (I'm thinking 500GB), or Add a second drive ?

4. I gather that TiVo considers this a hack. This will void my
original warranty on the machine ? What other support type issues
should I be aware of ?

There is a definite advantage in replacing the original drive.
You can put it on the shelf and save it. Then if you need to send
the unit in for repair (or just want to sell it), you can put the
original disk back in.

-Joe