Newbie Questions

[Xanthio]

Well you can at least give me some points for honesty.
:-)

Please realize I don't *think* I'm making any broad newbie "hold my hand mommy" type questions ... and I don't *think* I'm doing any begging taboos. I could be wrong but I think as newbie questions go I've got a handle on what it is I don't know at least.

I was reading the guide to Series 2 TiVo hacking linked in the sticky thread in this forum and I've got a fairly good grasp of the procedures and I think I should be able to apply them to my family's TiVo no sweat ... but there's a few discrepencies I need some answers in regard to.

One is the version and model numbers. Most of the references here are to units that are distinctly not the one I have. Though the two most mentioned here I gather are the popular models to hack, that certainly wasn't on my MOTHER'S mind when she went to buy this as a xmas gift for my father. We have the TCD240080 "TiVo" SA TiVo unit ... which I'm guessing they don't manufacture themselves but contract to someone (though I have no idea who) and stamp their names on it. Regardless that much from what I have read the essential hacks are really just "TiVo-Linux" hacks and should be applicable. The catch is when I look in the system information menu it lists software version 4.0-01-2-240 ... which for reasons I hope obvious I have trouble reconciling with the version numbers on this page. Do the versions vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, or is this a result of software updates that go well beyond the currently popular hackable version? Does this mean I will have to get an image of the older version (note: not asking FOR anything I'll do my begging in the appropriate threads / places ... I just need to know if I have to do some begging).

The guide I read (http://www.hostfreedom.com/tivo/index.html) was pretty straight forward (sometimes too step-by-step ... had to re-read a few steps to realize why certain things were done that specific way) ... one thing I'm curious about is hard drive size. There was nothing in the guide specifically referencing drive sizes. Am I to assume that if a larger hard drive was used no additional steps would be required as the process of that hack will also cover getting the TiVo to accept the larger drive?

If I *do* have to track down an image and revert to an older software version, is there any actual functionality I'd be losing? Or are most of the updates actually just to lock out the hacks?

Essentially, I'm very new to this ... I've read around and most of the information is older and from people who've been doing this for some time. If you're thinking "wow he's getting into the game late" well, I'm feeling that way too.

-X

[mrblack51]

you have an S2 SA unit. that guide should work, but it will be difficult to find an image that will work. your best bet is to use the two kernel monte style hack. there is a guide in the thread on that subject...i forgot by who though.

[Xanthio]

Originally posted by mrblack51
you have an S2 SA unit. that guide should work, but it will be difficult to find an image that will work. your best bet is to use the two kernel monte style hack. there is a guide in the thread on that subject...i forgot by who though.

Ah-HA

I had not noticed that thread ... this is an interesting hack indeed. It would seem I'm going to be expanding my linux know-how but I suppose that won't hurt me any.

Now, I don't know enough of the hardware side of TiVo to make a conclusive decision regarding this but what I am gathering seems to suggest a low probability of a software fix that would render the monte hack unusable. Am I on the money here? I merely wonder because if I am *not* then I should probably be taking the first opportunity to back up my current TiVo drive in the event that there's a "fix" for this so that I don't once again find myself shafted by having too new a revision.

-X

[mrblack51]

well, it is always a good idea to backup your unit before messing with it. as for an upgrade rendering the setup useless, yes, its a theoretical possibility. of course, thats always a possibility. In general, those who hack their units prevent upgrades (info available via a search), because they would rather wait and see what new features/pitfalls are put into new versions of the software. so far, there haven't been any major bombshells dropped by tivo

[Xanthio]

Originally posted by mrblack51
well, it is always a good idea to backup your unit before messing with it. as for an upgrade rendering the setup useless, yes, its a theoretical possibility. of course, thats always a possibility. In general, those who hack their units prevent upgrades (info available via a search), because they would rather wait and see what new features/pitfalls are put into new versions of the software. so far, there haven't been any major bombshells dropped by tivo

Yeah ... well I would never jump without a chute so to speak. I was hoping to just upgrade the hdd and stash the old one but due to financial constraints I will probably have to settle for an image backup and just tucking that away in a safe spot.

I have a pretty newbass question and as such I wasn't sure if it was more appropriate to ask here or in the monte thread ... I follow with what's being done (though the how of it I'll likely have to reread the thread a couple dozen more times but I'm cool with that, learning never hurt anyone) save for one point. There's mention of a faux 3.1.U5 root for the 3.1.U5 kernel before the kmonte handoff to the 4.0 kernel ... does this suggest I'll need to find a 3.1.U5 *image* to monkey with and pull out the root, or is the kernel image snagged from the BASH_ENV guide (http://www.hostfreedom.com/tivo/onepage.html) sufficient?

(I do realize that might be something I missed on the thread or a Linux "RTFM" type question ... if so just letting me know will suffice)

-X