Starting at the beginning...

[LindaT]

I have a DirecTV/Tivo and I want to move recordings to my network to eventually burn to DVD. I see lots of posts talking about linux commands, but I'm way back at 'how would I connect to the Tivo?' I've read lots of the threads in this forum, but none that I've seen go back far enough in the process for me to get started.

If this is too elementary, just tell me to buzz-off or kindly point me to where I can be with my kind of ignorants :)

LindaT.

[malfunct]

I have a DirecTV/Tivo and I want to move recordings to my network to eventually burn to DVD. I see lots of posts talking about linux commands, but I'm way back at 'how would I connect to the Tivo?' I've read lots of the threads in this forum, but none that I've seen go back far enough in the process for me to get started.

If this is too elementary, just tell me to buzz-off or kindly point me to where I can be with my kind of ignorants :)

LindaT.

Before we can lead you anywhere we would need more information about where you are. If you have a series 1 dtivo you would want to probably look for information about xtream2.5.2 and xupgrade and stuff like that. If you have a series 2 dtivo you would want to read about tivoscripts (sleepers iso) and the monte hack.

[LindaT]

I have a Hughes HDVR2, so I belive that is a series 2 machine.

[malfunct]

I have a Hughes HDVR2, so I belive that is a series 2 machine.

Correct it is, look in the series 2 support forum stickes. There is a whole thread on using tivoscripts which is where you want to start. Go to the beginning and read.

[LindaT]

Thanks, but I have no idea what that hack does. Nowhere does it state what the purpose of the hack is, nor does it tell me how I run these commands. Do I have to remove the hard drive from my Tivo and install it in a pc? In a pc running linux?

Perhaps you guys are used to all of this, but I'm a real noob and I still have no idea where to start. There was some mention of a serial cable and ethernet hookups and someone was using a notebook computer, but how?

I have the Tivo over THERE with networked pcs all around and am still clueless.

LT

[wareynolds]

This is a hard question as there are so many parts.

1. You have a S2 DTivo

With that in mind you will want to use sleepers ISO (a file that you would burn to a CD so you can boot up a computer with it. Why would you want to do that? That is because in order to install these programs, you need to do a shell game (monte) with the Tivo operating system. This way you can install a program or config and the Tivo will not stop from booting up based on that. So you take your hard drive from the Tivo, install inot a seperate PC (windows 98 is the easiest probably) and boot the machine with the cd you created (you also have to make sure that the pc can boot from the CD).

Once that is done the directions will help you install kernels and programs and stuff (you really should read the sleepers ISO sticky to get a better feel). Once this is done it will allow you do do a few things.

A. Connect using the serial cable (comes with the older tivos to control things like cable boxes and sattelite systems) This wiill let you install programs and the like, but mostly debug.

B. Ethernet access. You will be able to install drivers for a USB to Ethernet adapter. This is hwere you really usually connect and use to download programs to the PC for DVD burning. Also lets you connect with programs like Tivoweb+.

So you will need a serial cable for debugging. An ethernet cable, usb to ethernet converter and a home network (could be as simple as a crossover ethernet cable) but better if you have a home router.

When running sleepers tool it would be best if you know what USB/Eth adapter you will use (so you can install the right drivers) and some networking info such as whci IP address you want to use (including Network, gateway and broadcast ip's)

If you are still lost after this you may want to wait before you do anything and either read a lot more or leave it as is.

[malfunct]

Thanks, but I have no idea what that hack does. Nowhere does it state what the purpose of the hack is, nor does it tell me how I run these commands. Do I have to remove the hard drive from my Tivo and install it in a pc? In a pc running linux?

Perhaps you guys are used to all of this, but I'm a real noob and I still have no idea where to start. There was some mention of a serial cable and ethernet hookups and someone was using a notebook computer, but how?

I have the Tivo over THERE with networked pcs all around and am still clueless.

LT

If you read the thread is does explain it, but I'll try to summarize. The main purpose of this is to "monte" your tivo, which is the first thing you have to do before installing any other hacks (there are other ways but they are commonly considered outdated or too advanced). Tivoscripts is a boot cd that automates the process. If you follow the steps listed it will take the software image off of the original tivo drive, install it on a new drive (so you don't mess up your original), and preform the steps needed to allow changes to the root filesystem, add networking, and install a couple simple hacks such as the no phone hack and nowplaying sort.

The pc used to run tivoscripts needs to be intel compatible (if you are running windows on it you are probably ok) and have 2 available IDE channels. You will also need a hard drive of at least 2 gigs capacity and formatted to fat32 (the windows 98 format) to hold temporary files used during the process. It will also need a cd drive that can be booted from automatically (most newer computers do this). Install the fat32 drive on the first IDE channel as master and the cd drive on the first IDE channel as slave. Then put your original tivo drive on the second IDE channel as master. Put the tivoscripts boot cd in the drive and boot. Choose to do the "monte" option and then follow the steps to backup your original drive. It will tell you when you need to shut down the computer and remove the original tivo drive and replace it (as master on the second IDE channel) with the new drive you will put in the tivo. You will then boot the machine, choose the "monte" option and you will start out with the steps to restore, then surgery which sets up the monte so the filesystem can be changed and the tivo still boot it, and then hacks which puts in networking and the little hacks I mentioned. When all of that is done you can put it back into the tivo and start it up. You will probably want to install a supported USB ethernet adapter (I highly recommend the netgear FA-120) before you boot so you can telnet into the machine.

Beyond what I explained above you really need to start reading this forum and get to a point of understanding. The tivo is a fairly general purpose computer so most anything you can do on a computer can be done on a tivo if you take the effort.

[LindaT]

Thanks to both of you. That's a lot clearer.

LT

[LindaT]

I looked up the ethernet adapter you mentioned and I was surprized to see it was USB 2.0. The USB ports on the back of the unit are USD 2.0?

Hmmmm.

LT

[malfunct]

I looked up the ethernet adapter you mentioned and I was surprized to see it was USB 2.0. The USB ports on the back of the unit are USD 2.0?

Hmmmm.

LT

Yes they are, the correct USB drivers will be loaded by tivoscripts if you choose them. (choose the ones that are not phoenix if you get the fa-120, they are like a82... or something like that.)