Backing up a virginal S2 DTivo

[TivoChick]

Hi all:

I'll be ordering my DTivos and service soon. I backed my Non-DTIVO Series 1 long ago using MFSTools, but I can see things have changed a lot since then.

I'm hoping to order 2 DTivos and a ordinary reciever. I'm going to ask the installer to only user the non-TIVO recieve to setup the service, so that I can have a virgin machine to backup. (I can't see why they would object to that request -- is there a reason?)

Since I only get one real shot at making this copy, is the sleeper ISO alone sufficent to do the backup? What gotchas should I beware of? And is it possible (whine whine) to place the DTIVO drive in an external USB or firewire case? I know that isn't likely, but opening up my teeny shuttle box is a bit of a pain.

Once I have a good backup, I'll feel better about experimenting. I just don't want to end with a paperweight on my first day. ;-)

Thank you all

TC

[Lowcarb]

TC,

I don't see the need for backing at the unused level.

Sleeper's iso will back your drive. It uses mfs_tools.
Sleeper however does not recommmend hacking your stock drive. (neither do I).
Sleeper's script is set up to copy from your original drive and restore to a new drive of the same or larger size.

Your stock Dtivo will come with downlevel software. You'll want to let it call in and update to 3.1.1c before you start hacking.
I recommend:

1) Let your new dtivo call in and update to 3.1.1c (you don't have to subscribe yet)
2) Use Sleeper's scripts to backup.
3) Put your original drive away in a safe place (put a label on it, you'll forget what software is on it over the years)
4) Restore to a new drive via Sleeper's scripts.
5) Test the new drive in the dtive, insure it boots up
6) use sleeper's surgery step
7) test in dtivo
8) use sleeper's fack steps
9) final install, test and use in dtivo.

Get yourself a serial cable before starting for debug in case everything does not go 100% smooth.


ALSO, make sure your computer does not boot into Win2K or Win XP while your dtivo drive is attached, so make sure you test to see that it is booting from the CD before you hook up the dtivo drive.