TiVo won't boot now (merged)

[dualfragment]

Gets stuck at Welcome. Powering up...

Happened right after I did the command:

bootpage -P "root=/dev/hda4 runideturbo=false" /dev/hda

I have a standalone series 2 that WAS running 4.0.1-b...until it broke just now :(

[hayreass]

try mounting it in your pc and switching the bootpage to /dev/hda7

[dualfragment]

edit: nm, I messed up and posted twice

[dualfragment]

How do I do that? not sure of exact command and don't want to mess things up further

[dualfragment]

I mounted the drive and indeed all my stuff is on /dev/hda7

Only problem is that I cannot issue the bootpage command. It says command not found. When I try to use /sbin/bootpage, it says cannot execute binary file.

[hayreass]

hmm.....
Seems I had to do it once, I think one of the boot cd's has bootpage on it, maybe the knoppix lite one....
I imagine someone smarter than I will chime in soon, and tell just how to do it, meanwhile I'll look through my boot disks.
Edit:
I didn't find bootpage on any of my boot disks, but instructions here http://www.dealdatabase.com/forum/showpost.php?p=189548&postcount=5 make it seem like it should work with one of the mentioned disks

[dualfragment]

I did cat bootpage and my bootpage file is empty! Anywhere I can download a new one?

[dualfragment]

Hooked serial up and I get this now:

The filesystem seems to be OK
Scanner main is done
VFS: Mounted root (ext2 filesystem) readonly.
change_root: old root has d_count=3
Freeing unused kernel memory: 60k freed
Kernel panic: No init found. Try passing init= option to kernel.
Rebooting in 1 seconds..

[hayreass]

Damn, I think if you can get a serial connection, even if only for a minute, you can issue the commands through it.
Try having it on your clipboard, and paste it as soon as you get connected
bootpage -P "root=/dev/hda7 runideturbo=false" /dev/hda

[dualfragment]

I have no bash prompt. I think the TiVo automatically outputs everything to serial all the time.

[hayreass]

maybe you can put the bootpage file on a fat partition, and run it from there?
Are you sure you mounted the tivo drive correctly when you put it in your pc?
have you cd'd to the sbin directory and tried to run from there?
maybe the command once in sbin starts with ./bootpage ?
I read somewhere that the command when installed in a pc is bootpage -P "root=/dev/hda7 runideturbo=false" -C /dev/hdc (Or whatever position the drive is in on your pc).

[dualfragment]

I had to download a copy of bootpage (not the same version as on tivo's, but it is supposed to work). When I do it, I have my tivo drive as master on primary (hda) and cdrom on master on secondary (hdc). bootpage is:
bootpage -P "root=/dev/hda7 dsscon=true console=2,115200 upgradesoftware=false runideturbo=false" -C /dev/hda

[dualfragment]

Changed bootpage to /dev/hda4 since that is where the init was located in the sbin directory.

I got this:

No hash found for /mnt/sbin/bootpage
Removing /mnt/sbin/bootpage
Scan /mnt/var
Iteration complete
Restarting system.

Then, after reboot, it says a bunch of errors about commands not being found (commands from the rc.sysinit) and then it does:

rc.sysinit is complete

At that point, it hangs :( I really think I need bootpage since mine is gone.

[hayreass]

Sorry friend, I'm out of ideas, but here's bootpage from my system @ 4.0.1b

[dualfragment]

Thank you!

[dualfragment]

Do you have AIM so I can chat with you if I have further problems? I bet this will fix the bootpage being deleted, but not get my tivo to boot :(

My main question is what the bootpage should be set to. My hacks and everything are located on /dev/hda7 in the /tivo-bin folder (hda7). Should I set bootpage to hda7, or the opposite, hda4?

[hayreass]

Nope, no IM software of any kind....
i'm off to bed now anyhow, it's late here

Good luck though

Edit: Try both... sounds like 4 didn't work for you, so try 7 next

[dualfragment]

Bootpage file doesn't work :( Says cannot execute binary file.

*sigh*

[dualfragment]

I get this now:

/etc/rc.d/rc.sysinit: /tvbin/GetTivoConfig: No such file or directory
Skipping input driver for initialization bootstrap
Cleaning up temporary files in /var/tmp and /var/run
/etc/rc.d/rc.sysinit: rm: command not found
/etc/rc.d/rc.sysinit: mkdir: command not found
Cleaning up old slices and bundles in /var/packages...
/etc/rc.d/rc.sysinit: rm: command not found
/etc/rc.d/rc.sysinit: rm: command not found
/etc/rc.d/rc.sysinit: rm: command not found
/etc/rc.d/rc.sysinit: rm: command not found
/etc/rc.d/rc.sysinit: rm: command not found
Checking space in /var
/etc/rc.d/rc.sysinit: df: command not found
Found Bizzaroid modem "UNKNOWN", skipping modem patch
Scanning for phase1 repair scripts
Initializing TiVo extension...
Set up environment vars for hardware configuration...
Remote control is TIVO
MFS partition on /dev/hda10
Loading media drivers...
Loading ideturbo ...
insmod: /lib/modules/ideturbo.o: No such file or directory
/etc/rc.d/rc.sysinit: /bin/asicVersion: No such file or directory
Auto-detecting oslink module (asic ).
Loading fan ...
insmod: /lib/modules/fan.o: No such file or directory
Loading therm ...
insmod: /lib/modules/therm.o: No such file or directory
Loading output section drivers ...
/etc/rc.d/rc.sysinit: /tvbin/GetTivoConfig: No such file or directory
insmod: /lib/modules/brcmdrv-rb.o: No such file or directory
Splash the screen...
/etc/rc.d/rc.sysinit: osdwriter: command not found
/etc/rc.d/rc.sysinit: /tvbin/GetTivoConfig: No such file or directory
Update IR microcode using
/etc/rc.d/rc.sysinit: /sbin/irprog: No such file or directory
/etc/rc.d/rc.sysinit: crypto: command not found
/etc/rc.d/rc.sysinit: driveid: command not found
/etc/rc.d/rc.sysinit: /bin/driveid: No such file or directory
/etc/rc.d/rc.sysinit: /bin/driveid: No such file or directory
/etc/rc.d/rc.sysinit: irdSerialNumber: command not found
/etc/rc.d/rc.sysinit: getprom: command not found
Look for debug board ...
/etc/rc.d/rc.sysinit: grep: command not found
Enabling local route...
/etc/rc.d/rc.sysinit: ifconfig: command not found
Setting TCP keepalive parameters...
Starting logging daemons...
/etc/rc.d/rc.sysinit: rm: command not found
/etc/rc.d/rc.sysinit: syslogd: command not found
/etc/rc.d/rc.sysinit: klogd: command not found
Check for PROM update ...
Updating system clock UID=0
/etc/rc.d/rc.sysinit: settime: command not found
/etc/rc.d/rc.sysinit: date: command not found
/etc/rc.d/rc.sysinit: [: -lt: unary operator expected
/etc/rc.d/rc.sysinit: cat: command not found
/etc/rc.d/rc.sysinit: date: command not found
Checking for additional disk...
/etc/rc.d/rc.sysinit: mfsadd: command not found
Starting EventSwitcher...
/etc/rc.d/rc.sysinit: /tvbin/switcherstart: No such file or directory
Start fan control...
/etc/rc.d/rc.sysinit: fancontrol: command not found
Scanning for phase2 repair scripts
/etc/rc.d/rc.sysinit: syslog: command not found
/etc/rc.d/rc.sysinit: syslog: command not found
/etc/rc.d/rc.sysinit: syslog: command not found
/etc/rc.d/rc.sysinit: getprom: command not found
/etc/rc.d/rc.sysinit: syslog: command not found
/etc/rc.d/rc.sysinit: syslog: command not found
/etc/rc.d/rc.sysinit: syslog: command not found
/etc/rc.d/rc.sysinit: irtest: command not found
/etc/rc.d/rc.sysinit: syslog: command not found
/etc/rc.d/rc.sysinit: syslog: command not found
/etc/rc.d/rc.sysinit: syslog: command not found
/etc/rc.d/rc.sysinit: syslog: command not found
/etc/rc.d/rc.sysinit: syslog: command not found
/etc/rc.d/rc.sysinit: syslog: command not found
/etc/rc.d/rc.sysinit: syslog: command not found
/etc/rc.d/rc.sysinit: syslog: command not found
/etc/rc.d/rc.sysinit: syslog: command not found
/etc/rc.d/rc.sysinit: syslog: command not found
/etc/rc.d/rc.sysinit: syslog: command not found
/etc/rc.d/rc.sysinit: syslog: command not found
/etc/rc.d/rc.sysinit: syslog: command not found
Checking for database conversions...
/etc/rc.d/rc.sysinit: convert-db: command not found
/etc/rc.d/rc.sysinit: tivosh: command not found
Scanning for phase3 repair scripts
Starting Services.
/etc/rc.d/rc.sysinit: switcherstart: command not found
Scanning for phase4 repair scripts
rc.sysinit is complete

[PlainBill]

Bootpage is found on Sleeper's Knoppix-Lite cd and on the PTVupgrade boot cd.

I have said this many times, you're only the latest to hear it: Don't type commands blindly. Know what you are doing. Above all, NEVER type 'bootpage -P' without first having typed 'bootpage -p' and making sure any changes you are about to make are reasonable!

The problems you are having were avoidable, easily fixed after the first mistake, but at the rate you are going, you will soon be forced to restore from backup.

PlainBill

[dualfragment]

Bill, I DID do the -p and I used the bootpage in the command that was listed. My bootpage file seemed to have been screwed up some how. Now, everything in my /bin directory is gone and it looks as if all my hacks have disappeared too (no rc.sysinit.author)

[PlainBill]

Bill, I DID do the -p and I used the bootpage in the command that was listed. My bootpage file seemed to have been screwed up some how. Now, everything in my /bin directory is gone and it looks as if all my hacks have disappeared too (no rc.sysinit.author)

You know that if you boot from a kernel that has an intact initrd, all extra files will be deleted, don't you? You must replace the regular kernel with a killhdinitrd kernel before booting with hacks installed.

PlainBill

[dualfragment]

I know, I'm not really sure what happened at all...gonna have to find an image and start all over, heh.

[dualfragment]

but, it is version 4.0 and doesn't seem to contain the 4.0.1a kernel needed for killhdinitrd. Any idea where I can get the old version? I think it may be 3.1.

Been a long time since I hacked my tivo...right around when monte was introduced. Never done any of this "new" stuff.

EDIT: Do I need to buy the enhancements cd to get that? If so, I'll go get my credit card :)

[PlainBill]

but, it is version 4.0 and doesn't seem to contain the 4.0.1a kernel needed for killhdinitrd. Any idea where I can get the old version? I think it may be 3.1.

Been a long time since I hacked my tivo...right around when monte was introduced. Never done any of this "new" stuff.

EDIT: Do I need to buy the enhancements cd to get that? If so, I'll go get my credit card :)

According to PTVupgrade, the LBA-48 ver 4.0 Enhanced CD does indeed have the killhdinitrd kernels. Let me know if this is not the case.

PlainBill

[dualfragment]

Bought the enhanced CD and they were indeed on there. Thanks Bill, you have been the most helpful person on here :)

Now, just have to wait on the image to start downloading (been in queues for hours)

[guardianx]

dang the cd cost 5 bucks. ouch. thanx god i used the 3.01

[dualfragment]

DIRECTLY after restoring the image that PlainBill referred me to (can't remember name, its only of last posts in the image thread) I yanked the drive out of the PC and put it back in the tivo. I was getting a message saying something about Partition 6 signature being false, and then the last line asking me, What is password?

Let me note that I had to change the -s option to 60 to get the restore to work.

I also cannot mount the drive. When I try to mount /dev/hdc4 or hdc7, it tells me I must specify the filesystem type. (Yes, I'm using the right device name, hdc. it is on secondary master)

Any ideas what is messing up? :(

[PlainBill]

DIRECTLY after restoring the image that PlainBill referred me to (can't remember name, its only of last posts in the image thread) I yanked the drive out of the PC and put it back in the tivo. I was getting a message saying something about Partition 6 signature being false, and then the last line asking me, What is password?

Let me note that I had to change the -s option to 60 to get the restore to work.

I also cannot mount the drive. When I try to mount /dev/hdc4 or hdc7, it tells me I must specify the filesystem type. (Yes, I'm using the right device name, hdc. it is on secondary master)

Any ideas what is messing up? :(

Possible causes: Bad image, bad hard drive, bad copy of mfsrestore, bad computer, bad cdrom drive, bad RAM in your computer.

This problem can be a real pain to resolve. I've had problems in this context due to a bad cdrom drive, in a similar situation due to bad ram. Generally, I suggest taking the hard drive, the boot cd, and the image to another computer and trying the restore there. If that works, you have eliminated three possible causes.

PlainBill

[dualfragment]

Tried a diff computer first, it does the same thing. I was using the image that was linked to in other thread. I will try another 80 gig HD now.

[dualfragment]

Same thing happens with a spare drive I had. Tried different version of mfsrestore and I get same thing. Only other thing that I haven't tried is a different image, so I'm going to attempt to locate a different one now.

[dualfragment]

When I set the parameters with bootpage -P, nothing seems to happen and the old version is still there when I do bootpage -p

Any ideas?

[dualfragment]

FINALLY got a working image...but heres my next prob, heh:

Trying to get my TiVo hacked. I am using the PTVUpgrade 4.0 enhanced boot cd.
Heres what I'm doing:

Restored from a clean image of 4.0.1b and then booted up on TiVo. It worked correctly, so I yanked the drive out to hack it.

I put the 4.0.1a kernel file in /var
I do "dd if=/var/vmlinux.px of=/dev/hdc6" and "dd if=/var/vmlinux.px of=/dev/hdc3"

Next, I check bootpage -p /dev/hdc
It returns hda7

I do bootpage -P "root=/dev/hda7 dsscon=true console=2,115200 upgradesoftware=false" -C /dev/hdc

Next, I do "bootpage -B 6 -C /dev/hdc" and "bootpage -A 3 -C /dev/hdc"

I then made a rc.sysinit.author file and put the /bin/bash</dev.... line in it for bash

TiVo won't boot at all. Stuck at Welcome...powering up. Any ideas?

[PlainBill]

Hmmm, I just went through this with someone else.

The I386 version of bootpage found on most of the tools cds we use has two differences from the MIPS version on the TiVo. Someone (alldeadhomiez?) has posted an improved version in the files section. I have carefully avoided the I386 version, so I don't know how to get around the problems, but you're welcome to experiment.

First difference:

MIPS: bootpage -P 'root=/dev/hda7' /dev/hda
I386: bootpage -P 'root=/dev/hda7' -C /dev/hda

I note that you are aware of this. The other, real problem:

MIPS: bootpage -b /dev/hda returns 6
I386: bootpage -b /dev/hda returns 7

I've never tried changing the boot and alternate partitions using the I386 version. You may have to enter 6 - the actual number, or 7. You may have to use the -C switch. I don't really know. The obvious way is to try the various combinations AND CHECK THE RESULTS until you find the magic key.

The smart way would be to download and use the improved version. I take the lazy way - I've got my prom password set so I can hit a key on my terminal program (the TiVo is next to my computer), enter the password, and change the boot parameters and boot partition without pulling the drive.

PlainBill

[NutKase]

Gets stuck at Welcome. Powering up...

Happened right after I did the command:

bootpage -P "root=/dev/hda4 runideturbo=false" /dev/hda

I have a standalone series 2 that WAS running 4.0.1-b...until it broke just now :(

I have no idea what to do with a purchased PTV upgrade cd but...

When I added 'runideturbo=false' to my SA2 w/dual Maxtors it crapped out.

I don't really remember the symptoms but if you get a working killhdinitrd'd system I'd back it up before trying 'runideturbo=false'... 2¢


NutKase

[dualfragment]

hmm, thanks you two, gonna try it out today.