Trouble upgrading Tivo Series 2 to 250GB

[LosBlack]

I have a standard 40hr Series 2 TiVo (ver. 7.2.1) that I want to upgrade to a 250GB drive. I bought a Hitachi Deskstar 7K250 (Ultra ATA) for this purpose. I used a bootable Linux cd from a friend (who had already upgraded his TiVo) to copy my current 40GB drive to my new 250GB drive. I used this command:

mfsbackup -Tao - /dev/hdc | mfsrestore -s 300 -xzpi - /dev/hda

The process took a while, but finished without any errors. My problem starts when I try to put the new drive into my TiVo. The system just continually reboots. The new drive has 4 possible Cable Select jumper configs, and I have tried the "16 Head" and "15 Head" options. The other two are "32GB Clip" and "Auto Spin Disable", but I don't think these are what I want.

My original drive still works, so I still have TiVo capability, but I would really appreciate some help resolving this issue..after all, bigger is better.

Thanks and regards,
NIB

[Jamie]

... I used this command:

mfsbackup -Tao - /dev/hdc | mfsrestore -s 300 -xzpi - /dev/hda

... My problem starts when I try to put the new drive into my TiVo. The system just continually reboots. MFSTools 2.0 can correctly initialize swap only if it is 127MB or less. You've specified a 300MB swap, which mfstools can't correctly initialize, so you need to initialize it yourself with another tool (mkswap or tpip). More information here (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?p=3825639&&#post3825639).

[fantmn]

First let me say that I only have DTivo units, however I think disk setup is disk setup. I set the disk in my Tivos as a master drive. One common cause of rebooting like this is jumper settings so you are on the right track. Based on the document I see here (http://www.hitachigst.com/hdd/support/d7k250/d7k250jum.htm) set jumpers to G-H and A-B. Pay close attention to the pin locations as related to the power plug.
I also see that on your mfsrestore you set up a 300 MB swap space (-s 300). You may need to get and run the mkswap program found here (http://www.dealdatabase.com/forum/showpost.php?p=224882&postcount=28)on the tivo disk while in the PC. Later in the thread is the command I used.

I see Jamie also replied to you post. While I was typing.

[LosBlack]

Thank you both for the info. I think I will try the mkswap option. I have another question(s)..

fantmn,

Later in that thread you linked to, you say:

"firewall:/usr/local/sbin # ./mkswap -v1 -S /dev/hdc8
Setting up swapspace version 1, size = 524284K
firewall:/usr/local/sbin # hexdump -C /dev/hdc8
.
.
."

How do you specify the swap size? Is the size already specifited from my original switch of "-s 300", and this command merely initializes it? Should I use the exact same mkswap switches on the command you have, and just change my hardward device id?

Thanks again,
NIB

[fantmn]

Yep. Use the same syntax. The size was set by -s 300 in the mfsrestore command. Just used the correct /dev/hdX8 values. If you have the hexdump command you should end up with something that looks like the sample output later in the thread.

[LosBlack]

Sadly, the mkswap command did not seem to help. I probably missed something somewhere in the process. I ran the restore and backup again, but this time with -s 127 for my swap. The new 250GB drive is now installed and working in my TiVo, adding 242hrs of recording time. Life is good.

Thanks,
NIB

[sucram65]

Sadly, the mkswap command did not seem to help. I probably missed something somewhere in the process. I ran the restore and backup again, but this time with -s 127 for my swap. The new 250GB drive is now installed and working in my TiVo, adding 242hrs of recording time. Life is good.

Thanks,
NIB
242 Hours? What brand is the drive you bought. I got 309 hours from one Seagate 250GB drive.

[digger4dd]

242 Hours? What brand is the drive you bought. I got 309 hours from one Seagate 250GB drive.

:confused: I thought the limit was 137 GB per drive. How are you guys getting over that? If this is well covered somethere please smack me with a link.

Off to search I go!

[Jamie]

:confused: I thought the limit was 137 GB per drive. How are you guys getting over that? If this is well covered somethere please smack me with a link.All recent S2 software versions support lba48 and don't have a 137GB drive size limit. Just make sure you use an lba48 upgrade cd. For series 1 units, see this (http://www.courtesan.com/tivo/bigdisk.html).

[digger4dd]

I upgraded my DVR40 with a replacement A drive. The drive is a WDJ1600JBRTL aka Western Digital 160GB 7200 RPM 8MB Cache EIDE drive. MFSTOOLS reported the drive as 147 hours after the expansion. Is it reasonable to think that the MFSTOOLS I used had LBA48 support and I got all that I can get out of the drive? I used the iso located on http://mfstools.sourceforge.net/ downloaded last night.

Next I plan to open up HMO and MRV if I can but want to make sure I got the most out of the drive. Hopefully I can then find a SA Tivo to use the MRV with my DTivo (RCA DVR40) at a local pawn shop or on eBay.

P.S. Anyone have the link to the Radio Shack part list / instructions for making the serial cable? I had it bookmarks but several things have led to me losing the URL.

[Jamie]

I upgraded my DVR40 with a replacement A drive. The drive is a WDJ1600JBRTL aka Western Digital 160GB 7200 RPM 8MB Cache EIDE drive. MFSTOOLS reported the drive as 147 hours after the expansion. Is it reasonable to think that the MFSTOOLS I used had LBA48 support and I got all that I can get out of the drive? I used the iso located on http://mfstools.sourceforge.net/ downloaded last night.I don't think that ISO is lba48 aware. It's ancient. PTVupgrade has a free lba48 boot cd, IIRC.Next I plan to open up HMO and MRV if I can but want to make sure I got the most out of the drive. Hopefully I can then find a SA Tivo to use the MRV with my DTivo (RCA DVR40) at a local pawn shop or on eBay.You'll need a subscription on a SA.P.S. Anyone have the link to the Radio Shack part list / instructions for making the serial cable? I had it bookmarks but several things have led to me losing the URL.Google is always a good bet.

[PlainBill]

Serial cable (http://www.dealdatabase.com/forum/showthread.php?p=232686&postcount=5).

PlainBill

[digger4dd]

SA's will not work if they aren't plugged into the phone and have a valid subscription? All I want it to do is perform the MRV "view" feature. All recodings would still take place on the DTivo. I was thinking pawn shop or eBay because it is highly likely that a used SA would have gone through the inital setup call. Think of the SA in my plan to be a non-recording "client."

Thanks for the cable link PlainBill.

If I understand correctly, my next step to enable HMO and MRV is to get killhdinitrd on the new drive right? After that I should be able to get to a shell (aka promt or bash promt) where I can start everything else via the serial cable. I built a cable from part I had around the house (yes I pack-rat things like that) but it did not work. This was several months ago and I had not tried killhdinitrd yet. Being a tightwad I only want to go buy the RS parts if I have to. =)

[Jamie]

SA's will not work if they aren't plugged into the phone and have a valid subscription? All I want it to do is perform the MRV "view" feature. All recodings would still take place on the DTivo. I was thinking pawn shop or eBay because it is highly likely that a used SA would have gone through the inital setup call. Think of the SA in my plan to be a non-recording "client."S2 SA's running current software are doorstops without a subscription. You might be able to get an older software version to work, but that would be hacking to avoid paying for service: service theft.

You might be able to get a dtivo to work as a MRV client without an access card or subscription. I'm not sure about this; perhaps a dtivo user can comment.

[digger4dd]

Is it realy service theft if I am not using their service? I would define their service as the "TVGuide" and automated recording features. Past that it is simply using the hardware and software in the shiny box.

We are off track for what I need to accomplish for now. killhdinitrd is my next step right? Searching for a download location and instructions.....

[Jamie]

Is it realy service theft if I am not using their service? I would define their service as the "TVGuide" and automated recording features. Past that it is simply using the hardware and software in the shiny box.I'm not a moderator, but I think I'm correctly relaying the viewpoint of the moderators: MRV is part of the TiVo software and service. It's something you have to pay for. Hacking the tivo software to avoid paying the monthly subscription fee is considered service theft here.

[tivo4mevo]

You might be able to get a dtivo to work as a MRV client without an access card or subscription. I'm not sure about this; perhaps a dtivo user can comment.

Yes, a dtivo without an access card or subscription can act as an MRV client if properly hacked (though it will display an "insert [a valid] access card" banner during the first 10 minutes of playback).

[digger4dd]

I just re-imaged my new drive with the WeaKnees CD. Went from 142 hours on the MFSTOOLS CD to 172 hours on the WeaKness. Speculating that the above post informing that the MFSTOOLS CD does not include LBA48 support is 100% correct. Not gonna take the time to triple check as that the results speak for themselves.

Get the WeaKness CD Here (http://www.weaknees.com/weaknees_lba_boot_cd.iso).

For a simplified "How to increase storage hours" that customizes to your specific needs use their tool located here (http://tivo.upgrade-instructions.com/index.php).

It has tons of options and you don't have to sort through "If option a, skip to section 9 subsection 2a....etc." They really seem to have thought the whole thing trough and really make it easy to follow compaired to the "all options in one set of test" how-to's that are out there.:)

[Narf54321]

SA's will not work if they aren't plugged into the phone and have a valid subscription? All I want it to do is perform the MRV "view" feature. All recodings would still take place on the DTivo.

I currently have a 3-Tivo network at home, SAS2 models with two Lifetime subs and the other I eventually dropped the monthly sub because I wasn't actively using it. This third Tivo has become a "holding pen" for movies and specials that the others record or the Kids' DVD movies which I rip and upload, although TivoServer seems to be becoming a better utility for this type of work.

Even with DTivos, a standalone unit on the house network should work although there's been some suggestions of problems. What you will get for sure are in-your-face nags everyday that your subscription has run out, which has low WAF (Wife Acceptance Factor). Depends upon your annoyance threshold. You could probably do the same with another cheap DTivo and big hard drive.

[Jamie]

I currently have a 3-Tivo network at home, SAS2 models with two Lifetime subs and the other I eventually dropped the monthly sub because I wasn't actively using it. This third Tivo has become a "holding pen" for movies and specials that the others record or the Kids' DVD movies which I rip and upload, although TivoServer seems to be becoming a better utility for this type of work.This won't work with current SA software versions (7.x). Even on 4.x, it's considered a violation of what the superpatch was meant for (http://www.dealdatabase.com/forum/showthread.php?p=217690#post217690).