Upgrading via Slices

[njsges]

I have a prom modded HDVR2 that I'm trying to upgrade from 4 to 6.2 via the slices method so I don't lose my kids recordings. How do i modify the installSw.itcl script?

NJ

[tivo4mevo]

You might want to double check this, but when I upgraded from 4.0.1b to 6.2, I did
# Modified line 147 of the /tvbin/installSw.itcl to add "$name" as an arg.
( "exec /var/utils/updateroot /dev/hda /install /var/packages $name >&@ stdout" )
# Modified line 109 of the installSw.itcl to add back "!" to SwCheck, which I had removed when downgrading from 3.1.1 to 4.0.1b

I had done a slice upgrade from 3.1.1 to 4.0.1b and so if you did a fresh install of 4.0.1b, you might need to do something differently.
Ed

[njsges]

Thanks for the reply. The problem I'm having is locating the script and actually editing it. Any suggestions?


NJ

[cheer]

Where are you looking? It should be in /tvbin IIRC.

[njsges]

i'm having trouble getting it to modify. how do i access the script to modify it?

nj

[cheer]

Remount root as read-write.

[njsges]

that is where i'm stuck. for some reason i can't get it. could you mind givivng me the correct steps, as i must be leaving something out.

nj

[cheer]

mount -o remount,rw /

[PlainBill]

that is where i'm stuck. for some reason i can't get it. could you mind givivng me the correct steps, as i must be leaving something out.

nj
DANGER! DANGER!! You are attempting to do an upgrade without understanding anything about Linux or how the TiVo works. If you continue without doing at least a little reading you risk scarring your children's psyche. READ a little before you jump in and screw this up! On second thought, read a LOT, starting with Captain Video's TiVo Hacking 101 (http://www.dealdatabase.com/forum/showthread.php?t=37058).

PlainBill

[wkearney99]

Is it documented how to get the slices loaded using a PC? As in, not through an ftp session, just copied onto the drive? I've got an HDVR2 running 3.1.1(e?) and I'd like to just copy the necessary slices into the right place.

[PlainBill]

Edit: Ok, reread your post.

AFIK, there is no way to insert the slices into the mfs database while the drive is in a pc. You CAN copy them to /var (partition 9), then dbload them once the drive is back in the DirecTiVo.

There should be more information in this thread (http://www.dealdatabase.com/forum/showthread.php?t=42325) or maybe this one (http://www.dealdatabase.com/forum/showthread.php?t=41347).

A short summary - ftp the slices to a directory on /var (NOT /var/packages - it gets wiped when you reboot). Use dbload to transfer the slices to the mfs database. Optionally edit /tvbin/installSw.itcl, then run it. Rehack, reboot, you're running 6.2 and a member of the elite TiVo hacking group, and qualified to answer questions. No benefits, but the wages stink. ;)

PlainBill

[wkearney99]

Hmmm, so which boot disk or other utilities are involved with getting the partitions mounted and visible? I tried several and pfdisk doesn't report a partition table on the drives. mfstools info /dev/hdX does report partitions, but they're numbered hdX10 through hdX15.

Tangentally, can an HDVR2 boot a disk from an RCA DVR39? If so I may just clone my DVR39's setup to a new drive, reset it and start from there.

[PlainBill]

Hmmm, so which boot disk or other utilities are involved with getting the partitions mounted and visible? I tried several and pfdisk doesn't report a partition table on the drives. mfstools info /dev/hdX does report partitions, but they're numbered hdX10 through hdX15.

Tangentally, can an HDVR2 boot a disk from an RCA DVR39? If so I may just clone my DVR39's setup to a new drive, reset it and start from there.
It would definitely help if you explained what you are trying to accomplish.

I recommend using the PTVupgrade LBA-48 tools cd. Use pdisk to see the partitions.

PlainBill

[wkearney99]

I want to do two things, one is upgrade a 40gb HDVR2 to a 120gb unit running 6.2. The other involves a 100gb (40gb/60gb) DVR-39 that's already running 6.2 (unhacked) also being upgraded to a single-drive 120gb. (and possibly expanded to a 120gb/60gb once the initial move gets done properly)

I have the 6.2 slices (from a torrent .zip file). So I need to get 6.2 into the HDVR2 and move the DVR39 to a new drive. The latter is easy. It's the former, getting the 3.1.1e HDVR2 upgraded to 6.2, that's a bit of a challenge. I have several things at my disposal, one of which ISN'T the 6.2 S2DT upgrade disk from PTVnet.

[PlainBill]

HDVR2: Is it hacked, and do you want to keep it hacked? If it is unhacked, force a call to TiVo. It should download the upgrade to 6.2 (if it hasn't already received it from the satellite) and upgrade to 6.2.

If it IS hacked, echo mls /SwSystem | tivosh from a bash prompt will show if the slices are present; upgrading and rehacking is discussed extensively in the first thread I referenced above IIRC. I've already discussed how to load the slices if they are not present.

DVR39: You can do the upgrade to the 120 Gig drive, but you won't be able to use more than 100 Gig of the drive.

PlainBill

[wkearney99]

Ok, I bailed on trying to do the slice upgrade on the HDVR2. PTVnet got my $19 and I just used the instantcake CD to do it. It's now hacked, and up and running. Yay!

The DVR39 situation, using only 100g, is because of the previous 2 drive upgrade? As in, the last 8 hours it spent using mfsbackup|mfsrestore were a complete waste of effort? Grrrr....

mfsadd -x /dev/hdc reports it can't expand due to too many partitions. mfstool info reports up to /dev/hdc15 on the drive.

So is there a way to get my current recordings off this 2 drive DVR39 set onto a new single 120gb?