[aname=S0]Last Updated: August/12/2010.[/aname]
[Summary] [jumpto=S2][Introduction][/jumpto] [jumpto=S3][Officially Supported External Drives][/jumpto] [jumpto=S4][Unsupported External Drives][/jumpto] [jumpto=S5][Internal Drive Upgrades][/jumpto]
This FAQ describes the methods available to increase the TiVo's storage capacity. The contents were compiled from member posts to this forum.
This FAQ is divided into four sections: (I) Summary of Expansion Options, (II) Introduction, (III) Officially Supported External Drives, (IV) Unsupported External Drives, and (V) Internal Drive Upgrades. This FAQ is a work in progress; if there is a question you feel should be added, or there is an answer that should be expanded or clarified, please post.
Special thanks to spike for creating the WinMFS program and to richsadams for his continued support of end-user upgrades.
Disclaimer: TiVo had no involvement with this FAQ.
[aname=S1]I. Summary of Expansion Options[/aname]
[aname=S2]II. [/aname]Introduction [jumpto=S0][Back to top][/jumpto]
[aname=S3]III.[/aname] Officially Supported External Drives (also known as "TiVo Verified" drives) [jumpto=S0][Back to top][/jumpto]
This section is devoted to officially supported expansion drives.
[aname=S4]IV.[/aname] Unsupported External Drives (also known as "Non-Verified" drives) [jumpto=S0][Back to top][/jumpto]
This section is devoted to expansion drives and methods not supported by TiVo.
[aname=S5]V.[/aname] Internal Drive Upgrades [jumpto=S0][Back to top][/jumpto]
This section is devoted to internal drive upgrades not supported by TiVo. This section is still under construction.
[Summary] [jumpto=S2][Introduction][/jumpto] [jumpto=S3][Officially Supported External Drives][/jumpto] [jumpto=S4][Unsupported External Drives][/jumpto] [jumpto=S5][Internal Drive Upgrades][/jumpto]
This FAQ describes the methods available to increase the TiVo's storage capacity. The contents were compiled from member posts to this forum.
This FAQ is divided into four sections: (I) Summary of Expansion Options, (II) Introduction, (III) Officially Supported External Drives, (IV) Unsupported External Drives, and (V) Internal Drive Upgrades. This FAQ is a work in progress; if there is a question you feel should be added, or there is an answer that should be expanded or clarified, please post.
Special thanks to spike for creating the WinMFS program and to richsadams for his continued support of end-user upgrades.
Disclaimer: TiVo had no involvement with this FAQ.
[aname=S1]I. Summary of Expansion Options[/aname]
- TivoHD (TCD652160)
- Add the 1TB Western Digital "My DVR Expander" external drive (165 HD hours total)
Pros: Takes 5 minutes. This option is quick and easy, preserves the TiVo warranty, and preserves all settings and recordings. Technical support is available if you need it.
Cons: At $180 online, it is rather pricey for a 1TB drive. "Plug and play" expansion does not work in TiVos with upgraded internal drives. Introduces potential second source of failure, since all recordings are split across both drives; if either drive goes bad, you lose all recordings made since the drive was added. Adds another device to your TV room.
[jumpto=S3]See Section III for more information.[/jumpto]
- Replace the built-in 160GB drive with a 1.0 TB model (157 HD hours)
Pros: Cost effective at $100-$110 for 1.0 TB. Preserves all settings and recordings. You keep the original TiVo drive as a backup. No extra devices in your TV room.
Cons: Takes 35-45 minutes. Requires you to open the box and void the TiVo warranty. "Plug and play" external drive expansion no longer works after you upgrade the built-in drive. No technical support is available for upgraded TiVos.
[jumpto=S5]See Section V for more information.[/jumpto] Or jump directly to the [jumpto=drives]drive recommendations[/jumpto] or [jumpto=instructions]upgrade instructions[/jumpto].
- Add an unsupported 1.0 TB external drive (165 HD hours total)
Pros: Cost effective at $110-$130 for external 1.0 TB. Preserves all settings and recordings.
Cons: Takes 35-45 minutes. Requires you to open the box and void the TiVo warranty. Introduces potential second source of failure, since all recordings are split across both drives; if either drive goes bad, you lose all recordings made since the drive was added. Adds another device to your TV room. No technical support is available for TiVos using external drives other than the My DVR Expander.
[jumpto=S4]See Section IV for more information.[/jumpto]
- Replace the built-in 160GB drive with a 1.0 TB model and add an unsupported 1.0 TB external drive (300-318 HD hours total)
Pros: Cost effective at $100-$110 per 1TB. Preserves all settings and recordings. You keep the original TiVo drive as a backup.
Cons: Takes 45-60 minutes. Requires you to open the box and void the TiVo warranty. Introduces potential second source of failure, since all recordings are split across both drives; if either drive goes bad, you lose all recordings. "Plug and play" external drive expansion no longer works after you upgrade the built-in drive. Adds another device to your TV room. No technical support is available for upgraded TiVos.
[jumpto=S4]See Section IV for more information.[/jumpto]
- Replace a "dead" or "failing" TiVo drive with a new drive up to 1.0 TB in size (144 HD hours).
If your original TiVo drive fails and you don't have a backup, you can still replace it and perform an upgrade at the same time.
DVRUpgrade sells the InstantCake restore CD for $39.99. This restore CD includes a copy of the original TiVo software which it will restore to a new drive up to 1.0TiB in size.
DVRUpgrade also sells new replacement drives with the TiVo software preinstalled. These drive replacement kits include all the tools necessary to replace the original drive.
- Add the 1TB Western Digital "My DVR Expander" external drive (165 HD hours total)
- TivoHD XL (TCD658000)
- Add the 1TB Western Digital "My DVR Expander" external drive (300 HD hours total)
Pros: Takes 5 minutes. This option is quick and easy, preserves the TiVo warranty, and preserves all settings and recordings. Technical support is available if you need it.
Cons: At $180 online, it is rather pricey for a 1TB drive. "Plug and play" expansion does not work in TiVos with upgraded internal drives. Introduces potential second source of failure, since all recordings are split across both drives; if either drive goes bad, you lose all recordings made since the drive was added. Adds another device to your TV room.
[jumpto=S3]See Section III for more information.[/jumpto]
- Replace the built-in 1.0 TB drive with a 2.0 TB model (300 HD hours)
Pros: You're the envy of TiVo users everywhere. Preserves all settings and recordings. You keep the original TiVo drive as a backup. No extra devices in your TV room.
Cons: Takes 35-45 minutes. Very limited selection of 2TB drives, and they sell for around $300. Requires you to open the box and void the TiVo warranty. "Plug and play" external drive expansion no longer works after you upgrade the built-in drive. No technical support is available for upgraded TiVos.
[jumpto=S5]See Section V for more information.[/jumpto] Or jump directly to the [jumpto=drives]drive recommendations[/jumpto] or [jumpto=instructions]upgrade instructions[/jumpto].
- Add an unsupported 1.0 TB external drive (300-318 HD hours total)
Pros: Cost effective at $110-$130 for external 1TB. Preserves all settings and recordings.
Cons: Takes 35-45 minutes. Requires you to open the box and void the TiVo warranty. Introduces potential second source of failure, since all recordings are split across both drives; if either drive goes bad, you lose all recordings made since the drive was added. Adds another device to your TV room. No technical support is available for TiVos using external drives other than the My DVR Expander.
[jumpto=S4]See Section IV for more information.[/jumpto]
- Add the 1TB Western Digital "My DVR Expander" external drive (300 HD hours total)
- TiVo Series3 (TCD648250B)
- Add the Western Digital "My DVR Expander" external drive (179 HD hours total)
Pros: Takes 5 minutes. This option is quick and easy, preserves the TiVo warranty, and preserves all settings and recordings. Technical support is available if you need it.
Cons: At $180 online, it is rather pricey for a 1TB drive. "Plug and play" expansion does not work in TiVos with upgraded internal drives. Introduces potential second source of failure, since all recordings are split across both drives; if either drive goes bad, you lose all recordings made since the drive was added. Adds another device to your TV room.
[jumpto=S3]See Section III for more information.[/jumpto]
- Replace the built-in 250GB drive with a 1.0 TB model (157 HD hours)
Pros: Cost effective at $100-$110 for 1TB. Preserves all settings and recordings. You keep the original TiVo drive as a backup. No extra devices in your TV room.
Cons: Takes 35-45 minutes. Requires you to open the box and void the TiVo warranty. "Plug and play" external drive expansion no longer works after you upgrade the built-in drive. No technical support is available for upgraded TiVos.
[jumpto=S5]See Section V for more information.[/jumpto] Or jump directly to the [jumpto=drives]drive recommendations[/jumpto] or [jumpto=instructions]upgrade instructions[/jumpto].
- Add an unsupported 1.0 TB external drive (176 HD hours total)
Pros: Takes 5 minutes. This option is quick and easy, preserves the TiVo warranty, and preserves all settings and recordings. Cost effective at $110-$130 for external 1TB.
Cons: Introduces potential second source of failure, since all recordings are split across both drives; if either drive goes bad, you lose all recordings made since drive was added. Adds another device to your TV room. No technical support is available for TiVos using external drives other than the My DVR Expander.
[jumpto=S4]See Section IV for more information.[/jumpto]
- Replace the built-in 250GB drive with a 1.0 TB model and add an unsupported 1.0 TB external drive (300-318 HD hours total)
Pros: Cost effective at $100-$110 per 1TB. Preserves all settings and recordings. You keep the original TiVo drive as a backup.
Cons: Takes 45-60 minutes. Requires you to open the box and void the TiVo warranty. Introduces potential second source of failure, since all recordings are split across both drives; if either drive goes bad, you lose all recordings. "Plug and play" external drive expansion no longer works after you upgrade the built-in drive. Adds another device to your TV room. No technical support is available for upgraded TiVos.
[jumpto=S4]See Section IV for more information.[/jumpto]
- Replace a "dead" or "failing" TiVo drive with a new drive up to 1.0 TB in size (144 HD hours).
If your original TiVo drive fails and you don't have a backup, you can still replace it and perform an upgrade at the same time.
DVRUpgrade sells the InstantCake restore CD for $39.99. This restore CD includes a copy of the original TiVo software which it will restore to a new drive up to 1.0TiB in size.
DVRUpgrade also sells new replacement drives with the TiVo software preinstalled. These drive replacement kits include all the tools necessary to replace the original drive.
Note "HD hours" represents TiVo's conservative estimate for that capacity. In typical use, you will see 1.1x to 1.3x that amount, and potentially much more if you do a significant percentage of your recording from movie channels. - Add the Western Digital "My DVR Expander" external drive (179 HD hours total)
[aname=S2]II. [/aname]Introduction [jumpto=S0][Back to top][/jumpto]
- When did TiVo add official eSATA external drive support?
TiVo added official "plug and play" eSATA support with the release of the 9.2 software in October, 2007. If you just bought a new TiVo, it should receive the latest software (v11.0) within one week.
- What drives does TiVo officially support with eSATA drive expansion?
TiVo officially supports the Western Digital "My DVR Expander." This product is currently available in a 1TB version.
The Western Digital "My DVR Expander" 1TB (part# WDG1S10000N) adds 144 HD hours and is available from J&R Music World for $129 and Best Buy for $169. This increases capacity to 165 HD hours on the TivoHD and 300 HD hours on the TivoHD XL.
On the TivoHD and TivoHD XL, the Western Digital "My DVR Expander" is the only external drive that will work without opening the unit and voiding the warranty.
Do not confuse the "My DVR Expander" with a "My Book." They are different products. TiVo does not support any "My Book" drives.
- Can I upgrade from the 500GB My DVR Expander to the 1TB version and preserve my recordings?
No. All recordings made after the My DVR Expander was added are split across the internal and external drives. Removing a My DVR Expander results in the loss of all recordings made since it was added.
There is no way to backup recordings from a 500GB to a 1TB Expander, besides transferring them to another TiVo with MRV and/or downloading them to your computer. Once recordings are transferred to another TiVo with MRV, or downloaded to a computer, they can be transferred back to the TiVo with the new 1TB My DVR Expander.
- Can I use a different eSATA drive? What if I am not satisfied with 1.0TB?
With the TivoHD and TivoHD XL, the Western Digital My DVR Expander is the only eSATA drive that will work with the "plug and play" expansion. Other drives can be made to work, but only by opening the unit and voiding the warranty; instructions to do that can be found in [jumpto=S4]Section IV[/jumpto] of this FAQ.
With the discontinued TiVo Series3, you can add your own eSATA drive up to 1.1 TB in size*. If you aren't using the My DVR Expander, an unmodified Series3 will warn you that the drive is not officially supported, but you will still be given the choice to enable it. That option is not available on the TiVoHD and TivoHD XL.
TiVo Series3 has an orange OLED display. TivoHD and TivoHD XL do not.
If you don't know whether you have a TiVoHD, TivoHD XL, or TiVo Series3, you can can tell by looking at the front of the unit. The TiVo Series3 has an orange OLED screen on the front of the case, whereas the TivoHD and TivoHD XL do not.
Disclaimer
* Reboots will result if you attempt to use any drive larger than 1.1 TB with the "plug and play" expansion on the Series3. You can use a drive larger than 1.1 TB (1.0 TiB), but only by opening the unit and voiding the warranty. Note some retail drives, including My Books, are incompatible with the Series3 and cannot be used. See [jumpto=S4]Section IV[/jumpto], FAQ #4 and #5 for information.
Note TiVo cannot guarantee compatibility with drives other than the Western Digital My DVR Expander. If you have problems with other external drives, you are on your own.
- Why does the new "plug and play" eSATA expansion work with other drives on the Series3, but not the TiVoHD or TivoHD XL?
TiVoPony said:
- Can I add an eSATA drive if I previously upgraded the hard drive in my TiVo?
The new "plug and play" eSATA expansion support does not work if you upgrade the built-in drive on the TiVoHD and Series3.
You can still add an eSATA drive to an upgraded TiVo, but doing so requires you to open the box and void the warranty. Instructions to do that can also be found in [jumpto=unsupportedexternal]Section IV, #10[/jumpto].
- Can I add an eSATA drive to upgraded TiVos purchased from Weaknees, DVRUpgrade, and other third parties?
As per the previous FAQ, the new "plug and play" eSATA expansion support does not work on any upgraded TiVo. That includes all upgraded TiVos sold by Weaknees and DVRUpgrade. It does not matter who does the upgrade.
You can still add an eSATA drive to an upgraded TiVo, but doing so requires you to open the box and void the warranty. Instructions to do that can be found in [jumpto=unsupportedexternal]Section IV, #10[/jumpto] of this FAQ.
- I already have a My DVR Expander connected. Can I upgrade the TiVo's built-in drive, without losing the recordings on the external drive?
No. You cannot upgrade the TiVo's built-in drive without losing all recordings on the external drive. You cannot upgrade the built-in drive until you disconnect and remove the My DVR Expander.
You can transfer unprotected recordings to another TiVo with MRV and/or download them to your computer. Once recordings are transferred to another TiVo with MRV, or downloaded to a computer, you can transfer them back to the TiVo after the new drive upgrade.
Once you upgrade the built-in drive, the TiVo's "play and play" drive expansion no longer works.
- Can I use eSATA expansion with the Series2?
No. Only the TivoHD, TivoHD XL, and TiVo Series3 support eSATA expansion.
TiVo does not support external drives on the TiVo Series2.
- How do I to add an eSATA drive to the TiVo?
- Disconnect power to the TiVo.
- Connect the eSATA drive to your TiVo with the eSATA cable. Confirm that the eSATA cable is firmly inserted on both the TiVo and your eSATA drive.
- Connect the power to your eSATA drive. Then reconnect power to your TiVo.
- Enable the eSATA drive through the Settings -> Remote, CableCARD, and Devices -> External Storage menu.
Note this only works for the officially supported Western Digital My DVR Expander on the TivoHD. Only the discontinued TiVo Series3 supports plug and play expansion with any drive.
- Disconnect power to the TiVo.
- What happened to the "kickstart62" method?
That is no longer available. It was replaced with the new External Storage menu.
- How long does it take to enable an eSATA drive?
It takes about 30 seconds to enable the drive through the External Storage menu, and then another ~5 minutes for the TiVo to complete the process with a reboot.
Screenshots: #1, #2, #3, #4, #5.
- How do I use the new storage?
Once enabled, eSATA storage is seamlessly integrated. Your TiVo appears as if it has a single, larger hard drive. You can check your total capacity on the System Information screen.
- Do I lose any recordings or settings when an eSATA drive is added?
You do not lose anything by adding a drive.
- Do I lose any recordings or settings when an eSATA drive is removed?
Programs recorded after the eSATA drive is added are lost when you remove the drive. But you do not lose your season passes, wishlists, and other settings when you remove the drive.
- What is the maximum capacity supported?
Credit to spike -- the author of WinMFS -- for clarifying this subject.
The maximum total internal + external capacity for every high-definition TiVo is 2.2 TB (2.0 TiB).
The TivoHD (TCD652160) and TivoHD XL (TCD658000) both require you to open the unit and void the warranty to use an external drive other than the My DVR Expander.
Only the discontinued TiVo Series3 (TCD648250B) allows you to use the external drive of your choice -- up to 1.1 TB in size -- without opening the unit and voiding the warranty. Reboots will result if you attempt to use a drive larger than 1.1 TB with the "plug and play" expansion.
If you open the unit and void the warranty, the maximum capacity allowed for an internal or external TiVo drive is 1.1 TB (1.0 TiB) plus the capacity of the original drive. If you were to replace the built-in TiVo drive with a 2.0 TB drive, the full 2.0 TB would be usable on a TivoHD XL, but only 1.26 TB would be usable on the TivoHD. Refer to the table below.
Code:[u]Model Number[/u] [u]Maximum Single Drive Capacity[/u] Tivo HD TCD652160 1.26 TB[color=green]*[/color] (1260 GB) Tivo HD XL TCD658000 2.10 TB[color=green]*[/color] (2100 GB) TiVo Series3 TCD648250B 1.35 TB* (1350 GB) [u]Model Number[/u] [u]Maximum Dual (Internal+External) Drive Capacity[/u] Tivo HD TCD652160 2.20 TB[color=green]*[/color] (2200 GB) Tivo HD XL TCD658000 2.20 TB[color=green]*[/color] (2200 GB) TiVo Series3 TCD648250B 2.20 TB[color=green]*[/color] (2200 GB) [size=1]* The "plug and play" external drive expansion on the TiVo Series3 only works with drives up to 1.1 TB in size. To make use of 1.35 TB, you would need to open the unit and void the warranty. [color=green]*[/color] These configurations all require you to open the DVR and void the warranty. Without opening the DVR, the maximum internal+external capacities on the TivoHD, TivoHD XL, and original TiVo Series3 are 1.16TB, 2.0TB, and 1.35TB, respectively. On the TivoHD and TivoHD XL, this is accomplished using the 1.0TB My DVR Expander. On the TiVo Series3, this is accomplished by using any external drive up to 1.1TB in size.[/size]
- I just bought a TiVo. Do I need to activate service before I connect the eSATA drive?
Credit to spike -- the author of WinMFS -- for this tip.
On the TivoHD, you must have an active subscription before the "plug and play" drive expansion will work. On the discontinued TiVo Series3, you can connect an eSATA drive before you subscribe.
- I already added an eSATA drive under the 8.x software. Will it continue working with 11.0?
Yes. If you added an unsupported eSATA drive to the TiVoHD or Series3 in 8.x, it will continue working under 11.0.
If you disconnect the drive, you should be able to add it again to the Series3, but once removed, only "TiVo Verified" drives -- like the Western Digital My Expander -- can be added back to the TiVoHD using the "plug and play" eSATA expansion.
- What happens if the eSATA drive is disconnected?
If you disconnect the eSATA drive, the TiVo will reboot and give you two options (1) reconnect the drive, or (2) press CLEAR to remove the drive and delete all programs recorded since the external drive was added.
If you need to disconnect the eSATA drive, it is recommended that you disconnect the power to the TiVo first.
- Can I use a USB hard drive?
No. Only eSATA drives are supported. A USB -> eSATA adapter will not work.
- Can I view the recordings on the eSATA drive with my PC?
No. All recordings are encrypted, as required by the CableLabs' licensing agreement (page 30).
- Can I swap between multiple eSATA drives to multiply my capacity?
No. When you connect an eSATA drive to the TiVo, that drive is "married" to the built-in hard drive. Only one eSATA drive can be "married" to the TiVo's built-in hard drive at any given time. You can remove an eSATA drive and replace it with another, but then you lose access to the recordings made on that drive.
- I have two TiVo DVRs, can I move my eSATA drive between them without losing my recordings?
No. The eSATA drive is "married" to a specific TiVo, and cannot be used with more than one TiVo at a time. Recordings are not viewable on another unit. You can move an eSATA drive from one TiVo to another, but doing so will delete any recordings stored on that drive.
- Why do recordings still show the yellow exclamation point with the message, "This recording may be deleted to make room for other programs" when only half my space is used?
The TiVo always displays the yellow exclamation point (!) 24 hours after the "keep until" time expires. That does not mean your recording will be deleted soon. The yellow ball with the exclamation point only means that it is no longer protected, and can be deleted once it is the oldest recording on the DVR and space is needed for a new recording.
The TiVo will never delete anything unless space is needed for a new recording scheduled by the user. When space is needed for a new recording, the TiVo will first clear the Recently Deleted and Suggestions folders. Once the the Recently Deleted and Suggestions folders are empty, the TiVo will delete the oldest recording on the DVR that isn't marked as "keep until I delete."
When space is needed for a new recording, programs are deleted in the following order:
- Recently Deleted folder - cleared starting with oldest program first; nothing else is deleted until this folder is clear;
- Suggestions folder -- cleared starting with oldest program first; nothing else is deleted until this folder is clear;
- The oldest show on the DVR that is not marked as "keep until [date]" or "keep until I delete."
If the oldest recording on the DVR is one that you would like to save, select it and mark it as "keep until I delete." The TiVo will then skip that recording and delete the next oldest instead.
- How do I remove an eSATA drive?
- Disconnect power to the TiVo.
- Disconnect and remove your eSATA drive.
- Reconnect the power to your TiVo.
- The TiVo will display a message stating that your eSATA drive was disconnected. It will ask you to reconnect the drive, or press CLEAR to remove it.
- Once you press CLEAR, the TiVo will ask you to press THUMBS DOWN three times and ENTER to confirm. The TiVo will reboot and the drive is removed.
More screenshots: #1, #2, #3.
Note when you remove an eSATA drive, you will lose all recordings made since the drive was added.
- Disconnect power to the TiVo.
- Where is the original Series3 eSATA FAQ?
The previous FAQ for unofficial Series3 eSATA support in 8.3.x can be found here.
- What if I just want to upgrade the internal drive in my TiVo?
You can do that. However, be aware that a drive upgrade will void your warranty, and TiVo does not provide technical support for upgraded TiVos.
Note the TiVo's "plug and play" external drive expansion will no longer work if you upgrade or replace the internal drive. If you still want will to do an internal drive upgrade, see [jumpto=instructions]the instructions[/jumpto] in [jumpto=S5]Section V[/jumpto].
[aname=S3]III.[/aname] Officially Supported External Drives (also known as "TiVo Verified" drives) [jumpto=S0][Back to top][/jumpto]
This section is devoted to officially supported expansion drives.
- What drives does TiVo officially support?
At this time, TiVo only supports the Western Digital "My DVR Expander." This product is currently available in a 1.0TB version.
On the TivoHD and TivoHD XL, the Western Digital "My DVR Expander" is the only external drive that will work without opening the unit and voiding the warranty.
- Does TiVo provide technical support if I have trouble with the My DVR Expander?
Yes. [Or at least, they try.]
- Where can I buy the Western Digital My DVR Expander?
The 1TB version (part# WDG1S10000N) is available from J&R Music World for $129 and Best Buy for $169.
The older 500GB version is discontinued.
- How much high-definition recording time do I get with the My DVR Expander?
The 1.0TB version (part# WDG1S10000N) adds 144 HD hours. This increases capacity to 165 HD hours on the TivoHD, 179 HD hours on the Series3, and 300 HD hours on the TivoHD XL.
The discontinued 500GB version (part# WDG1S5000VN) adds 71 HD hours. This increases capacity to 93 HD hours on the TivoHD, 104 HD hours on the Series3, and 228 HD hours on the TivoHD XL.
- Can I upgrade from the 500GB My DVR Expander to the 1TB version and preserve my recordings?
No. All recordings made after the My DVR Expander was added are split across the internal and external drives. Removing a My DVR Expander results in the loss of all recordings made since it was added.
There is no way to backup recordings from a 500GB to a 1TB Expander, besides transferring them to another TiVo with MRV and/or downloading them to your computer. Once recordings are transferred to another TiVo with MRV, or downloaded to a computer, they can be transferred back to the TiVo with the new 1TB My DVR Expander.
- Does it make a lot of noise?
The Western Digital My DVR Expander is tuned for low-noise DVR applications. Most people do not hear it over their TiVo.
- Does it electricity does it consume?
The Western Digital My DVR Expander consumes ~12 watts.
- How do I use the new storage?
Once added, eSATA storage is seamlessly integrated. Your TiVo appears as if it has a single, larger hard drive. You can check your total capacity on the System Information screen.
- Do I lose any recordings or settings when the My DVR Expander is added?
You do not lose anything by adding a drive.
- How do I add the My DVR Expander to the TiVo?
- Disconnect power to the TiVo.
- Connect the My DVR Expander to your TiVo with the eSATA cable. Confirm that the eSATA cable is firmly inserted on both the TiVo and your drive.
- Connect the power to the drive. Then reconnect power to your TiVo.
- Enable the eSATA drive through the Settings -> Remote, CableCARD, and Devices -> External Storage menu.
More Screenshots: #1, #2, #3.
- Disconnect power to the TiVo.
- How do I remove the My DVR Expander?
- Disconnect power to the TiVo.
- Disconnect and remove the drive.
- Reconnect the power to your TiVo.
- The TiVo will display a message stating that your eSATA drive was disconnected. It will ask you to reconnect the drive, or press CLEAR to remove it.
- Once you press CLEAR, the TiVo will ask you to press THUMBS DOWN three times and ENTER to confirm. The TiVo will reboot and the drive is removed.
Screenshots: #1, #2, #3.
Note when you remove an eSATA drive, you will lose all recordings made since the drive was added.
- Disconnect power to the TiVo.
- Do I lose any recordings or settings when the My DVR Expander is removed?
Programs recorded after the eSATA drive was added are lost when you remove the drive. But you do not lose your season passes, wishlists, and other settings when you remove the drive.
- I just bought a TiVo. Do I need to activate service before I connect the My DVR Expander?
Credit to spike -- the author of WinMFS -- for this tip.
On the TivoHD, you must have an active subscription before you can connect the My DVR Expander. On the discontinued TiVo Series3, you can connect the My DVR Expander before you subscribe.
- What are the dimensions?
You can set the drive upright as shown in this photo. When set upright, the dimensions are 6.8"H by 2.25"H by 5.5"D.
You can also set the drive flat with the WD logo on top and the dimensions are 2.25"H by 6.8"W by 5.5"D.
- Do I have to worry about power outages? I heard that can cause problems for some eSATA drives.
There is no need to worry. The Western Digital My DVR Expander is "always on."
The My DVR Expander is 'on' and ready to go within seconds of having power. If your power is cycled (goes out briefly) due to a blown fuse or rolling blackout, the drive is ready well before the TiVo looks for it.
- Can I use this product with the TiVo Series2?
No. Only the TivoHD, TivoHD XL, and TiVo Series3 support eSATA expansion.
- If I have a TiVo Series3, why should I buy this drive and not another eSATA drive?
Four reasons:
- Reliability
Most retail eSATA products are intended for PCs and not designed for 24/7 operation. They use enclosures that were not designed to dissipate the heat created from constant writing to disk, which is exactly what a DVR does. When the drives in these products overheat, drive corruption can result, leading to reboots and/or lost recordings.
- Noise
Most retail eSATA products are not tuned for low-noise applications. Many of these products produce noise output that significantly exceeds the TiVo.
- Cable compatibility
Most retail eSATA products include a eSATA cable with a connector that is not sufficiently long to establish a stable and reliable connection with the TiVo. In some cases, the TiVo will not work with these cables at all. In other cases, the TiVo works with these cables, but file corruption can result, resulting in reboots and/or lost recordings.
- Official TiVo support
If you have problems with the "TiVo Verified" Western Digital DVR Expander, then TiVo provides technical support. They are able to do this because they know that it will work reliably with the TiVo, having tested it extensively.
The "TiVo Verified" Western Digital DVR Expander uses a hard drive and firmware designed specifically for DVR applications. The specialized firmware minimizes seek noise and uses error handling routines appropriate for DVR applications. The product includes an eSATA cable that works well with the TiVo.
That's not to say you couldn't build your own eSATA solution for the TiVo Series3 using a bare drive, the appropriate case, and the right eSATA cable, but most other retail eSATA drives should be avoided.
- Reliability
- I just saw a My DVR Expander with USB. Is that the right model for the TiVo?
No, it is not. The My DVR Expanders for the TivoHD use eSATA.
The two compatible models are the WDG1S5000VN (500GB) and WDG1S10000N (1 TB).
- Can I replace the drive in the My DVR Expander's enclosure and still maintain compatibility with the TivoHD?
No.
There is nothing special about the "My DVR Expander" enclosure. The specific drive in that enclosure is identified by the TivoHD software as compatible. You cannot replace the drive in the "My DVR Expander" with another drive and maintain compatibility with the TivoHD, because then you would be replacing the one thing that makes it compatible.
Below is the list of drives found inside the 500GB and 1TB My DVR Expander. These are the only drive models and firmwares that support "plug and play" external drive expansion.
Code:{model=WDC WD5000AVJS-63TRA0 | fwrev=12.01C01 | bits=0x00000000} {model=WDC WD5000AVVS-63ZWB0 | fwrev=01.01B01 | bits=0x00000000} {model=WDC WD5000AVVS-63H0B1 | fwrev=05.04C05 | bits=0x00000000} {model=WDC WD10EVVS-63E1B1 | fwrev=01.01A01 | bits=0x00000000}
- Can I replace the TiVo's built-in drive, without losing the recordings on the external drive?
No. You cannot upgrade the TiVo's built-in drive without losing all recordings on the external drive. You cannot upgrade the built-in drive until you disconnect and remove the My DVR Expander.
You can transfer unprotected recordings to another TiVo with MRV and/or download them to your computer. Once recordings are transferred to another TiVo with MRV, or downloaded to a computer, you can transfer them back to the TiVo after the new drive upgrade.
Once you upgrade the built-in drive, the TiVo's "play and play" drive expansion no longer works.
[aname=S4]IV.[/aname] Unsupported External Drives (also known as "Non-Verified" drives) [jumpto=S0][Back to top][/jumpto]
This section is devoted to expansion drives and methods not supported by TiVo.
- Can I use any eSATA drive I want?
That depends...
If you have a TiVo Series3 and did not upgrade the built-in hard drive, then most eSATA drives up to 1.1 TB (1.0 TiB) in size can be enabled using the new External Storage menu. If that describes your situation, see FAQ #7.
If you have a TiVoHD or already upgraded the built-in drive on your Series3, then the new External Storage menu will not work with unsupported drives. You would need to use the unsupported method described in FAQ #10 below to add a drive up to 1.26TB in size.
If you decide that you would rather upgrade the TiVo's built-in drive instead, then see [jumpto=instructions]the instructions[/jumpto] in [jumpto=S5]Section V[/jumpto]. If you want to upgrade the built-in drive and add an eSATA drive, then see the instructions in [jumpto=internalexternal]FAQ #11[/jumpto] below.
- Does TiVo provide technical support if I have trouble with these drives?
No. TiVo only provides technical support for "TiVo Verified" drives like the My DVR Expander.
- Does TiVo know if I use an unsupported drive?
Yes. When you attach an unsupported drive, that information is reported to TiVo when your box connects to download guide information.
- If I want to use my own eSATA drive, what issues should I be aware of?
- Some retail eSATA products are incompatible with the TiVo. See FAQ #5 below for a list.
- Many retail eSATA products are intended for PCs and not designed for 24/7 operation. They use enclosures that were not designed to dissipate the heat created from constant writing to disk, which is exactly what a DVR does. When the drives in these products overheat, drive corruption can result, leading to reboots and/or lost recordings.
- Many retail eSATA drives sold for PCs are not designed with low-noise applications in mind.
- Many retail eSATA products -- like some WD My Books -- include a eSATA cable with a connector that is too short to establish a stable and reliable connection with the TiVo. In some cases, the TiVo will not work with these cables at all. In other cases, the TiVo works with these cables, but file corruption will result, resulting in reboots and/or lost recordings.
- The maximum external capacity supported by the "plug and play" expansion on the Series3 is 1.1 TB (1.0 TB). Reboots will result if you attempt to use any drive larger than 1.1 TB with the "plug and play" expansion. You can use a drive larger than 1.1 TB (1.0 TiB), but only by opening the unit and voiding the warranty.
- The maximum combined internal + external capacity for every high-definition TiVo is 2.2 TB (2.0 TiB).
Most retail eSATA products should be avoided. And if you do buy a retail eSATA drive, chances are you will need a new eSATA cable before it will work reliably (if at all). You can find a list of compatible cables in FAQ #26.
If you don't mind giving up technical support, you can build your own eSATA solution with a bare drive, eSATA case, and eSATA cable. If you use the right drive, the right case, and the right cable, you should be able to build a stable and reliable solution for your TiVo Series3. For recommendations on that, see FAQ #25.
- Some retail eSATA products are incompatible with the TiVo. See FAQ #5 below for a list.
- What retail drives do not work with the TiVo?
Based on member reports, the My Book Home Edition (320GB - 1TB) eSATA drive is incompatible with the TiVo and cannot be used. The bridge chip built into that product's enclosure is believed to be responsible for the incompatibility, because if you remove the bare drive from the enclosure and install it in another, it will work.
Some other retail eSATA drives include eSATA cables that do not work reliably with the TiVo, but that is typically fixed by adding a cable from FAQ #26.
- How much high-definition recording time do I get with a 500GB eSATA drive? With 1TB?
High-definition programming consumes up to 8.6GB per hour, but most high-definition programming requires less. With a 500GB eSATA drive, the TiVo Series3 will report 104 HD hours and the TivoHD will report 93 HD hours. With a 1TB eSATA drive, the Tivo Series3 will report an estimated 176 HD hours and the TivoHD will report 165 HD hours. In real world use, usable storage will vary from 1.2x to 1.5x that amount, depending on what channels you record.
The TiVo System Information screen reports expected capacity during typical use as follows:Code:[b]TiVo System Information: Variable Recording Capacity, Hours[/b] [u] High Definition [/u] [u]Standard Definition[/u] [b][u]eSATA[/u] [u]Series3[/u] [u]TiVoHD[/u] [u]Series3[/u] [u]TiVoHD[/u][/b] None 32 [I]21[/I] 303 184 120GB 47 ? 445 ? 250GB 65 ? ? ? 300GB 71 ? 673 ? 500GB [I]104[/I] [I]93[/I] [I]927[/I] [I]810[/I] 750GB 131 ? 1244 ? 800GB 138 ? ? ? 1 TB [I]176[/I] [I]165[/I] [I]1561 [/I] [I]1444[/I]
Note the above values are for external drive upgrades. Reported capacity for internal drive upgrades will be different. A 1TB internal drive upgrade with the MfsSuperSize setting applied will report 157 HD hours and 1367 SD hours under the latest TiVo software.
- How do I add an eSATA drive to an unmodified Series3?
- Disconnect power to the TiVo.
- Connect the eSATA drive to your TiVo with the eSATA cable. Confirm that the eSATA cable is firmly inserted on both the TiVo and your eSATA drive.
- Connect the power to your eSATA drive. Then reconnect power to your TiVo.
- Enable the eSATA drive through the Settings -> Remote, CableCARD, and Devices -> External Storage menu. Screenshots: #1, #2, #3.
These instructions also apply when adding Western Digital's My DVR Expander to an unmodified TivoHD.
- Disconnect power to the TiVo.
- Do I need to format the drive before I connect it to the Series3?
No. There is no disk preparation required of any kind. The TiVo Series3 will automatically repartition and format the drive.
- What happened to the "kickstart62" method in 8.3.x?
That is no longer available. It was replaced with the External Storage menu in 9.2.
- [aname=unsupportedexternal]What[/aname] is the method to add an eSATA drive if I previously upgraded my TiVo?
These steps are unnecessary if you are adding Western Digital's My DVR Expander to an unmodified TivoHD. In that case, just follow the instructions in FAQ #7.
If building your own eSATA drive, be sure to see FAQ #25 for drive, cable, and enclosure recommendations.
This method requires that you remove the TiVo's internal drive, connect it to your PC, and use the WinMFS or the MFSLive software. It is not difficult, but it does require some time. Instructions are below.
- [aname=internalexternal]How[/aname] do I upgrade my TiVo's built-in drive and add an eSATA drive?
Member Burt Spielman contributed to this topic.
If you just want to add an eSATA drive to your existing drive, then see FAQ #10. This FAQ is for those that want to upgrade their built-in drive and add an eSATA drive. If you just want to upgrade the internal TiVo drive, then see [jumpto=S5]Section V[/jumpto] of this FAQ.
Be sure to see FAQ #25 for drive and enclosure recommendations.
The following upgrade instructions will retain all of your existing recordings.
- What does the "MfsSupersize" option do?
By default, roughly 10% of the internal drive is reserved for "tivoclips" -- video advertisements that are downloaded to the TiVo. If you use the MfsSupersize option on an internal drive upgrade, then only 10GB will be reserved for advertisements and the rest of the space is recovered for use with recordings.
Without MfsSupersize, a 1TB drive will add ~144 HD hours. With MfsSupersize, a 1TB drive will add ~157 HD hours.
There are no known ill effects associated with the Supersize option. In fact, TiVo appears to use that option on its own TivoHD XL (1TB) to provide 157 HD hours.
- If I want to replace my current eSATA drive, can I just remove it and then "marry" it to another?
Yes, you can replace the eSATA drive on your Series3 as much as you want, but you'll permanently lose all existing recordings on every drive you remove.
- What is the best way to replace an existing eSATA drive?
- Disconnect power to the TiVo.
- Disconnect and remove your eSATA drive.
- Reconnect the power to your TiVo.
- The TiVo will display a message stating that your eSATA drive was disconnected. It will ask you to reconnect the drive, or press CLEAR to remove it. You press CLEAR, then THUMBS DOWN three times and ENTER to confirm. The TiVo will reboot and the drive is removed. Screenshots: #1, #2, #3.
After you've removed the eSATA drive and rebooted the TiVo as indicated above, follow the instructions in #6 to add the new eSATA drive.
Note when you remove an eSATA drive, you will lose all recordings made since the drive was added.
- Disconnect power to the TiVo.
- Can I backup the recordings on my internal drive and eSATA drive and restore it to a single, larger internal hard drive?
Yes, but only if you originally married the eSATA drive using WinMFS. If you used the External Storage menu, then you cannot copy the recordings from an internal+external setup to a single internal drive.
- Can I backup (copy) the recordings on my eSATA drive to another eSATA drive of the same size?
Yes. You can do this with the MFSLive bootCD using the dd or dd_rescue commands. For more information, see the MFSLive Software Guide. Credit to spike2k5 for this answer.
- Can I backup the recordings on my eSATA drive and restore it to an eSATA drive of larger size?
This should be possible, but it is untested. As indicated in the previous FAQ, you would backup the contents of the old drive to the new drive using the dd or dd_rescue commands. Once you've done that, you would use mfsadd to enable the extra capacity on that drive. Credit to spike2k5 for this answer.
- Can I upgrade the built-in hard drive with a larger model without affecting my eSATA drive?
You can do that with the MFSLive bootCD if you are still using the original, factory-installed TiVo drive. You cannot do this if the internal drive was previously upgraded. Note this capability is not yet supported in WinMFS, but it could be added in a future version. Credit to spike2k5 for this answer.
- Can I use a multi-disk eSATA enclosure with RAID?
Yes. That said, be aware that the TivoHD, TivoHD XL, and TiVo Series3 support a maximum internal+external capacity of 2.2 TB (2.0 TiB). With the latest tools, the maximum capacity allowed for a single TiVo drive is 1.1 TB (1.0 TiB) plus the capacity of the original drive. RAID will not change that.
Keep in mind that only the discontinued TiVo Series3 (TCD648250B) allows you to use the external drive of your choice without opening the unit and voiding the warranty. The TivoHD (TCD652160) and TivoHD XL (TCD658000) both require you to open the unit and void the warranty if you want to use something other than the 500GB Western Digital My DVR Expander.
- My eSATA drive also has a USB port. Can I share it between the TiVo and my PC?
No. The TiVo deletes any existing computer data and creates its own MFS partition. If you are not careful, using the eSATA drive with a PC or MAC could also corrupt the TiVo partition table, causing you to lose all recordings made since you connected the drive.
- How important is eSATA drive performance?
All modern 5400rpm SATA drives should provide sufficient throughput to handle three different HDTV streams (two recording, one playback) simultaneously.
- What features should I look for in a drive or an enclosure?
Any 5400rpm drive sold in the past few years will provide the necessary performance. A MPEG-2 HD stream consumes no more than 2.42 MB/s (same as 19.4 Megabits/s). Recording two different HD channels while watching a third, while also transferring another HD program with MRV, would consume around 10 MB/s. Modern 5400rpm drives can sustain at least triple that.
As the eSATA drive runs full time with the TiVo Series3, we recommend members select drives certified by the manufacturer for 24/7 operation. Standard desktop drives work just as well in many cases, but buying a drive certified for 24/7 operation provides more assurance of long-term reliability. Ultimately, one must decide whether they are willing to pay a premium for extra 'peace of mind.'
Some drives are specifically marketed for DVR use. These drives are certified for 24/7 operation, but also feature modified firmware to reduce seek noise at the expense of some performance. Performance is very important in a desktop drive for a PC, but less so for eSATA expansion on the Series3, which still uses the internal drive for all guide and index information. You won't notice 20% less performance with an eSATA drive, but you may notice 20% less noise. Examples of drives marketed for DVR use include Western Digital AV-GP, Seagate DB35, and Hitachi Cinemastar series.
To best ensure long-term reliability, it is also a good idea to buy a drive or enclosure with a quiet fan. Enclosures without fans can cause some drives to overheat with continuous operation, especially if they are stored in closed cabinets with poor ventilation. Buying a drive or enclosure without a fan for use in an closed cabinet area is just asking for trouble. If you purchase a drive or enclosure without a fan, be absolutely sure it has adequate ventilation.
Another important feature to have in a drive or enclosure is the ability to automatically turn itself back on following a power outage. Many external drives and enclosures use soft power switches that revert back to the 'off' state whenever there is a loss in power, requiring a manual push of the button to turn them back on. In the event of a brief power loss, these soft switch drives are 'off' when the Series3 boots up, and the "External Storage Missing" screen will result, which asks you to reconnect the drive and reboot the TiVo. Any time your TiVo is stuck on that "External Storage Missing" screen, it won't record programs you have previously scheduled.
Products with a hard switch are generally preferable, as they turn back on automatically after a loss in power, so you never have to worry about coming home to a 'reconnect your drive' screen. Products with a hard switch typically have a dedicated on/off toggle at the rear that can be physically moved to the 'on' position and will remain there until you move it back to the 'off' position.
- I don't understand why it is important to have a hard power switch. Could you explain some more?
If the eSATA drive isn't 'on' during TiVo startup, the Series3 will sit at the "External Storage Missing" screen until you physically turn it on, which means any programs you have scheduled do not get recorded. That's why it is important to have an eSATA drive/enclosure with a hard switch that will automatically power back up after brief power outage. The obvious alternative is a UPS; if your drive never loses power, it doesn't matter what kind of power switch it has.
- I just bought a new eSATA drive but it didn't include a cable. What kind of cable do I need?
You want an "eSATA II" cable. The TiVo expects the longer connector found on eSATA II cables. The "eSATA I" cables feature a shorter connector which will not create a reliable connection with the Series3. Cables with a short connector are the #1 cause of problems with eSATA expansion on the Series3.
See FAQ #26 for information on where you can order the right cable.
- I want to build my own eSATA solution. Where should I start?
For suggested pre-built eSATA solutions, see FAQ #27.
If you want to build your own "Non Verified" eSATA solution, a list of recommended SATA drives is found in FAQ #28 and a list of enclosures is found in FAQ #30.
It is very important to have the right eSATA cable. The TiVos will not work reliably with many eSATA cables, which lack a connector of sufficient length. See FAQ #26 for a list of eSATA cables that are confirmed to work well with the TiVo.
- Where can I order a good eSATA cable online?
The recommended eSATA cable for the TiVo is the SIIG CB-SA0111-S1 (1m). This cable is available in 1m and 2m versions from Provantage.com (1m, 2m), Buy.com (1m, 2m), Amazon.com (1m, 2m), and TheNerds.net (1m, 2m). This cable "snaps" in to provide a firm connection.
The Tripp-Lite P950 eSATA cable is also confirmed to work with the TiVo. This cable doesn't fit as "snugly" as the SIIG above, so it is more prone to come lose if you are reaching around (or moving) your equipment. You can order it in 0.5m (18") and 1.0m (36") lengths for about $6 from Provantage.com (0.5m, 1.0m), Buy.com (0.5m, 1.0m) and TheNerds.net (0.5m, 1.0m).
- What are good pre-built eSATA solutions?
A number of members are successfully using the Fantom Drives GreenDrive 1TB External eSATA drive with their TiVo Series3. It appears to be a reliable solution, based on member reports over the past three months. This product is based on the WD10EACS.
Note this drive, like all those above, only works with the "plug and play" expansion on the discontinued TiVo Series3 model. None of these solutions work with the "plug and play" expansion on the TivoHD; to activate such an unsupported drive on the TivoHD, you must follow FAQs #10 or #11 above. If you aren't willing to do that, then buy the Western Digital My DVR Expander.
- What are good drives to use with a eSATA enclosure or as an internal drive upgrade?
Code:[b][u]Make [/u] [u]Model [/u] [u]Size [/u] [u]Part # [/u] [u]Noise (10=Best)[/u][/b] Hitachi Cinemastar 1000GB HCS721010KLA332 7 [COLOR="Red"]Hitachi Cinemastar 1000GB HCS721010KLA330 7[/color] Hitachi Deskstar 1000GB HD31000 [jumpto=AAM]7*[/jumpto] [COLOR="Red"]Hitachi Deskstar 1000GB HDT721010SLA360 [jumpto=AAM]7*[/jumpto][/color] Seagate Pipeline 500GB ST3500321CS 7 Seagate Pipeline 500GB ST3500414CS 9 Seagate Pipeline 1000GB ST31000533CS 5 Seagate Pipeline 1000GB ST31000322CS 6 WD AV 500GB WD5000AVJS 8 [COLOR="Red"]WD AV-GP 1000GB WD10EVCS 10[/COLOR] Drives [COLOR="Red"]highlighted in red[/color] are discontinued. For subjective noise rating, 10=best, 1=worst, and 9=original drive. Noise ratings marked with * assume that AAM is enabled and set to 128, as described in [jumpto=aam]this FAQ[/jumpto]. There will be some small variance from part to part. The WD10EVVS was removed from the list on October 10, because versions of that drive manufactured after September 18 are not fully compatible. Drives manufactured prior to September 19 work fine. Refer to the FAQ below. The WD10EVDS was removed from the list on December 26, because versions of that drive manufactured after November 2? are not fully compatible. Drives manufactured prior to November work fine. Refer to the FAQ below.
- Where are the Western Digital "Green" drives? Weren't those recommended before?
Western Digital "Green" drives are the quietest 1TB drives available, but all of those drives are now manufactured with an Intellipark feature that cause both the TivoHD and Series3 to hang after a software reboot. These hangs occur after restarts initiated through the TiVo menus and restarts that follow software updates. These drives only boot correctly in a TivoHD/Series3 after the power plug is pulled. These updated drives will not boot at all in the Series2.
This issue affects all recently manufactured Western Digital EADS, EARS, and EAVS drives. It also affects EVVS drives manufactured after September 18 and EVDS drives manufactured since November. Drives built prior to these dates work perfectly fine; they do not exhibit the issue. The manufacture date is printed on the top of every drive.
For newly built Western Digital "Green" drives that exhibit this issue, TCF member drey discovered a method to disable the Intellipark feature on these drives, thereby making them fully compatible with the TiVo (i.e. no more "soft reboot" issue). Instructions below:
This procedure has no affect on the TiVo software, settings, or recordings on the drive, so it can be performed before or after a backup and restore.
If you think you may have installed one of these newer Western Digital "Green" drives in your TiVo, but are not sure, there is a simple test. Restart your TiVo through the Messages & Settings -> Restart or Reset TiVo menu. If your TiVo boots properly (give it ten minutes), then you have an older drive that does not exhibit the issue. If the TiVo refuses to boot until you pull the power plug, then the procedure described above should eliminate that problem. It has no known ill effects and it will not affect your TiVo software or recordings.
- What enclosures are members using with their own "Non Verified" eSATA solutions?
Code:[b][u]Make [/u] [u]Model [/u] [u]Fan? [/u] [u]On/Off switch?[/u] [u]Incl. eSATA cable?[/u][/b] 3Gen IntelliVault Yes ? ? Adaptec ACS-300 No Hard ? Antec MX-1 Yes Hard Yes Apricorn EZ Bus DTS Yes Hard Yes AZiO ENC311SU31 No Hard ? AZiO ENC311SU41 No Hard ? Bytecc ME-747 Yes Hard ? CoolGear SataVault Yes Hard ? Icy Dock MB559 No Hard Yes Kingwin JT-35EU Yes Soft Yes Sans Digital MS2UT Yes Hard ? Thecus N2050 Yes Soft ? Ultra ULT33053 Yes Hard Yes Vantec NexStar3 No Hard Yes WiebeTech TTE0 No Hard ? If you buy one of these enclosures, it is still recommended that you use one of the eSATA cables recommended in FAQ #26. Be aware that these enclosures were reported for setups with the unofficial eSATA expansion in 8.3.x. The Antec MX-1 is confirmed to work with the new External Storage menu in 9.2, but most of the others have not been tested. Most other enclosures should work too, they're just not confirmed here yet. If you've upgraded your TiVo, and what you used isn't listed here, please post or pm what you used.
- Can I use one of those new 1.5TB or 2TB drives?
The "plug and play" drive expansion on the TiVo Series3 only supports external drives up to 1.1 TB (1.0 TiB) in size. Reboots will result if you attempt to use a drive larger than 1.1 TB with the "plug and play" expansion. You can use a drive larger than 1.1 TB (1.0 TiB), but only by opening the unit and voiding the warranty.
By opening the unit and voiding the warranty, the maximum capacity allowed for the internal TiVo drive is 1.1 TB (1.0 TiB) plus the capacity of the original drive. If you were to upgrade a TivoHD with a 1.5 TB drive, only 1.26 TB would be usable. The same limits apply to external drives "married" with WinMFS as described in FAQ #10 above.
Compatible 1.5TB drives include the Seagate ST31500541AS, ST315005N4A1AS, ST31500341AS, and ST315005N1A1AS. All of these drives are rather loud, so they are not a good idea if the TiVo resides in close proximity to a viewing or sleeping area. Western Digital's 1.5TB and 2.0TB EVDS and EVDS drives are relatively quiet high-capacity drives, but are no longer compatible out-of-the box; refer to FAQ #29 for more information.
Remember, you must always open the TiVo and pair the drive with WinMFS to use an external drive with >1.0TB capacity.
- How do I reduce the seek noise on my new hard drive?
Drives marketed for DVRs come preconfigured with firmware settings to minimize noise. Most other drives come configured for best desktop performance, not the lowest possible noise.
Hard drives from Hitachi, Maxtor, and Western Digital -- but not Seagate -- support a feature known as Automatic Acoustic Management (AAM). This configurable setting allows one to reduce seek noise at the expense of some performance. Many drives ship with AAM disabled so as to provide maximum performance on desktop computers. Since such performance is unnecessary in a DVR, it makes sense to enable AAM. An AAM setting of 128 will provide the quietest possible operation.
The easiest way to change the AAM is to download and run the free Hddscan for Windows utility. This utility will change the AAM value for both USB and SATA drives under Windows 2000 SP4, Windows XP SP2/SP3, Windows Vista, and Windows 7. To use it:
- Download HDDScan from http://hddscan.com.
- Extract (i.e. unzip) the downloaded RAR archive to give you the actual HDDScan program. To do that, double-click on the file and drag the "HDDScan3.2-release" folder to your desktop.
- Launch Hddscan from the "HDDScan3.2-release" folder on your desktop. If using Windows Vista, you'll want to launch Hddscan by right-clicking on HDDScan.exe and selecting "Run as Administrator."
- Select your new/replacement TiVo drive from the drop down list.
- Click the round blue "New Task" button and select Features -> IDE Features.
- Drag the Automatic Acoustic Management (AAM) slider all the way to the left, until it reads 128. Click Set.
- You're done.
If you do not have access to Windows, then you can also change the AAM setting on your Hitachi, Maxtor, or Western Digital drive using Hitachi Feature Tool v2.11. This free utility available as a boot CD and a boot floppy. The full manual can be found here. Note Hitachi Feature Tool only works on SATA and eSATA connected drives; it does not work on USB connected drives.
You burn the Hitachi Feature Tool image to a CD using a program like Nero or ImageBurn. You turn off your computer, connect the new DVR drive to your computer, and then boot with the Hitachi Feature Tool CD. From the Feature menu, choose Automatic Acoustic Management (AAM). Select the option to enable AAM with a user-defined value. Set the AAM value to 128 and click Ok. You're done. - Download HDDScan from http://hddscan.com.
[aname=S5]V.[/aname] Internal Drive Upgrades [jumpto=S0][Back to top][/jumpto]
This section is devoted to internal drive upgrades not supported by TiVo. This section is still under construction.
- Can I upgrade the internal drive in my TiVo?
Yes. Be aware that an internal drive upgrade will void your warranty, and TiVo does not provide technical support for upgraded TiVos.
Note the TiVo's "plug and play" external drive expansion will no longer work if you upgrade the internal drive. If you want to upgrade the internal drive and add an external drive at the same time, then see the instructions in [jumpto=internalexternal]Section IV, FAQ #11[/jumpto] above.
- Will TiVo know if I upgrade the internal drive?
Yes. When you upgrade your drive, that information is reported to TiVo when your box connects to the service to download guide information.
- Will a drive upgrade affect my lifetime subscription?
No. All subscriptions, including lifetime subscriptions, are tied to your TiVo service number. Your service number is set on a ROM chip inside the TiVo, and upgrading the internal hard drive does not change that.
- I have an external drive connected. Can I still upgrade the built-in hard drive?
You cannot upgrade the built-in hard drive while it is "married" to an external drive. You must "unmarry" the external drive before you can proceed with a drive upgrade. To do that, power on the TiVo without the external drive connected and follow the on-screen instructions.
Be aware that "unmarrying" the external drive will cause you to lose all recordings made since it was added. Before you disconnect your external hard drive and lose those recordings, you may want to download those (without copy protection) to your computer using TiVo Desktop or iTiVo. Once the drive upgrade is complete, you can send those recordings back to the TiVo.
- What is the largest drive I can use for an internal upgrade?
Credit to spike -- the author of WinMFS -- for clarifying this subject.
With latest version of WinMFS, the maximum capacity allowed for the internal TiVo drive is 1.1 TB (1.0 TiB) plus the capacity of the original drive. Older tools cannot support drives larger than 1.1 TB.
Code:[u]Model Number[/u] [u]Maximum Single Drive Capacity[/u]* [u]HD Hours[/u] Tivo HD TCD652160 1.26 TB (1260 GB) 198 Tivo HD XL TCD658000 2.10 TB (2100 GB) 330 TiVo Series3 TCD648250B 1.35 TB (1350 GB) 212 [size=1]* Drives with capacities larger than 1.1 TB are only supported when the latest version of WinMFS is used. If you are using tools or a method other than those described below, then your drive must be 1.1 TB or smaller.[/size]
Most with the TivoHD and TiVo Series3 opt to buy 1.0 TB drives, which provide a capacity of 157 HD hours.
- Why is internal capacity on the standard TivoHD limited to 1.26 TB?
TiVo's SATA driver supports a maximum partition size of 1.0TiB (1.1TB). WinMFS increase storage capacity by expanding a new partition up to 1.0TiB (1.1TB). For the TivoHD, that adds 1.0TiB (1.1TB) to the existing 160GB partition for a total of 1.26TB. For the XL, that adds 1.0TiB (1.1TB) to the original 1TB partition, for a maximum of 2.1TB.
At least one ebay seller (dvr_dude) has written their own private tools to expand a second partition to 1.0TiB (1.1TB), enabling expansion up to 1.1TB+1.1TB+160GB= 2.36TB on the TiVoHD. This allows them to sell replacement drives with 2.0TB capacity. No public tools are available to do this.
Note it is not possible to expand and use a TiVo HD XL image on a standard TiVo HD. Although an XL image may appear to work fine upon initial setup, the TiVo will not be able to download guide updates.
- Can I buy a drive upgrade kit?
Yes.
Both DVRupgrade (site sponsor) sells internal upgrade solutions for TivoHD and Tivo Series3. With the solutions from these companies, you swap out the internal drive with the new and you are ready to go. They've done the rest of the work for you.
- If I upgrade the internal drive, do I lose my Season Passes, Wishlists, and/or recordings?
With pre-prepared drive kits, you lose your current Season Passes, Wishlists, and recordings.
If you do the upgrade yourself, you preserve your Season Passes, Wishlists, and other settings. You can also keep your recordings.
- If I upgrade the internal drive, will I need the cable company to re-activate my CableCards?
Verizon FiOS does not pair CableCards to a specific TiVo, so drive upgrades do not affect that service. This also allows FiOS customers to easily move CableCards from one TiVo to another.
Some other cable providers "pair" CableCards to a specific device, and that pairing information is stored on the hard drive. If you replace the TiVo's hard drive using a drive upgrade kit purchased online, that drive will not have the necessary pairing information, and your CableCard(s) will no longer work until they are reactivated (re-paired) by the cable company. In some cases, this can be done over the phone, but it usually requires a service call.
In contrast, if you follow the instructions below to upgrade a TiVo that already has activated CableCards, the appropriate pairing information is copied up from the original drive and restored to the new drive, so your CableCard(s) continue to work without the need for a service call.
- How does the power consumption of an upgraded TiVo compare to a TiVo with the My DVR Expander?
A stock TivoHD consumes ~34 watts. The My DVR Expander consumes ~12 watts, for a total of ~46 watts.
A TivoHD upgraded with a 1TB HD generally consumes around 32-35 watts.
- When is the best time to perform an upgrade?
It is best to run a new TiVo for at least a few weeks before performing an upgrade. Some small percentage of all TiVos are defective or damaged in shipping, so you don't want to upgrade a TiVo until you've confirmed that is operating normally.
If you plan to subscribe to digital cable in the near future, it is best to do the upgrade after your CableCards are installed. Why?
If you replace your drive prior to the CableCard installation, then you'll only have the CableCard activation (pairing) information on the new drive; it won't be on the original TiVo drive or in the backup file on your computer. By activating your CableCards prior to the upgrade, the CableCard activation (pairing) information is stored on the original drive, as well as your saved backup file; that way, should you ever replace your new drive in the future, your CableCards still function without the need for a service call to reactivate them.
- My original TiVo drive died. Am I still able replace it and perform an upgrade?
Yes. You can purchase DVRUpgrade's InstantCake restore CD for $39.99. This restore CD includes a copy of the original TiVo software which it will restore to a new drive up to 1.0TiB in size.
DVRUpgrade also sells new replacement drives with the TiVo software preinstalled. These drive replacement kits include all the tools necessary to replace the original drive.
- [aname=drives]If[/aname] I am going to do the upgrade myself, what drive should I buy?
When upgrading the built-in drive, it is recommended that you use a drive from the following list:
Code:[b][u]Make [/u] [u]Model [/u] [u]Size [/u] [u]Part # [/u] [u]Noise (10=Best)[/u][/b] Hitachi Cinemastar 1000GB HCS721010KLA332 7 [COLOR="Red"]Hitachi Cinemastar 1000GB HCS721010KLA330 7[/color] Hitachi Deskstar 1000GB HD31000 [jumpto=AAM]7*[/jumpto] [COLOR="Red"]Hitachi Deskstar 1000GB HDT721010SLA360 [jumpto=AAM]7*[/jumpto][/color] Seagate Pipeline 500GB ST3500321CS 7 Seagate Pipeline 500GB ST3500414CS 9 Seagate Pipeline 1000GB ST31000533CS 5 Seagate Pipeline 1000GB ST31000322CS 6 WD AV 500GB WD5000AVJS 8 [COLOR="Red"]WD AV-GP 1000GB WD10EVCS 10[/COLOR] Drives [COLOR="Red"]highlighted in red[/color] are discontinued. For subjective noise rating, 10=best, 1=worst, and 9=original drive. Noise ratings marked with * assume that AAM is enabled and set to 128, as described in [jumpto=aam]this FAQ[/jumpto]. There will be some small variance from part to part. The WD10EVVS was removed from the list on October 10, because versions of that drive manufactured after September 18 are not fully compatible. Drives manufactured prior to September 19 work fine. Refer to the FAQ below. The WD10EVDS was removed from the list on December 26, because versions of that drive manufactured after November 2? are not fully compatible. Drives manufactured prior to November work fine. Refer to the FAQ below.
- [aname=drey]Where[/aname] are the Western Digital "Green" drives? Weren't those recommended before?
Western Digital "Green" drives are the quietest 1TB drives available, but all of those drives are now manufactured with an Intellipark feature that cause both the TivoHD and Series3 to hang after a software reboot. These hangs occur after restarts initiated through the TiVo menus and restarts that follow software updates. These drives only boot correctly in a TivoHD/Series3 after the power plug is pulled. These updated drives will not boot at all in the Series2.
This issue affects all recent Western Digital EADS, EARS, and EAVS drives. It also affects EVVS drives manufactured after September 18 and EVDS drives manufactured since November. Drives built prior to these dates work perfectly fine; they do not exhibit the issue. The manufacture date is printed on the top of every drive.
For newly built Western Digital "Green" drives that exhibit this issue, TCF member drey discovered a method to disable the Intellipark feature on these drives, thereby making them fully compatible with the TiVo (i.e. no more "soft reboot" issue). Instructions:
This procedure has no affect on the TiVo software, settings, or recordings on the drive, so it can be performed before or after a backup and restore.
If you think you may have installed one of these newer Western Digital "Green" drives in your TiVo, but are not sure, there is a simple test. Restart your TiVo through the Messages & Settings -> Restart or Reset TiVo menu. If your TiVo boots properly (give it ten minutes), then you have an older drive that does not exhibit the issue. If the TiVo refuses to boot until you pull the power plug, then the procedure described above should eliminate that problem. It has no known ill effects and it will not affect your TiVo software or recordings.
- [aname=AAM]How[/aname] do I reduce the seek noise on my new hard drive?
Drives marketed for DVRs come preconfigured with firmware settings to minimize noise. Most other drives come configured for best desktop performance, not the lowest possible noise.
Hard drives from Hitachi, Maxtor, and Western Digital -- but not Seagate -- support a feature known as Automatic Acoustic Management (AAM). This configurable setting allows one to reduce seek noise at the expense of some performance. Many drives ship with AAM disabled so as to provide maximum performance on desktop computers. Since such performance is unnecessary in a DVR, it makes sense to enable AAM. An AAM setting of 128 will provide the quietest possible operation.
The easiest way to change the AAM is to download and run the free Hddscan for Windows utility. This utility will change the AAM value for both USB and SATA drives under Windows 2000 SP4, Windows XP SP2/SP3, Windows Vista, and Windows 7. To use it:
- Download HDDScan from http://hddscan.com.
- Extract (i.e. unzip) the downloaded RAR archive to give you the actual HDDScan program. To do that, double-click on the file and drag the "HDDScan3.2-release" folder to your desktop.
- Launch Hddscan from the "HDDScan3.2-release" folder on your desktop. If using Windows Vista, you'll want to launch Hddscan by right-clicking on HDDScan.exe and selecting "Run as Administrator."
- Select your new/replacement TiVo drive from the drop down list.
- Click the round blue "New Task" button and select Features -> IDE Features.
- Drag the Automatic Acoustic Management (AAM) slider all the way to the left, until it reads 128. Click Set.
- You're done.
If you do not have access to Windows, then you can also change the AAM setting on your Hitachi, Maxtor, or Western Digital drive using Hitachi Feature Tool v2.11. This free utility available as a boot CD and a boot floppy. The full manual can be found here. Note Hitachi Feature Tool only works on SATA and eSATA connected drives; it does not work on USB connected drives.
You burn the Hitachi Feature Tool image to a CD using a program like Nero or ImageBurn. You turn off your computer, connect the new DVR drive to your computer, and then boot with the Hitachi Feature Tool CD. From the Feature menu, choose Automatic Acoustic Management (AAM). Select the option to enable AAM with a user-defined value. Set the AAM value to 128 and click Ok. You're done.
- Download HDDScan from http://hddscan.com.
- Are there any drives to avoid?
All recently manufactured Western Digital "Green" drives are no longer fully compatible out-of-the-box. They exhibit a "soft reboot" problem, where the TiVo is stuck on "Welcome...Powering Up" screen after every software reboot, including restarts initiated through the TiVo menus and restarts that follows software updates. Refer to [jumpto=drey]FAQ #14[/jumpto] for more information.
Stick to the drives listed in the table above and you will be fine.
- Can I use one of those new 1.5TB or 2TB drives?
Refer to FAQ #5 above for the maximum capacities allowed for each TiVo model.
The maximum capacity allowed for the internal TiVo drive is 1.1 TB (1.0 TiB) plus the capacity of the original drive. If you were to upgrade with a 1.5TB or 2TB drive, only 1.26TB would be usable on the TivoHD and 1.35TB would be usable on the older TiVo Series3. The full capacity would only be usable on the TivoHD XL. If you opt to use such a drive, be sure to follow the instructions in the next FAQ.
Compatible 1.5TB drives include the Seagate ST31500541AS, ST315005N4A1AS, ST31500341AS, and ST315005N1A1AS. All of these drives are rather loud, so they are not a good idea if the TiVo resides in close proximity to a viewing or sleeping area. Western Digital's 1.5TB and 2.0TB EVDS and EVDS drives are relatively quiet high-capacity drives, but are no longer compatible out-of-the box; refer to [jumpto=drey]FAQ #14[/jumpto] for more information.
Note you can only prepare a >1.1TB drive using WinMFS; you cannot prepare a >1.1TB drive using MFSLive or InstantCake. Furthermore, to use 1.26TB on a TivoHD or 1.35TB on a Series3, you must start with an original (non-expanded) TiVo image and follow the instructions in the next FAQ.
- Is there anything special I need to do for drives larger than 1TB?
You must start with an original (non-expanded) TiVo image; images from upgraded TiVos will not work. You must also use WinMFS to prepare drives larger than 1TB. Older tools such as MFSLive and InstantCake do not support >1TB capacities.
Under the latest version of WinMFS (v9.3f), the following message is displayed when you attempt to use a drive larger than 1TB:
Code:You are about to create a partition larger than 1TB. It's too large for a stock TiVo to support. Do you want to limit it to 1TB?
You must choose 'yes' if you have a TiVo without a hacked PROM chip. This will restrict expansion to 1.1 TB (1.0 TiB) plus the capacity of the original drive, as indicated in FAQ #5 above. If you fail to select 'yes' because you do not see the window, then the TiVo will not work; it will reboot every 3-5 minutes.
Note specific discussion of PROM mods and hacks is not permitted on TiVo Community.
- How long does an upgrade take?
If you have a computer with Windows XP or Vista (32bit or 64bit), and know how to connect a SATA drive, then the entire upgrade process should take 30-35 minutes. That includes the time to remove the original TiVo drive, the time to copy the TiVo software and settings with your computer, and the time to reinstall the new TiVo drive. This assumes you just want to copy the TiVo software with your settings, season passes, and wishlists.
If you also want to copy all your recordings to the new drive, that will take longer. That could take an hour or more, depending on how many recordings you have on your TiVo.
- Can I reinstall the original TiVo drive after an upgrade?
Yes. If at some point you want to reinstall the original TiVo drive, you can do so.
- Can I backup the TiVo software and my settings?
Both sets of instructions below include a step to make a "truncated" backup of the TiVo software to your computer's hard drive. A "truncated" backup consists of the TiVo software and all your settings-- including season passes and wishlists-- but it does not include your recordings.
This backup is for future use; you can restore this backup to a new drive if your existing drive goes bad in a few years. This backup is approximately 300MB in size, so it can be written to a CD-ROM.
- [aname=instructions]What[/aname] are the upgrade instructions?
I've included two sets of instructions below. The first method (A) copies only the TiVo software and your settings to the new drive, and requires that just one drive be connected to your computer at a time. The second method (B) copies the TiVo software, your settings, and your recordings to the new drive, but it requires that two drives be connected to your computer at the same time.
If you just bought a new Hitachi, Maxtor, or Western Digital hard drive, be sure to see [jumpto=AAM]Section IV, FAQ #32[/jumpto] for a tip on further reducing drive noise. Note this is unnecessary for the Western Digital WD10EVCS and WD10EVVS, which are already tuned for low noise operation.
-
- What does the "MfsSupersize" option do?
By default, roughly 10% of the internal drive is reserved for "tivoclips" -- video advertisements that are downloaded to the TiVo. If you use the MfsSupersize option, then only 10GB will be reserved for advertisements and the rest of the space is recovered for use with recordings.
When the MfsSuperSize option is used, a TiVo with a 1.0 TB drive will report 157 HD hours and 1367 SD hours under the latest software. Without the MfsSuperSize option, a TiVo with a 1.0 TB drive will report 142-143 HD hours and 1241-1244 SD hours.
There are no known ill effects associated with the Supersize option. In fact, TiVo appears to use that option on its own TivoHD XL (1TB) to provide 157 HD hours.
- I forgot the "MfsSuperSize" step to achieve maximum capacity on my new drive. Can I still do that later?
Yes. MfsSuperSize can be enabled at a later time and will not affect the recordings stored on the drive.
- Reconnect the new drive to your computer.
- Launch WinMFS by right-clicking on WinMFS.exe and selecting "Run as Administrator."
- In WinMFS, select File -> Select Drive and select the new replacement SATA drive.
Don't skip this step!
- Select Tools-> MfsSuperSize -> On.
- Reconnect the new drive to your computer.
- Can I use another disk cloning program?
No, you cannot. You must use WinMFS (instructions above) or MFSLive to upgrade your drive.
Other disk clone utilities do not work, because they do not make the changes necessary for a TiVo to recognize the added capacity.