Read lots and am still lost - Help Series 2 DTivo

[dylanursula]

Hey all

I have read pages and pages and am still confused so was hoping for some help.

I have a DirecTivo RCA DVR40 which I have just got as part of the $16 deal.

a few qu's as I would like to upgrade it to a 250Mb hsrd drive (new) and incorporate networking and the Tivoweb usage/watching progs on my Tivo on my laptop or home PC.

1) Do I activate my DTivo before I do anything else???

2) What is the simplest way to upgrade it using the 250Mb new hard drive? I would like to do it the easiest way as I am ok on PCs but have no Linux experience, I have read about PVNet and Zipper? Any thoughts?

3) For what I need for the above requirements is there a step to step guide I can use?

Thanks in advance
D
:)

[Dan Collins]

1) Activation can be done before or after - it simply registers the DirecTV reciever prt of the unit, and the access card, on your account.

2) Either approach, the Zipper or PTVNet, will get your TiVo on the network. If you have, or plan to have, more than 1 DirecTiVo, the Zipper also inlcudes directions for enabling Multi-Room Viewing.

[dylanursula]

Hey there :)

Thanks for the response? Out of the Zipper and PVNet which is simplier and easier to do? I want to incorporate a new 250Mb hard drive? I would like to do it the easiest way as I a novice at Tivo upgrades.

In addition, is there a stepto step guide I can use?

[Dan Collins]

Just noticed in your title that you have 2 R-10s. These can not be hacked (put on the network, run TiVoWebPlus, etc.) without a major hardware modification. If you want to go ahead and hack the DVR40, then PTVNet will do the job. (Since you can't easily hack the R-10s, there is no point in MRV on the DVR40, so the extra steps required for the Zipper are pointless.)

PTVNet comes with instructions, but it is pretty much:

1) Attach source and target drive to PC
2) Boot with PTVNet disk
3) Follow directions on screen
4) Turn off PC
5) Install upgraded drive in TiVo

[dylanursula]

Hey Dan

Thanks for the heads up. I will get the PTVNet :)