Re-using old Tivo disks in a PC

[brookheather]

I want to re-use my old Tivo disks (15GB + 30GB disks) in a PC but I get the same problem with both of them - when I have them connected to install Windows XP, the installer lists them as 10MB disks! How do I get my PC to recognise them properly?

- Simon.

[blindlemon]

The drives are 'locked' by the TiVo.

You need Qunlock or DiskUtil - both available here (www.tivoheaven.com/download/) :)

[AMc]

You will need to unlock them before you can use them in a PC.
There are 2 utilities - qunlock is one and a search for that should reveal the more modern version. As you have an orginal 2 drive Tivo I believe that qunlock is going to work OK providing you only run it once. IIRC running it more than once can permanently lock the drive to 10MB.

FWIW If they're originals then they may have been in 24hour use for close on 5 years. Given an 80GB drive is only about £30 (e.g.
http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/products/index.html?action=c2hvd19wcm9kdWN0X292ZXJ2aWV3&product_uid=42380) Are you sure you want to risk any new data on them ?

[Ian_m]

Its worth unlocking them and getting them working and formatted FAT32 and using them to store the MFTtools TiVo images.

Problems with using them in PC are:-

- They are old, so how much longer life ?
- Boy, are they loud compared to new disks.
- Can't use them to restore a new image to from the "I've balls'ed up, can I have an image please thread" as that is 40GB min.
- When I paid £62 (OEM ex-VAT) for 300G Seagate, why bother.......