Do I need to format a drive before I zipper it?

[kev12mich]

I've been reading the forums for quite a while now, and I decided to join as I have some questions before I decide to hack my TiVo. My first question is do I need to format the hard drive I'm using with Zipper to any particular format? I pulled the drive out of a crappy R15 since we just got a few new TiVo's (from a garage sale actually. They were only $5 each and are in perfect condition). This drive obviously has all the system files that the Directv DVR's use.

My other question has to do with a USB-Ethernet adapter. Will zipper automatically install a modified usb.map file? What's an adapter I could get in the 10-20 buck range that would work?

Thanks

[ttodd1]

No you do not have to format the drive first. As for working adapters see here:

http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?p=4473297&&#post4473297

Price depends on where you get it from.

[kev12mich]

That list is for all the compatible adapters AFTER a modified usb.map file is installed, right? Does zipper automatically install that, or is it only after running the enhancement script?

[BTUx9]

umm... back up a second.

Drives don't need to be formatted before using mfsrestore to install the s/w, but that s/w needs to be on there before using the zipper.

Additiionally, the R15 is a very different machine. It isn't a tivo, and the s/w that's on it is completely incompatible... what flavor tivo are you hoping to hack?

[kev12mich]

okay, so previously, I had two R10's and one R15. At a garage sale, we found two TiVo's. The model number on the front of the two new TiVo's reads "SIR-S4080R". We replaced the R15 with one of our newly purchased units.

The newly purchased "SIR-S4080R" units have only an 80gb hard drive. The R15, however, has a 160gb (or 120gb, I can't remember off the top of my head). So, I decided I would take the R15's larger drive and install a TiVo image on it, and use the zipper on it.

Anyway, I found my answers. I do not need to format, or repartition the drive before installing a new TiVo image onto it. Also, the Zipper does install a modified usb.map file so I can use more usb to ethernet adapters.



But, now new problems have risen. Before I put the new drive into the "SIR-S4080R" unit, there were problems. It would show a blank menu, and if I pressed the directv button, it would take a couple minutes to make it to the menu. Then, if I wanted to click on "messages & setup" or something, it would, once again, take a few minutes to enter it.

So, to fix this, and upgrade the drive size like said earlier, I put in a new drive with a fresh image installed and the zipper installed. The same problems remained. I could still watch live TV and record things, and the slow menu problem would happen off and on.

What is my next step? I'm going to order a USB to Ethernet adapter tomorrow from Newegg so I can connect to it and access it through the network. Dialing in would remove all the hacks correct? I'm quite new to this, so if anyone has any pointers or things to remember, that would be great.

Thanks

[BTUx9]

A newly installed image can take up to 48 hours to crunch through the setting up of guide data... until this is done, the tivo may be slow to respond to commands.

Another issue: if your unit is networked but the DNS isn't resolving, the NPL can take quite a while to pull up (and appear blank at first)

re: dialing in. That only unhacks a unit if:
1) there is a s/w upgrade waiting, and
2) the method you used to hack the tivo didn't set the flag to prevent upgrades

The Zipper does set the flag to prevent upgrades, so it shouldn't be an issue, but I'm not sure why you'd want to have the unit dial in, anyways... it's very unlikely to help anything

[Soapm]

re: dialing in. That only unhacks a unit if:
1) there is a s/w upgrade waiting, and
2) the method you used to hack the tivo didn't set the flag to prevent upgrades


What about slicer, doesn't it preserve your hacks?

[BTUx9]

re: dialing in. That only unhacks a unit if:
1) there is a s/w upgrade waiting, and
2) the method you used to hack the tivo didn't set the flag to prevent upgrades
What about slicer, doesn't it preserve your hacks?
He thought dialing in would automatically unhack the tivo... I responded with the conditions under which it WOULD unhack it.

I didn't say there weren't methods to upgrade that WOULDN'T unhack (slicer being one).