Backup settings on a Series3

[vocaro]

There's a big gaping hole in TiVo's heralded ease-of-use: no built-in way to backup settings. When my Series2 hard drive died, I had to re-enter all my settings -- season passes, wish list keywords, thumbs up/down, everything. A few months later, I upgraded to a Series3 and had to go through the same tedious process again. This is not user-friendly...

Until the TiVo people fix this problem, is there any way of backing up settings on my Series3? I don't want to have to re-enter my settings yet again. I've heard there are some Linux programs that can backup/restore a TiVo, but a Google search didn't turn up much. Is there anything known to work with a Series3?

Thanks.

[Arcady]

A pad of paper and a pen works nicely.

Or learn how to copy your drive using a Linux box.

[Omikron]

The only method that I've used in the past involves using the backup feature in TivoWebPlus on a hacked unit.

It should be possible to write utilities that do this directly from the drive, but I don't think they exist yet.

[Arcady]

It should be possible for TiVo to do lots of simple little things: free space indicator, settings backup/transfer, PiP (with option to keep it off), custom folders, MRV of non-protected content, and about 20 other simple things I can't think of right now.

Somehow they manage to come up with stupid crap like "Swivel search" instead.

[richsadams]

It should be possible for TiVo to do lots of simple little things: free space indicator, settings backup/transfer, PiP (with option to keep it off), custom folders, MRV of non-protected content, and about 20 other simple things I can't think of right now. Oh come on now. This forum would shrivel up if TiVo added all of those features...then what would we do? ;)

[PopcornGuy]

Oh come on now. This forum would shrivel up if TiVo added all of those features...then what would we do? ;)
I'm sure we'd come up with even more features to add! :)

[astrohip]

This is a good question, and I think TiVo is missing the boat on this. They could easily offer a premium service, or optional service, or whatever they want to call it, that backs up your key data for a small annual fee. All the items that make a TiVo "your way", except actual shows, could be backed up daily. SPs, WL, etc. Charge an appropriate fee (anything less than $25 would prolly fly), and they have a new source of income. Or add a buck or two to the monthly fee. I'd do it in a heartbeat. The thought of recreating my TiVo is not a pleasant one.

[richsadams]

This is a good question, and I think TiVo is missing the boat on this. They could easily offer a premium service, or optional service, or whatever they want to call it, that backs up your key data for a small annual fee. All the items that make a TiVo "your way", except actual shows, could be backed up daily. SPs, WL, etc. Charge an appropriate fee (anything less than $25 would prolly fly), and they have a new source of income. Or add a buck or two to the monthly fee. I'd do it in a heartbeat. The thought of recreating my TiVo is not a pleasant one. I like it! :up:

[Leo_N]

The weird thing is, I have had my settings restored on one of my S3s via the internet during a hard drive change. Seems that if I made enough connections immediately after swapping hard drives and without setting anything for recording, all my season passes came back. If you search the forums here you will see a couple people have had this happen. I'm not sure of the exact how or why, but indeed it would be nice if this were something that the user could actively request, say somewhere in the Messages&Settings areas, with the "3-thumbs down and enter" confirmation.

I do believe you probably have to be allowing TiVo to use your viewing as marketing analysis for this to work, so if you have opted out, probably no dice on this.

[vocaro]

A pad of paper and a pen works nicely.
I'm supposed to backup computer data by writing it down on a piece of paper... That's a joke, right?

Or learn how to copy your drive using a Linux box.
I know Linux, but I don't know how to hack a Series3 TiVo. My understanding was that it's not possible to simply copy the drive because of TiVo's copy protection. Is there some way around this?

[lessd]

I'm supposed to backup computer data by writing it down on a piece of paper... That's a joke, right?


I know Linux, but I don't know how to hack a Series3 TiVo. My understanding was that it's not possible to simply copy the drive because of TiVo's copy protection. Is there some way around this?

You can copy a drive that going to be used the the same TiVo the original was made, you can't put that drive into another TiVo without doing a C&D which removes all you wanted to save.

[cdp1276]

There's a big gaping hole in TiVo's heralded ease-of-use: no built-in way to backup settings. When my Series2 hard drive died, I had to re-enter all my settings -- season passes, wish list keywords, thumbs up/down, everything. A few months later, I upgraded to a Series3 and had to go through the same tedious process again. This is not user-friendly...

Until the TiVo people fix this problem, is there any way of backing up settings on my Series3? I don't want to have to re-enter my settings yet again. I've heard there are some Linux programs that can backup/restore a TiVo, but a Google search didn't turn up much. Is there anything known to work with a Series3?

Thanks.

Why not use the TiVo customer suggestions link and make sure they track this idea? I've done this for this very item and many others in the past years that have come to fruition. So I can validate it works!

http://research.tivo.com/suggestions/2web519.htm

[GoHokies!]

I do believe you probably have to be allowing TiVo to use your viewing as marketing analysis for this to work, so if you have opted out, probably no dice on this.If you opt-in and use guru guides, one of the unintended consequences are that your season passes are stored and are restored if you swap hard drives.

CDP, thanks for posting the link - if everyone who complained about missing features here took some time and filled it out (it took me two minutes), maybe we'd actually get something done. :)

[astrohip]

Why not use the TiVo customer suggestions link and make sure they track this idea? I've done this for this very item and many others in the past years that have come to fruition. So I can validate it works!

http://research.tivo.com/suggestions/2web519.htm

Done! Thanks for the link :up: