Problem with Video Skipping After Upgrade

[jaybird13]

I recently bought a Dual Tuner and replaced the drive with a 500 GB Maxtor.

I used MFSLive to expand the original drive with this command:

backup -f 9999 -qso - /dev/hda | restore -s 250 -xzpi - /dev/hdb

After upgrading, I noticed video would skip/stutter while watching. It would only do it for about a second - and even then every hour or so, but it drove me crazy.

So, thinking the Maxtor drive was drawing too much power, I sent it back and bought a new 500 GB Seagate drive. At the same time, I was having a separate issue with the TiVo, so I sent it back for a new one.

When I got the new TiVo, I let it run for a few days with the stock drive. It ran perfectly. No skips. I then upgraded using the new Seagate and the same command as listed above.

Unfortunately, my video STILL skips. Since I've eliminated the possibility it could be the drive or the TiVo by replacing both, so it has to be how I'm using MFSLive.

Do you guys have any advice on what I can try next?

[rbtravis]

Seeing MFSlive.org failed you I suggest you go to www.DVRupgrade.com and buy a copy of Instantcake for $19.99. Then you know you will get a good copy of the current software release prior to 6.3e and if you leave your phone line disconnected your machine will not upgrade. You will also get MRV(multi room viewing) if you want to play around with hacking and if anything goes wrong you can reinstall from the CD in less than an hour. :)

[jaybird13]

I decided to go ahead an buy InstantCake and got everything back running today.

The TiVo still stutters. So I'm back to square one.

The only answer I can come up with is both drives I purchased (Maxtor then Seagate) pull too much power. Seagate did purchase Maxtor so I guess it's possible I had pretty much the same 500 GB drive both times - at least spec-wise.

Can anyone recommend a drive that doesn't draw too much power?

[rbtravis]

I decided to go ahead an buy InstantCake and got everything back running today.

The TiVo still stutters. So I'm back to square one.

The only answer I can come up with is both drives I purchased (Maxtor then Seagate) pull too much power. Seagate did purchase Maxtor so I guess it's possible I had pretty much the same 500 GB drive both times - at least spec-wise.

Can anyone recommend a drive that doesn't draw too much power?

I don't think the drive is pulling too much load for a single drive on a DTiVO 40 watt power supply as I am running dual drives off the same power supply. The answer to your question is:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136185

These models are retail packaged which is better for shipping. You can read up on these drives on www.TomsHardware.com. Hope this helps. Key is JB in model number. Good Luck :)
Another possible solution: http://www.dvrupgrade.com/dvr/stores/1/accessory_nomodel.cfm?SID=1&Product_ID=375
will keep power draw low. Usually at startup. Sorry just grasping for straws. :(

[Ronin]

I would say that the Maxtor/Seagate drives are drawing too much power. I have had issues in the past with Maxtors and stuttering.

Like you said, Seagate bought Maxtor and they are basically the same drives now. Maxtor has 3 yr warranty vs Seagate 5 yr, which is why they are usually cheaper.

Like suggested, I would go with a WD drive. That it what I have used a lot in my units, and never had a problem. They are also quieter once you set AAM on them.

Either a BB or JB drive would work. BB is 2MB cache, JB is 8MB cache. For a TiVo it doesn't matter, but you can often find the JB cheaper.

[blindlemon]

The TiVo still stutters. So I'm back to square one.

The only answer I can come up with is both drives I purchased (Maxtor then Seagate) pull too much power. Seagate did purchase Maxtor so I guess it's possible I had pretty much the same 500 GB drive both times - at least spec-wise.

Can anyone recommend a drive that doesn't draw too much power?Seagate (now AKA Maxtor) drives are known to cause problems with TiVos. I used to supply Seagate drives for TiVo upgrades (UK Series 1) but stopped after getting too many returns where newer Seagate drives (7200.9 series on) - although not apparently faulty - were aggravating the helium sound bug (http://www.garysargent.co.uk/tivo/bugs/AudioWarbling1.5.2.htm) in UK TiVos. These newer Seagate drives also refuse to work in pairs in Series 1 TiVos and this has been confirmed after testing by Seagate to be a problem with the firmware in the drives.

Unfortunately I'm not aware whether the firmware issue has been resolved as I have since switched to supplying exclusively Samsung drives and have had no further problems. The T133 series (http://www.samsung.com/global/business/hdd/productSubType.do?group=&type=61&subtype=64) are excellent for TiVo use.