Add HD to already 'upgraded' unit

[Coppertop808]

Havn't been able to answer this by searching/reading for the past two hours on DVRupgrade and Tivocommunity, so here it is...

I have a DSR 704 that I upgraded with an 80GB drive and 'fixed' with PTV InstantCake to add networking, HMO, etc... I have another 80GB drive I want to install to add capacity (2 x 80GB drives). The question is.. how do I go about doing this?

Do I need basically start all over with two drives installed in a PC and 're-bake my cake' OR can I setup the second drive and add/install it in my Tivo without affecting the currently installed drive?

If I do have to 're-bake' boths drives together, will that affect what is already on the drive, recordings, settings, season passes, etc???

Thanks for any guidance on my ignorance... :o

[classicsat]

Word of caution: Running two drives carries certain risk, in added heat an power draw, and if you lose one drive, you lose the system. I recommend you not use either 80GB drive in a dual drive system, but a single large drive, being drives are cheap these days.

That said, if you insist, connect both drives on the same IDE chain in a PC, boot MFStools, and mfsadd the "new" to the existing drive.

[Coppertop808]

Word of caution: Running two drives carries certain risk, in added heat an power draw, and if you lose one drive, you lose the system. I recommend you not use either 80GB drive in a dual drive system, but a single large drive, being drives are cheap these days.
I agree with what your saying, and I might do that in the end. I've got a 80GB just sitting here so it's hard to justify buying another drive when I can add 80GB for free. But it does add more risk too... hmmm.. decisions.. :rolleyes:

That said, if you insist, connect both drives on the same IDE chain in a PC, boot MFStools, and mfsadd the "new" to the existing drive.
Thanks! I read something similar after I posted this but still wasn't sure if it would be that simple. Just didn't have the right 'search' terms. Will look into using mfsadd if I do go that route. :up:

Thanks again...

[mr.unnatural]

Word of caution: Running two drives carries certain risk, in added heat an power draw, and if you lose one drive, you lose the system. I recommend you not use either 80GB drive in a dual drive system, but a single large drive, being drives are cheap these days.

That said, if you insist, connect both drives on the same IDE chain in a PC, boot MFStools, and mfsadd the "new" to the existing drive.
Gawd, I wish I had a nickel for each post like this. It makes absolutely no difference if you have one or two drives in your system with but a few minor exceptions. The additional heat generated is well within the operating specs of any hard drive being manufactured today so it's completely irrelevent unless your fan fails. Even then the drives will probably go on operating for quite some time with no problems.

The extra load on the power supply is generally an issue only when trying to use dual late model Seagates (they tend to put a heavy load on the power supply at bootup but are fine afterwards; there is a simple device that can be used to insert a delay when applying power at bootup to reduce the load to a tolerable level). If you lose one drive in a single drive setup you still "lose the system" so what's the difference? (I have to admit that this statement is my favorite dumb argument against having two drives, yet everyone stresses it like it really means something. :rolleyes: ) I've been running dual drive setups in my Tivos for years with no problems. In fact, the only drive failures I've seen were in single-drive systems.

That being said, a single large drive would definitely be better in terms of cost and simplicity of setup. Dual drives require a special mounting bracket, except in the case of the series 1 DTivos and series 2 1st gen SA models, a power splitter, and a longer IDE cable (usually supplied with any new retail drive kit).

I find it's usually better to connect the Tivo A and B drives to different IDE cables but it shouldn't make all that much difference. However, it is advisable to connect the Tivo drive to a separate bus than the FAT32 drive containing your backup image. The setup I've always used, with 100% success rate I might add, is as follows:

primary master (hda) = FAT32 drive
primary slave (hdb) = Tivo B drive, as applicable
secondary master (hdc) = Tivo A drive
secondary slave (hdd) = CDROM