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View Full Version : Moving TiVo recordings to a PC, HELP!!!

progman
08-21-2008, 03:02 PM
Is there a way to retreive recorded programs from a malfunctioning box, i.e. the machine continuously shuts down then powers up. I don't know the reason for this malfunction, but I do have 150 hours of programming that I would rather not lose because I couldn't get to it. As far as I know the hard drive is fine. There is just some other issue that's blocking access to the content.
I have the Hughes combo DirecTV / TiVo box, and according to the tech support guy at TiVo, it was manufactured before TiVo Desktop was written. So there is no software on the recorder to communicate with a PC. Help me Mr. Wizard!
weaknees
08-21-2008, 03:18 PM
Right - at this point, you can't network it, and you can't get the files right off the drive.

The only option would be to get it running a bit, play the recordings, and using a digitizing card on a PC to record them.

Most likely, not worth the trouble.
the new guy
08-21-2008, 03:22 PM
You cannot copy programs from the hard drive on a DTiVo unit unless it has been hacked, and even then the DTiVo would have to be able to run for long enough to transfer the files. The files containing the shows are encrypted when they are recorded, unless, again, you have hacked it to operate otherwise. Retrieval of programs from a hacked drive connected to a PC is far from a trivial operation, and completely useless/impossible on a stock drive.

In any case, this forum does not allow anything more than vague mentions of program extraction. You may be out of luck, I'm afraid.
stevel
08-21-2008, 03:24 PM
Try the "57" kickstart procedure outlined here (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/archive/index.php/t-295501.html). It may help (or may not).
Dkerr24
08-21-2008, 08:20 PM
Like previously mentioned, if you haven't already hacked the unit with the zipper script, the files are encrypted to the unit and will only play from it. You could transfer them to a DVD recorder, but that would take 150 hours (1x speed) and countless DVD +/- R discs.

Doesn't seem to be worth the effort unless it was some irreplaceable family videos.