New Unit or Hard Drive?

[aztex999]

Hi everyone,

I've got two problems that are recent to my TiVo. It's a Series 2 80, and normally it has served me well for over 3-1/2 years, and I have no need to upgrade to HD (recently laid off - so our HDTV plans are on hold).

My problems are this - I get a lot of tiling and "frozen" frames (some lasting up to 10 seconds), not just on recordings but even if I'm a few minutes behind live TV. Sometimes I can watch a whole hour with no problems; other times it happens every 3 or 4 minutes. No rhyme or reason.

Another problem I'm having is that 3 or 4 times in the past month, when I attempt to play a recorded show, I get a message to the effect that TiVo didn't record it because it couldn't get a signal - it went so far as to suggest I was trying to record a channel I don't receive (like ABC??!!).

To those of you with more experience than I have with TiVos, does this sound like a hard drive problem, or has the unit itself become sick from old age?

If it's the hard drive, I see that there is plenty of help here on how to replace one. And I've got a 120GB HD just sitting in a computer I never use. If it's the unit, what's with the prices? I bought my series 2 in 2005 for $99 - now I can't find one for under $150!! You'd think that with everyone going HiDef, they'd be giving away the non-HD DVRs.

Thanks for any help.

[txporter]

It sounds sort of like a signal problem more than a hard drive issue. Has your tivo ever spontaneously rebooted itself? If so, does it get stuck at the few more minutes screen? That is what normally happens with a drive issue. Possibly some of the other here on the forums can help you diagnose the root of the problem.

As for the hard drive upgrade, it might be a decent idea to pull the drive and backup the image just in case. Check out winMFS (http://www.mfslive.org/winmfs/). It is an easy to use program for windows that will let you mount your tivo drive and backup an image of the operating system (truncated backup). This will allow you to re-image another drive (like your 120g if it is an IDE drive) with the operating system if it is your drive that is on the fritz. I have done this with multiple drives and tivos. I found this adapter (http://www.amazon.com/Sabrent-SATA-C35U-Serial-Converter-Adapter/dp/B000E6NGBU)to be extremely useful for this process. Also, you will need a T10 torx wrench to open up your tivo (and possibly a T15 inside your tivo).

As for buying a replacement unit, I would suggest using craigslist for your area or ebay. Here in Austin, I see about 10 listings in the last week for Series2 unit in the $25-$60 range. Hopefully you can find something similar in your area.

Jason

[aztex999]

Thanks, txporter.

I've only noticed one unexpected reboot - and it was in the wee hours of the morning - so it might have actually been a scheduled one.

I've never had a problem getting past the "Just a few minutes more" screen.

After I started this thread, I did manage to find a big thread related to "stuttering," freezing, and pixelating, which most people associate with HD problems. I think I'll check the temperature, and in the meantime I'll read up on replacing the HD, starting with your suggestions. And yes, my 120GB is IDE.

From what I've read, though, don't TiVos have 2 HDs? A primary and secondary? Or is that just the models that can record two shows at once (mine can't - in order to watch one program while I record another, I had to use a splitter from my cable box and a second input into the TV)?

My fear of buying on eBay or Craigslist is that I'll end up with the same problem.

EDIT LATER: While checking the system, I found the temperature to be 39 (normal), and discovered it's only a 40GB, not 80, as I first thought.

Even if it's not the HD, I think I'll still buy an IDE-to-USB adaptor and run Win MFS. It'll triple the storage. The adapter will be a good way to wipe the 120GB HD without having to set up the whole computer. Not too bad for a $20 investment. Thanks again!

[txporter]

Tivos only have 1 drive, even the ones that can record 2 streams. There are some kits from weaknees and dvrupgrade that can be used to add a 2nd hard drive to Series1/2 machines and the series3 tivos can have an external drive added.

Make sure you look through the winMFS instructions. Biggest thing to note is this comment:

WinMFS is reported to work on the following Windows Versions:
Win XP Sp2 and Sp3, Win XP 64 Sp2, Win2003 Sp1, Win2003 64 Sp1, Vista, Vista 64

Windows Vista:
If you are using Windows Vista, you need admin rights and user access control disabled. It's discussed here (http://www.mfslive.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=341).

Windows Version to Avoid:
Win XP (original release), NT 4, Windows 2000 sp4 or earlier, ME or earlier.

Make sure you have at least Windows XP SP2 or Vista. If you have an earlier version of windows, the operating system will try to automount the tivo drive when you connect it. You will lose your boot sector on your tivo drive if that happens.

Jason

[aztex999]

Thanks again.
I'm running XP Sp3

I really don't need more than one drive - in over 3 years, I've only lost programs a couple times from the drive being full. Tripling my capacity should more than take care of my needs for the present. The reason I asked is because I was worried I might have to decide which drive to replace.

BTW - Just last night I got another message that TiVo couldn't record a program because of lack of a signal - and again, it was on a local network station. I even had the first minute or two recorded at the end of a program I recorded before it - so it didn't even have to change channels! Is this a bad sector on the disk, or a totally different problem?

[pdxsam]

Sounds like there's an issue with the signal coming into your dwelling. Might have the cable company come out and put a signal meter on your line. You could have water in one of the connections, it may have rusted out. There's a number of things it *COULD* be. As said earlier, it doesn't sound like the drive is the issue.

It could be a tuner issue with the TiVo, but I'd have the cable company come out and verify the signal is good up to the point where the cable connects to the TiVo

[aztex999]

Thanks, pdxsam.

We have two TVs set up - my wife and I sometimes have different tastes in what to watch. Where she watches TV occasionally, there is a cable DVR; the TiVo is in the living room. She does not have the problems I'm having when I'm having them, so I'm almost certain it's a "TiVo thing." As far as the stuttering/freezing/pixelating goes - it never happens watching live TV - only during paused TV and recordings. Sometimes we record the same thing. On her recordings - never a problem, whereas I get the "no signal" message (rarely - but increasing) or the stutter/freeze/pixelate thing.

I've already checked all the cable connections between all the components - perhaps I should replace the cable(s) going from the cable box to the TiVo. If that's the problem, it sure would be a cheap fix. It doesn't explain the other problems during playback, though.

Perhaps the two separate problems have separate causes.

[degobahjunk]

Aztex999 - I had the EXACT same thing start happening on my Series 2 40 hr for months! The freezing, stuttering, no signal, etc. Then the week before Christmas the screen just went grey/gray. If I try to unplug it & plug it back in the Welcome Powering Up screen appears for maybe 10 seconds, then the screen goes grey/gray again. I have lifetime service and am wondering if I get a new hard drive will I still have lifetime service? Can anyone help me with that? I'm not a technically oriented person, generally, though I did swap out the RAM in my laptop by following directions carefully. Is there a better/more reputable company that sells DIY TiVo hard drive repair kits or should I send it to a repair company like DVRupgrade? I have NO experience with any of this, so any help would be appreciated. We would really love to keep our Series 2 and just use it on our 2nd TV since we have lifetime service.

BTW, the stuttering, freezing, no signal problem is definitely with the TiVo, not the incoming cable service, for sure. We bought an HD recently because we can't not have a working TiVo once LOST starts airing again. And no problems with "no signal" anymore.

[classicsat]

Weaknees and DVRupgrade are considered reputable.
Changing the HDD yourself is pretty easy, easier with a prepared drive. Product Lifetime will not get lost, it is tied to the TSN which is stored in a chip on the system board. You may have to rune a C&DE on the new drive to marry it to the system board.

[mr.unnatural]

There are several DIY HD upgrade companies. You can buy upgrade kits through DVRUpgrade, Weaknees, or 9th Tee and probably several others. The kits are essentially plug and play in that all you have to do is swap out the hard drive. The skillset involved is pretty much limited to the use of a screwdriver with a Torx bit.

You will probably have to perform a Clear & Delete Everything from the Tivo menus because you'll initially get a hardware error #51 message with some of the upgrade drives. This is due to a mismatch of the software image installed on the replacement drive and your Tivo. Running a C&DE gets rid of the error message and allows normal operation. The process takes about an hour to complete.

[aztex999]

I think I'll order the IDE-to-USB converter, run Win MFS, and upgrade to my spare 120GB hard drive.

I'll let you all know how it worked once it's done.

Ironically, I've had no problems since I've posted on this forum - except for the one "signal error" but it was recorded (or not, I guess) a week ago.

[aztex999]

I gave this a bump because a "new' problem developed. After watching a few minutes of a recorded program, I turned everything off for the night and went to bed. A few days later, when I went to "resume playing," I got the "No signal" message again!
I tried a second time to play it; same "No signal" message.
On the third try, it actually resumed playing. I watched the remainder of the one-hour show.

So it might not be that it didn't record, but maybe that TiVo just thought it didn't?

I wish I would have tried a few more times on the other "No signal" recordings that I thought were blank.

It looks to me like TiVo is having a problem finding certain areas of the hard drive.

Has anyone else gone thru this?

[degobahjunk]

Aztex999 - I had the EXACT same thing start happening on my Series 2 40 hr for months! The freezing, stuttering, no signal, etc. Then the week before Christmas the screen just went grey/gray. If I try to unplug it & plug it back in the Welcome Powering Up screen appears for maybe 10 seconds, then the screen goes grey/gray again. I have lifetime service and am wondering if I get a new hard drive will I still have lifetime service? Can anyone help me with that? I'm not a technically oriented person, generally, though I did swap out the RAM in my laptop by following directions carefully. Is there a better/more reputable company that sells DIY TiVo hard drive repair kits or should I send it to a repair company like DVRupgrade? I have NO experience with any of this, so any help would be appreciated. We would really love to keep our Series 2 and just use it on our 2nd TV since we have lifetime service.

BTW, the stuttering, freezing, no signal problem is definitely with the TiVo, not the incoming cable service, for sure. We bought an HD recently because we can't not have a working TiVo once LOST starts airing again. And no problems with "no signal" anymore.

So I bought a hard drive and finally swapped it out 2 days ago. Now I just have to find my original instructions on how to hook it up. It's been so long, I've forgotten how. :o Keeping my fingers crossed that all goes well!

[azisme]

So I bought a hard drive and finally swapped it out 2 days ago. Now I just have to find my original instructions on how to hook it up. It's been so long, I've forgotten how. :o Keeping my fingers crossed that all goes well!

Please post an update when you get it going to verify if it fixed the problem. I am having the exact same problem and I have a 300GB in my closet just gathering dust.

[jrtroo]

I've had this problem, jsut give it a try and see if it works. If you already have teh drive, tehre is nothing to loose.

[degobahjunk]

I finally got my old TiVo series 2 hooked up and it works like a charm!!!!!!!!!!!!! dvr_dude's preformatted hard drive works exactly as advertised! No more freezing, stuttering, pixelating! Thanks for all the great help & advice!

[TiVoEvan74]

Congratulations! It probably feels like a brand new unit. We really do rely on our Tivos, so getting it back working as it should is just wonderful!