Drive Expansion and Drive Upgrade FAQ

[haidawei]

Originally Posted by a68oliver

Is the drive a Western Digital? When I upgraded to a WD 1TB drive, it refused to boot even from a cold boot. I had to run wdidle3 on it before it would work.

The drive is a Western Digital. But, I ran wdidle3 and disabled. But the 2TB drive still will not get past the "Welcome..." screen.

I upgraded my TivoHD what seems like a couple of years ago to a 1TB drive, ran wdidle3 and that worked without any problems.

But, my Series3 has been a bit more stubborn. Would starting with an original image on a 1.5TB drive be the problem? Don't see why it would matter, but maybe I am missing something?

[unitron]

Originally Posted by haidawei

The drive is a Western Digital. But, I ran wdidle3 and disabled. But the 2TB drive still will not get past the "Welcome..." screen.

I upgraded my TivoHD what seems like a couple of years ago to a 1TB drive, ran wdidle3 and that worked without any problems.

But, my Series3 has been a bit more stubborn. Would starting with an original image on a 1.5TB drive be the problem? Don't see why it would matter, but maybe I am missing something?

Start reading here

http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb...33#post9168233

[lnd1313]

I have the original series 3 that came with a 250GB drive.
If I buy a 2TB drive from WeaKnees or dvr upgrade can I use WinMFS to transfer my current recordings from the 1TB that I am using now?

[unitron]

Originally Posted by lnd1313

I have the original series 3 that came with a 250GB drive.
If I buy a 2TB drive from WeaKnees or dvr upgrade can I use WinMFS to transfer my current recordings from the 1TB that I am using now?

The only reason to buy from them instead of just buying a blank hard drive is to get a drive that's been pre-imaged.

If it's been pre-imaged, there's nothing WinMFS can do for it except maybe screw it up.

Contact Weaknees, tell them what model TiVo you have and what drive you currently have in it and see if they'll give you a quote on letting you send them that drive to copy to the 2TB you'd be buying from them so that when they send you both drives your settings and recordings will already be on the 2TB drive.

The fact that you asked the question in the first place tells me that you don't know enough to do that yourself.

Don't be insulted, I know just enough to know that I don't know enough to be able to do it, either.

[lnd1313]

I was assuming that the information on the first page of this thread was correct and that there was a size limit of just over a 1TB for the series 3 TCD648250B Tivo.
No offense taken but if an off the shelf 2TB drive will work after following the B instructions on the first page of this thread I would like to try.

[unitron]

Originally Posted by lnd1313

I was assuming that the information on the first page of this thread was correct and that there was a size limit of just over a 1TB for the series 3 TCD648250B Tivo.
No offense taken but if an off the shelf 2TB drive will work after following the B instructions on the first page of this thread I would like to try.

The first page is informative, instructive, and somewhat out of date.

As I just said to someone else, start reading here

http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb...33#post9168233

[ThreeSoFar]

Samsung green 2TB drive, $99 after coupon code:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc..._-22152245-L0B

[unitron]

Originally Posted by ThreeSoFar

Samsung green 2TB drive, $99 after coupon code:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc..._-22152245-L0B

In my present crowded circumstances that would be tempting if the warranty only being 1 year long didn't make me think maybe there's something they know that I don't.

I'm pretty sure Samsung's warranties were longer before Seagate borged them.

[haidawei]

Originally Posted by unitron

Start reading here

http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb...33#post9168233

This is the exact thread that I started with since it seemed like the perfect fit for what I am trying to accomplish. My original image from Instant Cake only has 14 partitions instead of the 16 that they talk about in the thread that you reference above. But, I think that is because it is the original image and not an expanded one. That is why I thought that once I Supersized my 2TB drive, I would then see the 16 partitions and be on my way to getting the full capacity of the 2TB drive.

But, even after using the thread above as a reference, supersizing and running wdidle3, I am still getting stuck on the Welcome screen with the 2TB drive. I appreciate the continued help.

[ThreeSoFar]

Originally Posted by unitron

In my present crowded circumstances that would be tempting if the warranty only being 1 year long didn't make me think maybe there's something they know that I don't.

I'm pretty sure Samsung's warranties were longer before Seagate borged them.

They were three years, IIRC. I didn't realize Samsung had dumped its HDs on Seagate.

Damn. I used Samsungs years ago back when WD drives sucked. Loved them. Still spinning it one or two of my TiVos.

[unitron]

Originally Posted by haidawei

This is the exact thread that I started with since it seemed like the perfect fit for what I am trying to accomplish. My original image from Instant Cake only has 14 partitions instead of the 16 that they talk about in the thread that you reference above. But, I think that is because it is the original image and not an expanded one. That is why I thought that once I Supersized my 2TB drive, I would then see the 16 partitions and be on my way to getting the full capacity of the 2TB drive.

But, even after using the thread above as a reference, supersizing and running wdidle3, I am still getting stuck on the Welcome screen with the 2TB drive. I appreciate the continued help.

I wish you had a 1TB drive instead of a 1.5

Let me do some reading and give this some thought.

I've gone from a 1TB to a 2 on an HD and learned some tricks in the process, but I've never worked with a 1.5, so that's going to require some extra headscratching on my part.

If

[Lussie]

Originally Posted by haidawei

This is the exact thread that I started with since it seemed like the perfect fit for what I am trying to accomplish. My original image from Instant Cake only has 14 partitions instead of the 16 that they talk about in the thread that you reference above. But, I think that is because it is the original image and not an expanded one. That is why I thought that once I Supersized my 2TB drive, I would then see the 16 partitions and be on my way to getting the full capacity of the 2TB drive.

But, even after using the thread above as a reference, supersizing and running wdidle3, I am still getting stuck on the Welcome screen with the 2TB drive. I appreciate the continued help.

haidawei: Do you have an "AppleFree" Partition on that 2TB Drive?

Can you post the 2TB drive's partition map?

Cheers,
-Kevin

[haidawei]

Originally Posted by Lussie

haidawei: Do you have an "AppleFree" Partition on that 2TB Drive?

Can you post the 2TB drive's partition map?

Here is the 2TB drive's partition map:

#: type name length base ( size )
1 Apple_partition_map Apple 63@1 ( 31.5K)
2 Image Bootstrap 1 4096@485364800 ( 2.0M)
3 Image Kernel 1 4096@485368896 ( 2.0M)
4 Ext2 Root 1 262144@485372992 ( 128.0M)
5 Image Bootstrap 2 4096@485635136 ( 2.0M)
6 Image Kernel 2 4096@485639232 ( 2.0M)
7 Ext2 Root 2 262144@485643328 ( 128.0M)
8 Swap Linux swap 262144@485905472 ( 128.0M)
9 Ext2 /var 524288@486167616 ( 256.0M)
10 MFS MFS application region 589824@486691904 ( 288.0M)
11 MFS MFS media region 216747008@268617792 ( 103.4G)
12 MFS MFS application region 2 589824@487281728 ( 288.0M)
13 MFS MFS media region 2 268617728@64 ( 128.1G)
14 Apple_Free Extra 3419157615@487871552 ( 1.6T)

Total SA SD Hours: 259 Total DTV SD Hours: 226 95 % Free
Software: 11.0k-01-2-648 Tivo Model: TCD648250B

I know from the upgrade thread that I am supposed to use iBored and then remove the Apple_Free Extra partition. But that is when I am supposed to have 16 partitions. But, I am always getting 14 partitions. I guess that I am not expanding/Supersizing correctly.

I have removed the Apple_Free partition (in a previous attempt) and then renumbered the partitions as described in the instructions. But when I re-enter WinMFS and run MFSadd, I get an error message (I can't remember the exact message). I then turned MFSSuperSize on. But, when I went back to MFSInfo, I get another error message that says something like "This is not a Tivo drive!"

[sbourgeo]

Originally Posted by ThreeSoFar

Samsung green 2TB drive, $99 after coupon code:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc..._-22152245-L0B

I bought four of these from newegg for my NAS about a month ago and they have been "Seagate-ized" and are not necessarily the same as the original Samsung HD204UI drives. They prominently list Seagate part number ST2000DL004 along with a small nod to the "HD204UI" model number. I have no idea of how well they work in a TiVo though...

[unitron]

Originally Posted by haidawei

Here is the 2TB drive's partition map:

#: type name length base ( size )
1 Apple_partition_map Apple 63@1 ( 31.5K)
2 Image Bootstrap 1 4096@485364800 ( 2.0M)
3 Image Kernel 1 4096@485368896 ( 2.0M)
4 Ext2 Root 1 262144@485372992 ( 128.0M)
5 Image Bootstrap 2 4096@485635136 ( 2.0M)
6 Image Kernel 2 4096@485639232 ( 2.0M)
7 Ext2 Root 2 262144@485643328 ( 128.0M)
8 Swap Linux swap 262144@485905472 ( 128.0M)
9 Ext2 /var 524288@486167616 ( 256.0M)
10 MFS MFS application region 589824@486691904 ( 288.0M)
11 MFS MFS media region 216747008@268617792 ( 103.4G)
12 MFS MFS application region 2 589824@487281728 ( 288.0M)
13 MFS MFS media region 2 268617728@64 ( 128.1G)
14 Apple_Free Extra 3419157615@487871552 ( 1.6T)

Total SA SD Hours: 259 Total DTV SD Hours: 226 95 % Free
Software: 11.0k-01-2-648 Tivo Model: TCD648250B

I know from the upgrade thread that I am supposed to use iBored and then remove the Apple_Free Extra partition. But that is when I am supposed to have 16 partitions. But, I am always getting 14 partitions. I guess that I am not expanding/Supersizing correctly.

I have removed the Apple_Free partition (in a previous attempt) and then renumbered the partitions as described in the instructions. But when I re-enter WinMFS and run MFSadd, I get an error message (I can't remember the exact message). I then turned MFSSuperSize on. But, when I went back to MFSInfo, I get another error message that says something like "This is not a Tivo drive!"

If you used WinMFS to get that partition map, then it's currently recognizing the drive as a TiVo drive, so click on mfsadd and see what it will let you get away with.

[haidawei]

Originally Posted by unitron

If you used WinMFS to get that partition map, then it's currently recognizing the drive as a TiVo drive, so click on mfsadd and see what it will let you get away with.

I tried mfsadd again and now it seemed to work. I must have clicked something wrong the last time. Anyway, here is the new, updated partition map:

#: type name length base ( size )
1 Apple_partition_map Apple 63@1 ( 31.5K)
2 Image Bootstrap 1 4096@485364800 ( 2.0M)
3 Image Kernel 1 4096@485368896 ( 2.0M)
4 Ext2 Root 1 262144@485372992 ( 128.0M)
5 Image Bootstrap 2 4096@485635136 ( 2.0M)
6 Image Kernel 2 4096@485639232 ( 2.0M)
7 Ext2 Root 2 262144@485643328 ( 128.0M)
8 Swap Linux swap 262144@485905472 ( 128.0M)
9 Ext2 /var 524288@486167616 ( 256.0M)
10 MFS MFS application region 589824@486691904 ( 288.0M)
11 MFS MFS media region 216747008@268617792 ( 103.4G)
12 MFS MFS application region 2 589824@487281728 ( 288.0M)
13 MFS MFS media region 2 268617728@64 ( 128.1G)
14 MFS MFS App by Winmfs 2048@487871552 ( 1.0M)
15 MFS MFS Media by Winmfs 3419136000@487873600 ( 1.6T)

Total SA SD Hours: 2083 Total DTV SD Hours: 1818 99 % Free
Software: 11.0k-01-2-648 Tivo Model: TCD648250B

I am now up to 15 partitions, but I now do not have an Apple_Free partition.

[unitron]

Originally Posted by haidawei

I tried mfsadd again and now it seemed to work. I must have clicked something wrong the last time. Anyway, here is the new, updated partition map:

#: type name length base ( size )
1 Apple_partition_map Apple 63@1 ( 31.5K)
2 Image Bootstrap 1 4096@485364800 ( 2.0M)
3 Image Kernel 1 4096@485368896 ( 2.0M)
4 Ext2 Root 1 262144@485372992 ( 128.0M)
5 Image Bootstrap 2 4096@485635136 ( 2.0M)
6 Image Kernel 2 4096@485639232 ( 2.0M)
7 Ext2 Root 2 262144@485643328 ( 128.0M)
8 Swap Linux swap 262144@485905472 ( 128.0M)
9 Ext2 /var 524288@486167616 ( 256.0M)
10 MFS MFS application region 589824@486691904 ( 288.0M)
11 MFS MFS media region 216747008@268617792 ( 103.4G)
12 MFS MFS application region 2 589824@487281728 ( 288.0M)
13 MFS MFS media region 2 268617728@64 ( 128.1G)
14 MFS MFS App by Winmfs 2048@487871552 ( 1.0M)
15 MFS MFS Media by Winmfs 3419136000@487873600 ( 1.6T)

Total SA SD Hours: 2083 Total DTV SD Hours: 1818 99 % Free
Software: 11.0k-01-2-648 Tivo Model: TCD648250B

I am now up to 15 partitions, but I now do not have an Apple_Free partition.

Looks like the entire 2TB drive is used.

Take the number on the left

3419136000@487873600

and add it to the number on the right and see how that compares with the LBA number on the label on the top of the drive.

Then try the drive in the TiVo.

If it doesn't work, maybe you forgot to take care of this part first

"hopefully, you have Tivo Software version 11.0 on your tivo"

since you started with whatever version is on IC and if you mentioned connecting to TiVo, Inc's servers to update, I missed it.

If that's the case, go back and do what you did, but when you get IC on the 1.5, boot it in the TiVo and let it update.

(then for safety's sake, use mfsinfo to see which partitions you're booting from. then use bootfix or whatever Spike called it, option 1 sets it to boot from 2,3, and 4, and option 2 sets it to boot from 5,6, and 7. You want whichever changes what you have, then put it back in the TiVo and let it update again, that way you have the latest on both main and alternate boot partition sets)

Once you've got the 1.5 squared away with all the right info and settings on it, go back to copying it to the 2

[lnd1313]

Can someone post a list or a link to a list of 2TB drives that are compatible with a series 3 TCD648250B Tivo? Or what requirements a compatible drive would need to possess?

[unitron]

Originally Posted by lnd1313

Can someone post a list or a link to a list of 2TB drives that are compatible with a series 3 TCD648250B Tivo? Or what requirements a compatible drive would need to possess?

Considering that people are just now figuring out how to use 2TB drives in original S3s, probably not.

Even TiVo, Inc., themselves might not be able to answer that second question adequately without extensive testing and experimentation.

In other words, you're going to be a pioneer.

You know, the guy who gets the arrows in the back.

[haidawei]

Originally Posted by unitron

Looks like the entire 2TB drive is used.

I tried the 2TB drive again and it worked. The Tivo booted up and it now shows 318 hours of HD. I must have done something wrong with MFSadd the first time.

So, here is the synopsis:

1. Instant Cake used to get original image
2. Image put onto a 1.5TB drive
3. Upgraded to latest software version (11.0.k)
4. Used WinMFS for truncated backup
5. Restored the backup to the 2TB drive
6. Ran MFSadd and SuperSized the drive

Hopefully things will be stable. Thanks to all that helped.

[unitron]

Originally Posted by haidawei

I tried the 2TB drive again and it worked. The Tivo booted up and it now shows 318 hours of HD. I must have done something wrong with MFSadd the first time.

So, here is the synopsis:

1. Instant Cake used to get original image
2. Image put onto a 1.5TB drive
3. Upgraded to latest software version (11.0.k)
4. Used WinMFS for truncated backup
5. Restored the backup to the 2TB drive
6. Ran MFSadd and SuperSized the drive

Hopefully things will be stable. Thanks to all that helped.

Congrats, now tell us again the exact brand, model, and mfg. date of the 1.5 and the 2TB drives since any of that's probably a page or 2 back and we should think of future searchers.

[Lussie]

Originally Posted by haidawei

I tried the 2TB drive again and it worked. The Tivo booted up and it now shows 318 hours of HD.

haidawei That's Awesome!

Congratulations.

So it seems like Apple Free partition is the culprit.

Anyone try a 2.5GB or 3GB drive yet?

Cheers,
-Kevin

[haidawei]

Originally Posted by unitron

Congrats, now tell us again the exact brand, model, and mfg. date of the 1.5 and the 2TB drives since any of that's probably a page or 2 back and we should think of future searchers.

Western Digital Caviar Green WD15EARS - November 12, 2010

Western Digital Caviar Green WD20EARX - May 18, 2012

[unitron]

Originally Posted by haidawei

Western Digital Caviar Green WD15EARS - November 12, 2010

Western Digital Caviar Green WD20EARX - May 18, 2012

Thanks.

Does that EARS say anything on the label about advanced format?

(I'm sure the EARX does)

[haidawei]

Originally Posted by unitron

Thanks.

Does that EARS say anything on the label about advanced format?

(I'm sure the EARX does)

Both drives say that they are an Advanced Format Drive.

[Soapm]

The next test is filling up the drive. Good luck...

[Sam Ray]

Originally Posted by bkdtv

This FAQ is divided into four sections: (I) Summary of Expansion Options, (II) Introduction, (III) Officially Supported External Drives, (IV) Unsupported External Drives, and (V) Internal Drive Upgrades.

I am new here and I have much to learn.

We have a Premiere (TCD746320) that is nearly two years old. Apparently the hard drive is bad. We have already purchased a Premiere XL4. We want to repair the old Tivo.

I have read the first 20 pages of this discussion. I see very little relevant to internal drives; nothing useful for me. Will I be rewarded if I spend another two hours (probably more) trying to find something in this discussion? I assume not.

So please tell me this much. Did I misunderstand what is meant by "Internal Drive Upgrades"? Perhaps my misunderstanding is the assumption that the discussion following the "FAQ" is also relevant to "Internal Drive Upgrades".

[unitron]

Originally Posted by Sam Ray

I am new here and I have much to learn.

We have a Premiere (TCD746320) that is nearly two years old. Apparently the hard drive is bad. We have already purchased a Premiere XL4. We want to repair the old Tivo.

I have read the first 20 pages of this discussion. I see very little relevant to internal drives; nothing useful for me. Will I be rewarded if I spend another two hours (probably more) trying to find something in this discussion? I assume not.

So please tell me this much. Did I misunderstand what is meant by "Internal Drive Upgrades"? Perhaps my misunderstanding is the assumption that the discussion following the "FAQ" is also relevant to "Internal Drive Upgrades".

An internal drive upgrade is where you replace the hard drive that came inside the TiVo when it was new, generally with a drive with greater capacity that can hold more recordings.

This became harder, but not impossible, to do when the Series 4 platform (the Premiere and what has followed) came out because all of the software developed for users to do stuff with their TiVos that TiVo hadn't really planned on, well that software was modified some as the Series 2s replaced the Series1s and the S3s the S2s, but the way things were set up on the original hard drives remained the same enough for compatibility.

But they changed something in the S4s, and the previous "hacker" software (which really isn't hacker software) no longer works and might screw up an S4 drive, so you have a fair amount to learn about what not to do before you take your old Premiere apart and hook the hard drive to a computer.


Were you using that Premiere with an external drive attached as well?

Why do you think the hard drive is the problem?

What, exactly, are the TiVo's symptoms?

And was it hooked up via HDMI cable?

[steve614]

Originally Posted by Sam Ray

I am new here and I have much to learn.

We have a Premiere (TCD746320) that is nearly two years old. Apparently the hard drive is bad. We have already purchased a Premiere XL4. We want to repair the old Tivo.

Yeah, this is the Series 3 section of the forum, and the Premiere is based on a different platform, so this thread doesn't really help your situation.

Does that Premiere have a product lifetime subscription?
If so, then you need to get hold of another hard drive with the Premiere software on it.

Buy an unsubscribed Premiere from <website of your choice> and transplant the hard drive from it to your Premiere.

You'll have to perform a clear and delete everything upon initial boot in order to make the transplanted hard drive work properly.

[Sam Ray]

Originally Posted by unitron

Were you using that Premiere with an external drive attached as well?

Why do you think the hard drive is the problem?

What, exactly, are the TiVo's symptoms?

And was it hooked up via HDMI cable?

No external drive or anything extra like that.

The Tivo customer support (more than one person) says it is likely the hard drive. My impression was that it is not, but Tivo people said it probably is.

It pauses frequently, doing anything. If we are in the menus, then it will pause for about three seconds, then work for three seconds, then pause.

I also did the hard drive test, where we do the pause and then 54 at startup. The SMART test failed three of the four tests at the beginning; it only passed the initialization. I tried to run the overnight test (and other tests) and it was unable to do that (those).

Originally Posted by steve614

Yeah, this is the Series 3 section of the forum, and the Premiere is based on a different platform, so this thread doesn't really help your situation.

Does that Premiere have a product lifetime subscription?
If so, then you need to get hold of another hard drive with the Premiere software on it.

Buy an unsubscribed Premiere from <website of your choice> and transplant the hard drive from it to your Premiere.

You'll have to perform a clear and delete everything upon initial boot in order to make the transplanted hard drive work properly.

Sorry about being in the Series 3 forum. I will try to keep my further replies in this forum brief.

No lifetime subscription.

We could return the device to Tivo for repair but apparently it will cost as much as buying a new one and if we buy a new one we probably (such as if we buy it from Amazon) do not need to pay for shipping.