Replacement Hard Drives - Options

iWish · 08-10-2012, 06:40 PM

Premier Hard Drive seems to have died. Stuck at start up screen and S.M.A.R.T. testing incates "Fail 7" for both short test and extended test. Since I have lifetime want to replace the hard drive.

I don't want to format a replacement drive myself as it seems a little technical so was looking at amazon and ebay for already formated drives.

Noticed that there are some Premier XL units available near or even below what a formated replacement drive costs.

Is there any reason why I can't buy the XL and just take drive and put it in my unit with lifetime????

I figure this way I get other replacement parts and a working XL assuming I can't get my current unit to work.

Thoughts and feedback much appreciated!!!!

9300170 · 08-10-2012, 08:30 PM

Why not just buy one from weaknees?

MeInDallas · 08-10-2012, 08:35 PM

Here is a Premiere XL for $99 on Ebay, you can buy and swap the drive out with.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/TiVo-Premier...#ht_720wt_1113

MeInDallas · 08-10-2012, 08:52 PM

I'm wondering now is that actually an XL because I think the XL has the "XL" letters on the front of it. Might be listed wrong.

iWish · 08-10-2012, 09:00 PM

Weakness prices are high compared to some Amazon and EBay sellers.

Good point on the XL. Will double check if I go with that seller.

dlfl · 08-10-2012, 09:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iWish

Weakness prices are high compared to some Amazon and EBay sellers.

Good point on the XL. Will double check if I go with that seller.

Look at DVR_Dude on ebay. Good reputation based on posts here.

ThAbtO · 08-10-2012, 11:43 PM

Premiere (TCD 746xxx) and Premiere XL (TCD748000) are slightly different models with different Tivo software on the drive, so you cannot move a XL drive to a regular Premiere. Another difference is the TCD748 has THX while TCD746 does not.

lillevig · 08-11-2012, 08:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iWish

Premier Hard Drive seems to have died. Stuck at start up screen and S.M.A.R.T. testing incates "Fail 7" for both short test and extended test. Since I have lifetime want to replace the hard drive.

I don't want to format a replacement drive myself as it seems a little technical so was looking at amazon and ebay for already formated drives.

Noticed that there are some Premier XL units available near or even below what a formated replacement drive costs.

Is there any reason why I can't buy the XL and just take drive and put it in my unit with lifetime????

I figure this way I get other replacement parts and a working XL assuming I can't get my current unit to work.

Thoughts and feedback much appreciated!!!!

No, the XL drive won't work in the regular Premiere. What you could do is buy a used Premeire and stick that drive in yours. I picked up a new Premiere off of eBay for $51/shipped just for spare parts. The technical part of imaging a drive is not that tough except that Premiere drives can only be copied (not a stand alone image like older Tivos). The JMFS software is free and the copying can be done using a pair of inexpensive USB to SATA cables.

iWish · 09-11-2012, 12:08 AM

UPDATE: Picked up a refurbished TiVo for $50. Both units are 746 series but replacement drive isn't working in my unit with lifetime. I get the start up screen but then either a striped grey and white screen or Dark grey screen. Any ideas. Thanks!!!!

LifeIsABeach · 09-11-2012, 06:14 AM

Try putting the hard drive back into the refurb TiVo and see if it boots. Maybe the drive is bad.

iWish · 09-11-2012, 10:11 AM

Refurbished Tivo and hard drive successfully gets through start up screen so doesn't appear to be bad replacement drive.

LifeIsABeach · 09-12-2012, 05:58 AM

Maybe there is something wrong with the original TiVo. I know it failed the disk tests, but does the original drive happen to boot up if put in the new TiVo?

iWish · 09-12-2012, 10:25 AM

Good news. I did get the new drive working in the unit with lifetime. Not sure why it wouldn't work the first few times. I did put it back in the refurbished tivo and updated the software and then reinstalled in the lifetimed tivo. At first, I got a error 51, but after a reboot it seems to be fine. Crossing my fingers it will just work for a few more years.