Update Solution of an HR10-250 with a Broken Modem???

parzec · 08-11-2009, 03:37 PM

Is it possible to take a drive out of an HR10-250 (broken modem), put it in another HR10-250 (working modem) force a software update to download the slices **without first doing a clear and delete to keep the association with the original HR10** then put the drive back in the original HR10-250 to complete the update of the system software?

Seems like it *could* work so long as the HR10 with a good modem can download slices to the drive even if the drive isn't associated with that specific unit, then without rebooting to force the update -- put it into the HR10 with a bad modem where the software will be updated and the drive will already be associated with the hardware.... Any thoughts?

Matt L · 08-12-2009, 12:15 AM

No. Hard drive is tied to the unit, you will get error messages and it will request a clear and delete to correct the problem.

stevel · 08-12-2009, 08:40 AM

I'm uncertain this would stop a phone call to TiVo from succeeding, but I suspect the mismatch of service numbers between the disk and board might prevent the update from being triggered.

If it were me, I'd "hack" the box to enable networking and apply the update manually. Indeed, this is how I have done the last half-dozen or so updates on my box, which has not been connected to a phone line in years.

cramer · 08-18-2009, 01:28 AM

You can use the serial port for the "daily call" -- no hacking necessary (I have 3 of them doing that right now.) There are several threads detailing the process.

parzec · 08-20-2009, 07:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cramer

You can use the serial port for the "daily call" -- no hacking necessary (I have 3 of them doing that right now.) There are several threads detailing the process.

Yep -- that was my next step, unfortunately I got rid of all my serial modems a long time ago -- now to hit ebay.

cramer · 08-28-2009, 10:30 PM

YOU DO NOT NEED A MODEM.

Plug the serial port into just about any computer. Fire up ppp on that port and you're good. (there are howto's for the common OS choices. I a UNIX(tm) person, so I need no howto :-))

parzec · 09-08-2009, 08:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cramer

YOU DO NOT NEED A MODEM.

Plug the serial port into just about any computer. Fire up ppp on that port and you're good. (there are howto's for the common OS choices. I a UNIX(tm) person, so I need no howto :-))

Having some trouble with PPP -- the Tivo connects to my computer with a PPP session but gets hung up on negotiating. Have you had one work with PPP recently?

cramer · 09-11-2009, 03:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by parzec

Having some trouble with PPP -- the Tivo connects to my computer with a PPP session but gets hung up on negotiating. Have you had one work with PPP recently?

As far as I know, it's working -- it's not complaining about not being able to call the mothership. The device providing PPP service has to be able to route traffic for the tivo (i.e. NAT, internet connection sharing, etc.)

In my case, the router (cisco 1760) knows how to NAT traffic for anything -- anything leaving e0/0 gets NAT'd. There's a route for the PPP subnet (192.168.10.0/24) to the machine handling PPP (199.72.252.13 -- I never renumbered my internal network, sue me.) If in doubt, you are a man-in-the-middle, so download wireshark and watch the packets.

I run pppd in passive mode meaning it sits idle waiting for traffic. When the tivo terminates it's connection, pppd resets and goes right back to waiting. Also set it to either not ask for any authentication, and/or accept anything that's presented.

dwynne · 09-11-2009, 07:06 PM

Mine all work fine with PPP any time I want to "Call them in". I hook them up to a laptop and force a call as I have several to do and none are hooked up all the time to a PC.

When I tried to rescue a failed drive HR10-250 using instant cake it would NOT work on PPP (sent garbage strings out the port) and since I have not "real" phone line I had to find and restore an MFSTools .BAK image. That worked fine - the "first call" was made by PPP. I complained via e-mail and form to the cake folks but never got and answer (or a refund).

So normally you do not have to have a modem or phone line you can do most any call via PPP.

A good idea is to pull your working drive and make a full or all but programs backup of (whichever you have free space to hold). Then you can restore your own image with the newer software if there is a problem. I know it took me MONTHS to get the updated software on the restored image HR10-250.

Dennis