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reliable 2.5" drive for Tivo Bolt?

8K views 32 replies 13 participants last post by  richsadams 
#1 ·
I've now killed 2 of the Samsung/Seagate 4TB drives, in under a week each, it's obvious to me that these cheap laptop drives cannot stand up to the rigors of DVR usage, spinning 24 X 7 with heavy usage.

This is the drive, FYI:
Samsung Momentus 4TB SATA III 5400 RPM 2.5-inch Hard Drive (ST4000LM016)

Has anyone found a RELIABLE, 2, 3 or 4TB 2.5" laptop drive to expand their Tivo BOLT reliably? If so, I'd like to hear about it, I am getting tired of setting up these drives and re-doing my OnePass's from scratch...

Thanks,

Mitch
 
#3 ·
So far my two 4TB drives are still fine in my Bolts. I've had them since October now. One has been recording from multiple tuners for around twenty hours a day. Almost every day since October last year.

Although with the issues I've read about, it's the reason I've kept my Roamio Pro around. With my luck as soon as I get rid of the Roamio pro, that is when i start having issues with the 4TB drives. And as long as I keep the Roamio Pro, the 4TB drives will be fine.
 
#5 ·
Mine are still fine. But they have firmware 0001 on them. I've been using them since October 2015.
 
#8 ·
I just shucked a ST4000LM016 from an old external seagate backup USB case I had laying around. It has been running a few days now without issue. Sticker states firmware version 003. I will keep an eye on it to see if it blows up, but so far, so good. The original drive in my Bolt + was a 3TB Western Digital Blue, model WD30NPRZ, originally purchased the TiVo Bolt+ on 4/27/2017, so it only had about two years run time on that WD drive.
 
#10 ·
I just shucked a ST4000LM016 from an old external seagate backup USB case I had laying around. It has been running a few days now without issue. Sticker states firmware version 003. I will keep an eye on it to see if it blows up, but so far, so good. The original drive in my Bolt + was a 3TB Western Digital Blue, model WD30NPRZ, originally purchased the TiVo Bolt+ on 4/27/2017, so it only had about two years run time on that WD drive.
You should read the 4 flashing light thread. If not now, you can read it in a week or so when your lights start flashing.
Yes. People had issues in the Bolts with the later firmwares. My ST4000LM016, that has been running in Bolts for almost four years now, has firmware 0001.
 
#15 · (Edited)
I see that the recommended 3TB Toshiba MQ03ABB300 HDD is not currently available from any of the normal suppliers. I did find it on a few sites that I've never heard of, but I'm reluctant to give them my CC info, etc.

Is there a newer/different recommended 3TB HDD for the TiVo Bolt Plus or should I sit tight until one shows up on Amazon, Newegg or OWC/MacSales? Looking to just do a clone or swap, not expand to a larger size.

TIA!
 
#16 ·
I see that the recommended 3TB Toshiba MQ03ABB300 HDD is not currently available from any of the normal suppliers. I did find it on a few sites that I've never heard of, but I'm reluctant to give them my CC info, etc.

Is there a newer/different recommended 3TB HDD for the TiVo Bolt Plus or should I sit tight until one shows up on Amazon, Newegg or OWC/MacSales? Looking to just do a clone or swap, not expand to a larger size.

I believe I read that the drive inside the Toshiba Canvio Advance 3TB Portable External Hard Drive USB 3.0, Black (HDTC930XK3CA) will work?

TIA!
I don't think that drive is an option to install in the TiVo. It appears that unit uses a proprietary USB controller board, so there is no internal SATA connection:



-A
 
#26 ·
Great to know, understood and thanks!

So do you think that Seagate ST3000LM024 HDD would be appropriate for our purposes? Sounds like maybe not.

TIA!
I would be leary of putting any SMR drive in a TiVo. WHen I got the 4TB drive it was OCtober 2015. And it had firmware 0001. Later firmwares had issues. But if the options that became available later on had been available in 2015, and in hindsight, I would have purchased a 3TB PMR drive.
 
#27 · (Edited)
Good advice. Thanks! :up:

Assuming the recommended Toshiba MQ03ABB200 is PMR? Are there any others then?

I believe the rule of thumb is that the larger drives (4TB+) are all SMR as they try to squeeze additional capacity, but it's really difficult to tell which are which as it seems to be a manufacturer state secret.

I'll still keep my eyes open for the Toshiba, but they state that it's classified as EOL on their website. I can't seem to find an in-kind replacement. I've tried to get in touch with them to ask but they make it virtually impossible.
 
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