Tivo Bolt with Esata cable added

Advertisements

I'm considering doing this for the Bolt+. What is the largest size drive that can currently be used?

 

8TB for Roamios or Bolts with MFSR 1.0.0.4, or 4TB using MFSTools 3.2.

The Bolt+ should be the same, but your guess is as good as mine.

 

This is ingenious, but what's the usage case for this vs. replacing the drive? Is it just that people have extra 3.5 inch drives laying around that they want to be able to use?

 

3.5 are considered more reliable. Less expensive. Come in larger Terabyte sizes. Great selection of HDD types (A/V, NAS, Green). Easier accessibility for later HDD swapping or replacement/repair. Better heat management..etc. And yeah I'm sure people have more of those laying around.

I myself use a 2.5 internal.

Though, I must say again, Mark did a bang up job here in the OP with a 3.5 mod! Kudos.

 

Advertisements

Just out of curiosity, has anyone tried disconnecting the internal drive and then attaching a new drive to the external ESATA port? Would the Bolt still see it as an external device and not install it?

 

quick question....if i do this mod, i would lose all my existing recordings on the hard drive that is replaced. could i image the internal (factory) Tivo-provided hard drive onto the replacement, using a tool like Clonezilla?

or are there other (better) options to save your recordings and one-pass info?

 

At this time, MFSTools 3.2 is the only way to copy your drive to a larger drive (up to 4TB) and preserve your recordings and settings. Using a byte-for-byte copy program or even a duplicating dock will work, but the TiVo won't see the additional space.

 

Wonder if anyone will take one for the team, and try it? NOT saying to do it or otherwise encourage it, you tough guy you out there whoever you are.

"This message/idea/suggestion is not endorsed or even recommended by anyone, or anything, anytime, anywhere. No responsible parties. Dueces!"

 

I would assume it would react the same why they do if your drive dies.

 

Hi Mark,
Is there any reason you did not take out the original HDD? Is that because of WIFI antenna or some other reasons?

 

That's a nice install,great job. For others its real easy to leave everything in place and run the sata cable out the hard drive cover leaving the main cover in place. Which leaves the main board protected and simpler to turn in with no sign of tamper. I disconnected the power to the internal hard drive.

 

So I could potentially take my 3TB 2.5" HDD out of my Bolt+ and copy it over to a 3.5" 3TB HDD and preserve all the recordings and settings?

 

I have KMTTG and have used it for years. That's not what I'm talking about. I have Time Warner which copy protects the snot out of every channel they offer except the local network channels, so I am VERY limited on what I can transfer using KMTTG or TiVo Desktop. I did use KMTTG to copy and transfer OnePasses to the new Bolt+.

This is why I asked if I can clone the drive, so as far as the TiVo knows it's the same drive and preserves the copy protected programs.

 

Absolutely understand, different mods for different environments. Actually that picture is from another member. Same exact setup. Just was easier to use that picture in my original post.