Yes, it is very simple to add an external drive to the original S3, even after you have upgraded the internal drive to 1TB.
I am about to install an upgraded 1tb - external as well?
If i wanted to add an External drive in the future for say another 1tb can I still do that? Do I need to do more than just plugging it in? I can't find a clear answer
I have one of the OLED TCD648250B
I have one of the OLED TCD648250B
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thanks for the reply but is there a tutorial I am missing?Yes, it is very simple to add an external drive to the original S3, even after you have upgraded the internal drive to 1TB.
"Simple", I guess is "relatively speaking".thanks for the reply but is there a tutorial I am missing?
Technically, I think the answer to your original question is "No Go". After upgrading the internal hard drive, plug and play of an external hard drive is no longer a possibility.
I think this is addressed among the first few entries in the Series 3 section of the S3 platform upgrade thread. I think the info still holds true:
http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?t=370784
"TiVo Series3 (TCD648250B)
Add the Western Digital "My DVR Expander" external drive (179 HD hours total)
Pros: Takes 5 minutes. This option is quick and easy, preserves the TiVo warranty, and preserves all settings and recordings. Technical support is available if you need it.
Cons: At $180 online, it is rather pricey for a 1TB drive. "Plug and play" expansion does not work in TiVos with upgraded internal drives."
S3s/THDs are limited to 1TB plus the size of the original drive, or 1TB+250GB in the case of the OLED S3, so you can either add a 1TB external (leaving the original) or a 1.5TB internal (and only use 1.2TB of the space."Simple", I guess is "relatively speaking".
Technically, I think the answer to your original question is "No Go". After upgrading the internal hard drive, plug and play of an external hard drive is no longer a possibility.
I think this is addressed among the first few entries in the Series 3 section of the S3 platform upgrade thread:
http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?t=370784
"TiVo Series3 (TCD648250B)
Add the Western Digital "My DVR Expander" external drive (179 HD hours total)
Pros: Takes 5 minutes. This option is quick and easy, preserves the TiVo warranty, and preserves all settings and recordings. Technical support is available if you need it.
Cons: At $180 online, it is rather pricey for a 1TB drive. "Plug and play" expansion does not work in TiVos with upgraded internal drives
."
Incorrect. Corrrected in next post.
The S3 runs with a total of 2TB storage just fine - been doing it since it was new. And the THD also works perfectly with a full 2TB of storage.S3s/THDs are limited to 1TB plus the size of the original drive, or 1TB+250GB in the case of the OLED S3, so you can either add a 1TB external (leaving the original) or a 1.5TB internal (and only use 1.2TB of the space.
AFAIK, it is true that you cannot put a single 2TB drive in the S3 (you CAN with a THD), but you certainly can use a 1TB internal and a 1TB external drive.
It has been so long since I did this with my S3 I cannot absolutely remember the steps needed. I know the original S3 would accept any eSATA drive instead of just the "approved" WD unit, and I'm pretty sure that I when I changed my external drive on the already expanded S3 a few years ago that It was still simple plug and play - I have absolutely no recollection of having to pull the internal drive back out to do the marry. But I guess it is possible that I needed to use the WinMFS tool to marry the upgraded drive with the external one - like I said, I just cannot remember for sure. But all that information IS in the upgrade threads on this site.
And even if you do need to use WinMFS to marry the drive, just about anybody who has ever touched it says it is very EASY (SIMPLE) to use. And since the OP will be upgrading a S3, he will already have used WinMFS and not need any new learning curve.
Misinformation!S3s/THDs are limited to 1TB plus the size of the original drive, or 1TB+250GB in the case of the OLED S3, so you can either add a 1TB external (leaving the original) or a 1.5TB internal (and only use 1.2TB of the space.
Again, this is covered in the very first post of the Series3 Drive upgrade thread(linked in my post above).
Personally have 1Tb internal plus 1Tb external on my Tivo HD.
I stand corrected.Misinformation!
Again, this is covered in the very first post of the Series3 Drive upgrade thread(linked in my post above).
Personally have 1Tb internal plus 1Tb external on my Tivo HD.
What I should have said is the internal drive is limited to 1TB PLUS the size of the original drive. Not sure how that affects adding an external drive.
The THD is NOT limited to an internal drive as you describe. I have the base THD box and I had absolutely no problems putting a 2TB internal drive in it.I stand corrected.
What I should have said is the internal drive is limited to 1TB PLUS the size of the original drive. Not sure how that affects adding an external drive.
So whats the deal with all of these 2tb drives popping up for internal? I d3ecided to order one and will report.
First, I was pretty clear that I was talking about the OLED S3. Second, this is from the upgrade FAQ:The THD is NOT limited to an internal drive as you describe. I have the base THD box and I had absolutely no problems putting a 2TB internal drive in it.
Model Number Maximum Single Drive Capacity
Tivo HD TCD652160 1.26 TB* (1260 GB)
Tivo HD XL TCD658000 2.10 TB* (2100 GB)
TiVo Series3 TCD648250B 1.35 TB* (1350 GB)
Model Number Maximum Dual (Internal+External) Drive Capacity
Tivo HD TCD652160 2.20 TB* (2200 GB)
Tivo HD XL TCD658000 2.20 TB* (2200 GB)
TiVo Series3 TCD648250B 2.20 TB* (2200 GB)
* The "plug and play" external drive expansion on the TiVo Series3 only works with drives up to 1.1 TB
in size. To make use of 1.35 TB, you would need to open the unit and void the warranty.
* These configurations all require you to open the DVR and void the warranty. Without opening the DVR,
the maximum internal+external capacities on the TivoHD, TivoHD XL, and original TiVo Series3 are
1.16TB, 2.0TB, and 1.35TB, respectively. On the TivoHD and TivoHD XL, this is accomplished using
the 1.0TB My DVR Expander. On the TiVo Series3, this is accomplished by using any external drive
up to 1.1TB in size.
So, if you are correct (and I assume you are as you have done it), the upgrade FAQ needs to be updated.
That is a well established fact. Unfortunately the author of that thread isn't updating it, apparently -- and he is the only one who can do that. My suspicion is he considers TiVo a lost cause and thus is no longer motivated...........So, if you are correct (and I assume you are as you have done it), the upgrade FAQ needs to be updated.
I've been looking into that too. You can't use the external drive at all with the 2TB internal. The trick in getting the internal to use 2TB is to fool the Tivo into thinking it has a 1TB internal and 1TB external. Necessarily, this eliminates the possibility of attaching any actual external drive.So whats the deal with all of these 2tb drives popping up for internal? I d3ecided to order one and will report.
Does anyone here have a DIY to 'make' one of these 2tb drives for a TCD648250B? I need a second and for some reason they come at a premium via ebay
followup question that this thread is really making me think about in a combination not referenced.
My current original S3 has 2x 750GB drives and I suspect one is failing, and I want to upgrade. Since 2TB single drives are out, I have the following combo available:
1.5TB Seagate LP 5400RPM
1.0TB Seagate regular.
Can I do the 1.35TB on the 1.5TB as my primary and then add the 1.0TB for what should be right around the max of 2.2TB but a little over?
My current original S3 has 2x 750GB drives and I suspect one is failing, and I want to upgrade. Since 2TB single drives are out, I have the following combo available:
1.5TB Seagate LP 5400RPM
1.0TB Seagate regular.
Can I do the 1.35TB on the 1.5TB as my primary and then add the 1.0TB for what should be right around the max of 2.2TB but a little over?
Tonight I am going to attempt a 2tb upgrade from a stock 160gb s3 so I can't say from experience but from what I am reading as long as you use JMFS it will format up to 1.35 but if you want to use the whole 1.5 just pop it into WinMFS and choose supersize.followup question that this thread is really making me think about in a combination not referenced.
My current original S3 has 2x 750GB drives and I suspect one is failing, and I want to upgrade. Since 2TB single drives are out, I have the following combo available:
1.5TB Seagate LP 5400RPM
1.0TB Seagate regular.
Can I do the 1.35TB on the 1.5TB as my primary and then add the 1.0TB for what should be right around the max of 2.2TB but a little over?
While they are both members of the S3 platform, by you mentioning that you have a "stock 160GB" that tells me that you're upgrading a TivoHD, it can take a 2TB single drive, the original S3 can not, and that's why I'm asking about the combo in that way. You have conflicting hardware descriptions in your posts unless you have 2 different units.Tonight I am going to attempt a 2tb upgrade from a stock 160gb s3 so I can't say from experience but from what I am reading as long as you use JMFS it will format up to 1.35 but if you want to use the whole 1.5 just pop it into WinMFS and choose supersize.
In fact it is an oled box. I see the problem now, this isn't the correct method! LolWhile they are both members of the S3 platform, by you mentioning that you have a "stock 160GB" that tells me that you're upgrading a TivoHD, it can take a 2TB single drive, the original S3 can not, and that's why I'm asking about the combo in that way. You have conflicting hardware descriptions in your posts unless you have 2 different units.
V7Goose, were you able to use the stock kernel or did you have to use Jamie's custom kernel to get this to work? If the later, which one of the custom kernels did you use on your TivoHD?The THD is NOT limited to an internal drive as you describe. I have the base THD box and I had absolutely no problems putting a 2TB internal drive in it.
I used my stock drive and simply followed the directions provided for the new upgrade program that was developed primarily for the Premier boxes (but works fine for the THD also). This is well documented in the upgrade threads on this site.V7Goose, were you able to use the stock kernel or did you have to use Jamie's custom kernel to get this to work? If the later, which one of the custom kernels did you use on your TivoHD?
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