[multiple]

I thought I'd start a list of drives that get stuck at the "Starting up" screen under Bolt TE4 21.x software release. This issue is now known to also apply to Edge (confirmed with WD40NPZZ & 7.68TB Micron SSD failing on Edge).

• Micron 5210 Ion 7.68TB SSD, but other sizes probably fail
• Micron 1100 2TB SSD, but other sizes probably fail
• WD40NPZZ, the only 2.5" 4TB WD rust drive
• WD20SPZX another 2.5" 2TB WD rust drive.
• WD208PZX - reported in another thread. Probably same as as WD20SPZX
• Possibly 3TB Toshiba MQ03ABB300
• Seagate 2TB BarraCuda STL2000LM015
• Seagate 1TB BarraCuda 2.5" ST1000LM048
  
• Crucial SSD (no model number mentioned)
• WD60EMAZ
• Samsung MZ-76E2T0B/AM - 2TB 860 EVO SSD
• Samsung QVO SSD 8TB
• All SSD fail (no known SSD works)

These drives work under TE3 20.x software, but as soon as you upgrade to TE4 the Tivo will no longer boot. You will see the screen stuck on the "Starting up" screen. It is possible to revert the TiVo back to TE3 with another drive and reuse the "failing" drive under TE3, but you will likely lose all recordings in the process if you wish to go back to the prior drive.

Sometime late 2018, over several software upgrades, some drives began to exhibit this boot up issue. I first saw this issue with my Micron 1100 drive, then within 2 months all the WD40NPZZ drives refused to boot. Others saw the same issue with the WD20SPZX, which I also confirmed.

Please add to this list if you find other drives that get stuck at the "Starting up" screen under TE4. If possible, please confirm the drive works under TE3.

Drives still known to work without issues under TE3 or TE4:

• Toshiba MQ03ABB200 2TB 2.5"
  
• Seagate Barracuda ST5000LM000 5 TB 2.5" (SMR)
• Seagate FireCuda 2TB ST2000LX001
• Seagate Firecuda ST1000LX015
• Many 3.5" drives work, but you must use an external closure to supply the 12V rail needed by 3.5" drives.
• 2.5" 2TB & 3TB CMR Drives (thanks tommage1)

[Update] The startup drive drive issue occurs with TE4. So the issue is found on both Bolt and Edge. I'm not sure if this would be found on older devices, but I don't expect anyone would try to run any of these 2.5" drives on the older Tivo models.

 

[Mikeguy]

I guess that I'd also find it informative, what 2.5" hard drives seem to be fine with TE4.

 

[David B Gregory]

I thought I'd start a list of drives that get stuck at the "Starting up" screen under Bolt TE4 21.x software release.

• Micron 5210 Ion 7.68TB SSD, but other sizes probably fail
• Micron 1100 2TB SSD, but other sizes probably fail
• WD40NPZZ, the only 2.5" 4TB WD rust drive
• WD20SPZX another 2.5" 2TB WD rust drive

These drives work under TE3 20.x software, but as soon as you upgrade to TE4 the Tivo will no longer boot. You will see the screen stuck on the "Starting up" screen. It is possible to revert the TiVo back to TE3 with another drive, but you will likely loose all recordings in the process if you wish to go back to the prior drive.

Sometime late 2018, over several software upgrades, some drives began to exhibit this boot up issue. I first saw this issue with my Micron 1100 drive, then within 2 months all the WD40NPZZ drives refused to boot. Others saw the same issue with the WD200SPZX, which I also confirmed.

Please add to this list if you find other drives that get stuck at the "Starting up" screen under TE4.

Toshiba 3TB MQ03ABB300

 

[multiple]

I believe I have one Bolt that I upgraded 2 years ago with a Toshiba MQ03ABB300 which is still working to this day under TE4. I'll need to double check it was not replaced with one of the WD40 TB drives that has this issue which was replaced with another drive. If this Bolt still has the Toshiba drive, I hope it won't fail in an upcoming SW update.

David, was that a recent fail after a software update or while installing it as a new drive?

 

[David B Gregory]

I believe I have one Bolt that I upgraded 2 years ago with a Toshiba MQ03ABB300 which is still working to this day under TE4. I'll need to double check it was not replaced with one of the WD40 TB drives that has this issue which was replaced with another drive. If this Bolt still has the Toshiba drive, I hope it won't fail in an upcoming SW update.

David, was that a recent fail after a software update or while installing it as a new drive?

My original 500gb was starting to fail so I purchased the 3rb new and did a clean install which failed

 

[multiple]

It looks like I upgraded the 3TB Toshiba MQ03ABB300 to a 5TB Seagate drive at some point. I don't have a spare Bolt to test the Toshiba drive out, but I suspect if the Toshiba drive is failing many people will start complaining. It was one of the first recommended drives and many people upgraded to this drive.

 

[multiple]

Tivo Bolt stuck on the "starting up" screen after hard drive replacement.

Bolt HDD Upgrade Issue

Link to a couple of threads with more drives which get stuck at the "Starting up" screen

Added the Seagate drive to the list. Crucial SSD also mentioned as failing.

 

[Phasers]

I guess that I'd also find it informative, what 2.5" hard drives seem to be fine with TE4.

Toshiba MQ03ABB200 2TB drive is working on TE4 Bolt Vox.

 

[tommage1]

It looks like I upgraded the 3TB Toshiba MQ03ABB300 to a 5TB Seagate drive at some point. I don't have a spare Bolt to test the Toshiba drive out, but I suspect if the Toshiba drive is failing many people will start complaining. It was one of the first recommended drives and many people upgraded to this drive.

Is the 5TB a 2.5"? If so, was it shucked from an Easystore 5TB external? I've only seen pictures of the Easystore 5TB, from the size of it looks like it holds a 2.5" drive. Until that I had never heard of a 2.5" 5TB if indeed it is.

There is a good chance SMR drives can fail or not work with TE4 (or TE3, SMR not recommended for 24/7 video applications). If a drive supports TRIM (yes some platter drives support trim) it is an SMR drive. PMR drives do not support TRIM. However it does not work the other way, if a drive does NOT support TRIM that does not mean it is definitely PMR, it could still be SMR. What I am saying here I read in groups that discuss HDs, mostly NAS groups. And WD themselves say their SMR type externals support TRIM.

I thought I read the Edge uses a "video rated" SMR drive. If so I will be interested to see how it holds up over time...........

 

[multiple]

Is the 5TB a 2.5"? If so, was it shucked from an Easystore 5TB external? I've only seen pictures of the Easystore 5TB, from the size of it looks like it holds a 2.5" drive. Until that I had never heard of a 2.5" 5TB if indeed it is.

I posted where I purchased the 5TB Seagate up in the first thread. I have it in a 4 tuner Bolt (previous 500GB). I don't think a 4 tuner Bolt puts the SMR drive under a lot of pressure @ 9.6MB/s write max. Many newer SMR drives are better than the earlier versions of SMR. I have had it installed for at least 10 months without any issues and I always set power savings to max to put the drive to sleep whenever possible. Others have had this drive in for well over a year without issues.

 

[tommage1]

I posted where I purchased the 5TB Seagate up in the first thread. I have it in a 4 tuner Bolt (previous 500GB). I don't think a 4 tuner Bolt puts the SMR drive under a lot of pressure @ 9.6MB/s write max. Many newer SMR drives are better than the earlier versions of SMR. I have had it installed for at least 10 months without any issues and I always set power savings to max to put the drive to sleep whenever possible. Others have had this drive in for well over a year without issues.

Ah I see, missed the bottom of the post, I see the info about the 5TB was actually a link. Also, yeah since Seagate it could not have come out of a WD Easystore external I do wonder what is in the Easystore 5TB external. At least some of the WD 2.5" drives in external enclosures do not have a Sata connection, strictly USB on the board, not a Sata to USB adapter that can be removed like Seagates.

I have heard newer SMR drives might be better than in the past. I suppose only time will tell, I like my drives to last over 3 years at least. The fact that this 5TB has withstood TE4 software "upgrades" is good. Many people do like to use a drive that will fit in the Bolt, I myself still prefer an external enclosure with 3.5" drive (for a Bolt). Can get 8TB 3.5 PMR drives for around $100-120, 3-4TB 3.5 PMR for $30-70. Bolts in general are a pain for upgrades and backups, can lose everything when swapping drives around. Even worse with TE4 since transferring back and forth doesn't really work. If I have a choice it will always be a good 3.5" PMR drive over ANY 2.5" drive. Cheaper, more reliable and larger sizes available.

 

[jaelaeit]

Perhaps my issue is related to the list of drives that do not boot. I have a Tivo Bolt that has been working fine since I purchased it with the original 500GB WD drive. This week it stopped working tcd849500 model number. It kept hanging at the "Please wait" screen indefinitely (1 hour + it was stuck there). I looked into this and thought perhaps the drive so I replaced it and locally there are not many options for 2.5" internal drives but I found a WD 2TB WD20SPZX that I thought would work fine since other threads seem to confirm it. However, it also hangs at the please wait after it seems to try formatting it. I can never get passed that screen and after seeing this post where the TE4 is the culprit I believe that's my problem. Unfortunately since the old drive has failed I cannot roll back to TE3.

Any recommendations here? I know it could be something other than the drive as my issue, but that seems the common issue. Do I simply look for the Toshiba 2TB drive most seem to recommend and order online? I am trying to avoid having to replace the entire Tivo since I have lifetime subscription on this.

 

[kpeters59]

Try the KickStart Codes.

And start your own thread...

-KP

 

[tommage1]

Unfortunately since the old drive has failed I cannot roll back to TE3.

Well right now you've got a Bolt on TE4. You have a bad 500GB drive so can't use that one. You have another drive that should work on TE3 but cannot sidegrade to TE3 since the Bolt is on TE4 and it won't boot/format. But if you have another drive sitting around, 2.5 or 3.5 you should be able to use it temporarily, just to get the Bolt to TE3. If 3.5 you'd have to make sure it has enough power to boot, not sure if the Bolt itself would supply enough power to boot a 3.5. Once you get the Bolt to TE3 then you should be able to use your WD 2TB. Not sure if you can just flip it in and the Bolt would format it to TE3 since the Bolt is now on TE3 (maybe do not have it connected to the internet so it would have to use what is currently on the flash drive) or if you'd have to use MFST to do some sort of copy of the temporary drive on TE3 to the WD 2 TB. There are probably people here who would know exactly what to do at that point (maybe JMBach, the programmer of MFST). But getting the Bolt to TE3 should be possible if you have a 3rd drive that you can use temporarily.

 

[Agebt6ee]

I have an addition:
WD60EMAZ from a WD Elements

Shucked 6TB "White label"

 

[RegGuheert]

I have an addition to drives which stick at "STARTING UP":

- Samsung MZ-76E2T0B/AM - 2TB 860 EVO SSD

 

[oscarfish]

I have an addition to drives which stick at "STARTING UP":

- Samsung MZ-76E2T0B/AM - 2TB 860 EVO SSD

Is it my imagination, or is that drive of yours way to nice to put into a Tivo? Don't get me wrong, my Tivos are some of my most prized possessions, I just gotta think it can be done for significantly less than $280ish. I guess if you are lucky enough to just have one laying around.

I only commented because I'm just about to buy the 1TB version of that drive to upgrade (speed upgrade) an old laptop and I've been watching the price on Amazon. It'll be replacing a 2TB Seagate.

 

[RegGuheert]

Is it my imagination, or is that drive of yours way to nice to put into a Tivo?

It seems my TiVo and my wife agree with you!

BTW, have you priced the first drive in OP's post that started this thread?

Don't get me wrong, my Tivos are some of my most prized possessions, I just gotta think it can be done for significantly less than $280ish. I guess if you are lucky enough to just have one laying around.

I only commented because I'm just about to buy the 1TB version of that drive to upgrade (speed upgrade) an old laptop and I've been watching the price on Amazon. It'll be replacing a 2TB Seagate.

In order to reduce how much of my life I spend cleaning up the mess that results from hard drive crashes, I'm at the tail end of divesting myself of spinning drives. I've settled on the Samsung 860 EVOs for most of my family's computer needs. It has taken about two years to work through the process and prices have come down steadily during that time. Like you, I chose the 1TB 860 EVOs for the old laptops my wife and I use. Recently I've bought the 1TBs from Geek Squad on eBay for $110 each and open box 2TB 860 EVOs for $220 each. I even picked up a few used 2TB 850 EVOs for $170 each for a couple of computers which didn't need the endurance of the 860s.

 

[jonbatlanta]

I have a bolt 500GB where I replaced the drive with a 2 TB Seagate Barracuda but never actually booted up after the replacement. I’m ready to sell it and obviously need to make sure it works, but I’m afraid to boot it up out of fear it will automatically upgrade to TE4. Is there a way to stop that from happening?

 

[multiple]

Im afraid to boot it up out of fear it will automatically upgrade to TE4. Is there a way to stop that from happening?

The boot code is stored on FLASH and not on the drive. You can only update to TE4 when connected to the internet. So once TE4 is installed, you would have to downgrade to TE3 with a working drive. Only trouble I've found, if you bought the Vox version w/ Vox remote, then just pressing the Vox button initiates a request to upgrade TE3 to TE4. Because I have young kids and TE4 upgrade can be initiated accidentally, I'm sticking to TE4.

The first thing I've always done when getting a new TiVO is to remove the original drive and upgrade to a new drive immediately, and store the original somewhere safe. That way I should always be able to restore my TiVos.