[zappbrannigan13]

Terribly sorry if this has already been posted, but I couldn't find anything with the search function.

I've had a Samsung SIR-S4040R Directv TiVo for a few years now and I love it. Recently it appears to have failed on me. If I cold power up the unit it never gets past the first Welcome screen. I have a feeling after several years of use that the hard drive may have failed. I have no backup of the data, but I'm not too broken up about the loss. I figured I would just buy a new hard drive and replace the existing one.

I've downloaded the mfstools and created a boot cd, but I can't seem to find info on how to build a new drive from scratch. All the info I can find refers to restoring a backup to a new drive.

Does anyone have info on how to setup a brand new hard drive for use in my TiVo if I don't have a backup?

 

[JimSpence]

Have you checked the Upgrade Center or Underground forums?

You might want to consider using InstantCake.

Here's a link to a source.
http://www.dvrupgrade.com/dvr/stores/1/instantcake.cfm

 

[Jeshimon]

Terribly sorry if this has already been posted, but I couldn't find anything with the search function.

I've had a Samsung SIR-S4040R Directv TiVo for a few years now and I love it. Recently it appears to have failed on me. If I cold power up the unit it never gets past the first Welcome screen. I have a feeling after several years of use that the hard drive may have failed. I have no backup of the data, but I'm not too broken up about the loss. I figured I would just buy a new hard drive and replace the existing one.

I've downloaded the mfstools and created a boot cd, but I can't seem to find info on how to build a new drive from scratch. All the info I can find refers to restoring a backup to a new drive.

Does anyone have info on how to setup a brand new hard drive for use in my TiVo if I don't have a backup?

By a show of hands, what is the best way to get TiVo up and running after a catastrophic hard drive failure. I would prefer to hear from those with first hand experience. Please mention any hardware and/or software tools required. I am thinking Norton's Ghost backup now to have available later. Any thoughts?
Thanks in advance

Working TiVo drive available:
MFS tools 1

No working TiVo drive available:
Instacake 1

 

[ForrestB]

MFSTools works well if you old Tivo drive is still functioning and can boot your Tivo. In this case, MFSTools can copy all the files to a new/larger hard drive.

However if the old Tivo drive doesn't work, then you'll need Instacake (which contains the OS, Tivo.app, etc) to image a new hard drive.

 

[1969RS]

Hey all, new to this forum. Not an electronics master by any means.

Question....My Samsung SIR-S4040R Direct TV reciever which is located in our bedroom, is making grinding noises periodically. I do not have the recorder set up to record anything and when I check, it has not recorded anything for me.
The grinding noise it makes, sometimes wakes us up in the middle of the night and does not seem to have a pattern on when it does it. It will grind for about a minute, then slowly fade away.

We do not have anything stored on the hard drive as this is a backup reciever for us. rest of the house has been set up with HD recievers.

Is my hard drive going bad? How hard are they to replace? Like I stated, I do not have anything stored on it, so I do not need to save anything. I have seen sites where I can buy a much larger hard drive and install it myself.

For someone like me who has an average mechanical ability, but real technical, what should I do? I can get a hard drive for $99.

Thx in advance.

Rick

 

[ForrestB]

1969RS,
Sounds like a fan problem - which will cause your Tivo to overheat and shutdown. Easily fixed for about $20. Get your fans at http://www.weaknees.com

 

[1969RS]

It has not shut down....yet. The noise actually sounds like a person snoring. I know, sounds weird, especially being it is located in the bedroom.
I will check out the link. Thx.

Rick