Archived from groups: alt.video.ptv.replaytv (
More info?)
EXCELLENT idea! Thank you!
On Wed, 26 May 2004 15:32:50 GMT, Steph
<CUT_skipatrol@hotmail.com_CUT> said:
>All is not lost, epsecially if you don't mind a little extra investment.
>Buy and USB/Firewire external drive enclosure that will accomadate a
>standard 3.5" internal hard disk.
>
>If your laptop has firewire go with that interface. If you have USB2.0
>it is about equal to the firewire. If you have USB1.1 the imaging of
>the drive wil take longer but otherwise will work just fine.
>
>If you don't have USB on your laptop -- you need to upgrade <g>.
>
>You should be able to find an enclosure from a Computer Parts store or
>online vendor for $20-$80 without the drive.
>
>
>user@comcast.net wrote in news:sp45b0drdclhg6m2qsq33lb3vo498gn54j@
>4ax.com:
>
>> Thing is, I use laptops so opening them up in order to set up a new
>> RTV HD is not really an option. :-(
>>
>> On Mon, 24 May 2004 17:05:53 GMT, Steph
>><CUT_skipatrol@hotmail.com_CUT> said:
>>
>>>Go to the AVS forums and read up on using the utility; you should be
>>>able to find step-by-step directions even some with pictures that make
>>>it pretty darn easy to follow.
>>>
>>>The simplest way to upgrade is to not both with your old drive,
>>>especially given the clanking from it - it might hang during the
>copying
>>>of your data (shows) anyway.
>>>
>>>Get a new hard drive, size and spindle speed of your choosing. I chose
>a
>>>250GB 5400 RPM drive. Others have not reported trouble with 7200 RPM
>>>drive and heat - but my RTV is inside a cabinet.
>>>
>>>Then download the image file for a up to date RTV unit to match your
>>>hardware (45xx?). Again the AVS forum is your friend here.
>>>
>>>Open your computer, and again the simplest method is to plug the new
>HD
>>>into the ribbon for the secondary IDE interface. Chances are you have
>>>maybe a CD-ROM and/or ZIP drive already attached; unbplug those and
>>>have only the HD. Attach power also.
>>>
>>>If you run Windows, you can use the windows utility, else download the
>>>Linux boot disk. Just follow the instructions to image your new HD
>with
>>>the RTV software.
>>>
>>>Remove the drive and put back your CDROM and others the way they were,
>>>close the computer.
>>>
>>>Now take your RTV. Open it via removal of the 8 screws (or x #).
>>>Disconnect and remove the existing 40GB drive. Swap drives in the
>>>bracket and reinstall. Plug it all in, close it up, turn it on and
>set
>>>it up as if it were new.
>>>
>>>Done.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>user@comcast.net wrote in
>>>news:1ctua054ivevlciv6njodv10feq935gvfq@4ax.com:
>>>
>>>> Doug,
>>>>
>>>> VERY cool info. Thank you very much! But I am still unclear about
>how
>>>> what I'd do with that UNIX boot disk and how my computer relates to
>>>> the RTV. Are you saying that I would initially load the RTV software
>>>> onto the new HD via my computer? As in, put the new HD in my
>computer,
>>>> run the boot disk, and load the software image? I hope that's not
>what
>>>> you mean b/c I use a laptop and I'm not sure if it'll play nice with
>a
>>>> different HD.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On Sun, 16 May 2004 20:36:47 +0000 (UTC), General Kireiko
>>>><douglas@panix.com> said:
>>>>
>>>>>user@comcast.net wrote:
>>>>>: <douglas@panix.com> said:
>>>>>
>>>>>:>The subscription is NOT on the hard disk, it's stored elsewhere in
>>>>>:>the unit. THe likely culprit of your freeze-ups and daily re-
>boots
>>>>>:>is likely a failing hard disk. (Bad sectors)
>>>>>
>>>>>: Seriously?!?!?? The tech support people said it sounded like a
>>>>>: software problem and the software was becoming buggy and that
>there
>>>>>: was no way to fix it other than to ship it to them for repair (at
>my
>>>>>: expense, since it's out of warranty). I'd much rather replace the
>HD
>>>>>: if it would help.
>>>>>
>>>>>And it'll give you more space to record shows.
>>>>>
>>>>>: Let me ask you this: It makes a really bad clunking sound -- like
>>>>>: metal striking metal about every .75 seconds. It will keep doing
>>>>>: this until I unplug it. To me, that sounds like a hardware thing.
>>>>>: But that's not the only problem; after I watch a show and go to
>>>>>: delete it, the screen goes black for a long time. Sometimes for
>just
>>>>>: a few minutes but sometimes for longer and the only way I found to
>>>>>: recover is to again unplug it. This is what I was told is a
>software
>>>>>: problem.
>>>>>
>>>>>"Clunk... clunk..... clunk...."
>>>>>The hard disk is failing.
>>>>>Get a new one.
>>>>>Buy a MAXTOR, they are highly recommended over other brands,
>including
>>>>>Western Digital.
>>>>>
>>>>>:>If you had purchased a lifetime sub, all you'd need to do is swap
>>>>>:>out the hard disk with a new (and larger) one, and put the
>software
>>>>>:>image onto it. (The images are available on-line.) And you'd have
>a
>>>>>:>new machine, and wouldn't lose out on your lifetime siubscription.
>>>>>
>>>>>: Definitely!! How difficult is it to replace the HD? Easier or more
>>>>>: difficult than swapping a computer's HD? What are the most common
>>>>>: problems people sometimes encounter when swapping their HD's? The
>>>>>: RTV software should recognize a larger HD? I'm sure I'd lose my
>>>>>: saved shows, so I'd be prepared for that. Forgive me if these are
>>>>>: stupid questions but I came here because I do not know.
>>>>>
>>>>>Repalceing the hard disk is no different than swapping out the one
>in
>>>>>your PC. They use the same hardware and interface (IDE ribbon).
>>>>>Since your machine is already out of its warranty period, you have
>>>>>nothing to lose by trying, except your time. Even if the new HD
>does
>>>>>not take, you can always make use of the HD in your PC.
>>>>>
>>>>>You *MAY* lose your shows. If you can salvage the OS off your
>>>>>existing HD, you may simply be able to delete all of your corrupted
>>>>>shows, and salvage those which are not corrupted.
>>>>>
>>>>>The only difficulty will be getting the image onto the new hard
>disk.
>>>>>If oyu have a NEW PC, you can download a UNIX boot disk w/ a program
>>>>>which will make you a *new* HD for your ReplayTV (You'll need the
>>>>>image of the softare, of course). Old PCs (w/ older BIOSes cannot
>be
>>>>>used to do this). Bottom line is your PC's BIOS must recognize the
>>>>>full size of the HD to make everything work.
>>>>>
>>>>>I am no expert in the area, but the friendly folk over at the AVS
>>>>>forums (do an internet search on "AVS Forum" and "Replay" and I am
>>>>>sure you will find the site (it's gotta lot of purple on it).
>There
>>>>>are FAQs and links and downloadable material to help you swap out
>the
>>>>>hard disk and get a software image.
>>>>>
>>>>>The age of your machine may limit you to 137 GB for storing recorded
>>>>>shows. (Check the FAQs). But 137 hours is likely 3x what your
>machine
>>>>>can record now.
>>>>>
>>>>>Other components of the ReplayTV rarely fail (maybe a modem, but
>there
>>>>>are workarounds for that, too.)
>>>>>
>>>>>Other people know this, which is why a malfunctioning LIFETIME
>>>>>ReplayTV is easily fixable. The subscription is flashed PROMed onto
>>>>>the motherboard of the unit, which is why it travels with the box,
>not
>>>>>the owner.
>>>>>
>>>>>Good luck.
>>>>>
>>>>>-Doug
>>>>
/www.cooldrives.com/3usb20ficodu.html
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