TIVO HD questions

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.video.ptv.tivo (More info?)

Hi

I'm very new to this so excuse the dumb questions.

I just picked up a new SeriesII box with a 40 hour drive. I have not yet
activated it. I have done some research on the net but still need to learn
much.

My question is if I activate it with lifetime sub and the HD crashes I'm I
out of luck since If I don't have a back-up of the original files. Can the
box be reactivated once a fresh HD is installed.

Should the HD be upgraded to a larger capacity before activation and how
does one select a HD for brand/specs/size etc.

Should I do anything else with the box before activating it.

Any recommended sites for newbie's showing lots of pictures hacking of the
newer units.

Thanks, Martin

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.video.ptv.tivo (More info?)

"Martin Hirsch" <martinhirschREMOVEspam@cox.net> wrote in message
newstASe.1817$sx2.208@fed1read02...
>
> My question is if I activate it with lifetime sub and the HD crashes I'm I
> out of luck since If I don't have a back-up of the original files. Can the
> box be reactivated once a fresh HD is installed.
>
The subscription is tied to the box, not the disk, you can replace the disk
without impacting the subscription in any way.

> Should the HD be upgraded to a larger capacity before activation and how
> does one select a HD for brand/specs/size etc.

Up to you, you can do it before or after, it doesn't matter. As to the
drive, pretty much any modern drive will work just fine, I think the latest
software supports LBA48, so max size isn't an issue. Remeber when you swap
the drive you'll have to do some work to prep the new drive. If that's more
trouble than its worth for you, then you can buy pre-formatted drives from
several places on the net. With these drives it's just a matter of swapping
the old drive for the new one and going through guided setup again.

>
> Should I do anything else with the box before activating it.

Not exactly something I would do to the box, but its worth buying a small
UPS to keep the box running during power failure. This allows the box to
keep recording during power outages, so while you sit there in the dark you
can comfort yourself with the thought that you aren't missing your favourite
show

>
> Any recommended sites for newbie's showing lots of pictures hacking of the
> newer units.

Lots of sites, try a net search for something like "tivo upgrade
instructions"

--
Nik Simpson

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.video.ptv.tivo (More info?)

In article <PtASe.1817$sx2.208@fed1read02>,
"Martin Hirsch" <martinhirschREMOVEspam@cox.net> wrote:

> Hi
>
> I'm very new to this so excuse the dumb questions.
>
> I just picked up a new SeriesII box with a 40 hour drive. I have not yet
> activated it. I have done some research on the net but still need to learn
> much.
>
> My question is if I activate it with lifetime sub and the HD crashes I'm I
> out of luck since If I don't have a back-up of the original files. Can the
> box be reactivated once a fresh HD is installed.

Yes. Places like weaknees.com sell replacement drives

and ptvupgrade sells a CD (InstantCake) for $20 for you to properly
format a HD and install TiVo software yourself.

Seagate is selling Hard Drives with 5 year warantees.



>
> Should the HD be upgraded to a larger capacity before activation and how
> does one select a HD for brand/specs/size etc.

Since a TiVo runs fine on older model "Slower" 5400 rpm drives, the
cheapest drive with longest warantee is most desireable. But TiVo is a
Linux box, and you cant just drop a Hard Drive in it.

CompUSA is having some specials on Labor Day. 250 Gig under $100.


>
> Should I do anything else with the box before activating it.
>
> Any recommended sites for newbie's showing lots of pictures hacking of the
> newer units.
>
> Thanks, Martin

http/tivo.upgrade-instructions.com/index.php

Has the best instructions for changing Hard Drives.