Section 2.3. Gathering Some Information | Tivo Hacks. 100 Industrial-strength Tips Tools 2003

2.3 Gathering Some Information

Before diving right in, it's best to lay out all the options and figure out exactly what you are going to be doing. This way you are not making decisions while your TiVo is sitting open on your bench. Be a boy scout: always be prepared.

What TiVo Model Do You Have?

Most of you probably know exactly what model you have; you're probably the type that memorized everything about your TiVo while you were waiting for it to finish its setup for the first time. But if you don't know, you can find the information right on the back of your TiVo recorder itself. Plus, on some TiVos, the model is even listed at the top of the System Information screen. While mine doesn't list its model number in the System Information screen, by looking at the back I found out that my TiVo-branded 60- hour Series 2 is model TCD140060.

As of this writing, TiVo units come in four varieties of internal architecture. These four configurations determine both the parts you'll need to complete your upgrade and also the physical installation procedure. Although removing, replacing, and adding drives is roughly the same for each model within a given architecture, the software installation instructions can vary even between TiVo models with the same internal architecture. For example, even though the Hughes GXCEBOT and the TiVo TCD140060 are from the same layout family and employ similar methods to physically upgrade, when it comes to software, the instructions vary. The four internal architectures are:

Type 1: Philips HDR series and Sony SVR-2000: These models have space for a second drive, but only the HDR312 and HD612 come equipped with a bracket for the second drive. In a pinch , you can probably get away with simply cable-tying the hard drive down, but to play it safe you'll probably want to secure it a bit more firmly. These TiVos do, however, include an IDE cable and a power cable at the ready for a second drive.
Type 2: Sony SAT T-60, Hughes GXCEBOT, Philips DSR6000, TiVo TCD140060, and AT&T TCD130040: All these models can accommodate a second drive and may also include power and IDE cables for a second drive, depending on model and manufacture date.
Type 3: TiVo TCD240040, AT&T TCD230040, TiVo TCD240080, Hughes HDVR2, and Philips DSR7000: Unlike the previous two TiVo families, these models require custom-designed brackets, new IDE cables, and Y-power splitters for a second drive. On top of these requirements, some Series2 standalone models (e.g., 240040, 230040, and 240080) may also require a power management solution like the PowerTrip.
Type 4: Sony SVR-3000: The SVR-3000 already includes a bracket for a second drive and, unlike its predecessors, it does not use Torx screws . It does, however, require new IDE and power cables to support the additional drive.

How Many Hard Drives Does Your TiVo Currently Have?

Before you go out and buy a new hard drive for your TiVo, you need to know how many hard drives your TiVo already has installed. TiVos can hold up to two hard drives, so if your box already has two, your best bet is to remove both and replace them with one or two larger drives. If you only have one drive, you have the option of adding a second drive.

In all but two cases, the TiVo model number and Table 2-1 will tell you how many drives a new TiVo has inside. If you have a Philips DSR6000 or a Sony SAT T-60, the only surefire way to determine whether you have one or two drives is to open the unit and take a look.

Table 2-1. The number of drives installed in different TiVo models

TiVo model number	Number of drives
HDR312	2
HDR612	2
DSR6000	See text following this table for more details
SAT T-60	See text following this table for more details

Short of opening the DSR6000 and the T-60, here are two rules of thumb that you can use to help determine the number of drives in those models:

Serial number method: This method is not 100% accurate, but it is reasonably reliable. Locate the serial number of your DSR6000 or your SAT T-60. For the DSR6000, usually only those with serial numbers that begin with 800 ship with dual drives; all others, such as the 801 through 805 and possibly higher, come installed with only a single hard drive. Likewise, for the SAT T-60, those with serial numbers that start with 4701 through 4703 have two drives on the inside; the rest just have one. If you have a refurbished factory unit, all bets are off.
Drive screws method: In a two-drive DSR6000 and SAT T-60, each of the drives will be secured by four screws. Two of those screw holes are visible from underneath by looking through the grills on the bottom of the unit. If you look through the grills on the left side of the TiVo (left, that is, when looking at the front) and you see two empty screw holes, you have only one drive. If you see screws, again, all bets are off and you are going to have to rely on the serial number method or opening the box to figure this out. To help you out, WeaKnees has posted some illustrative pictures at http://www.weaknees.com/directv_tivo_drives.php.

Should You Add to or Replace Your Drives?

If your TiVo currently has two drives, then your only upgrade option is to replace both of those drives. While it is technically possible to reuse one of those factory drives, many experts strongly discourage it. In a two-drive TiVo, both drives have to be functioning for it to operate properly. If the older, factory-installed drive fails, you will have to go back into the box later to replace it. Plus, if you keep your two factory drives together on a shelf somewhere, you will be able to use them together as a backup if your upgrade drive fails.

On the other hand, if you have a one-drive TiVo, then it's up to you whether you add a second drive, replace your single drive with a newer and larger drive, or replace your single drive with two new drives. Table 2-2 should provide some guidance in making this decision; more details can be found at http://www.weaknees.com/add_replace.php.

Table 2-2. Adding to versus replacing your TiVo's hard drives

	Replacing the hard drive	Adding a hard drive
Programming/Settings	You will lose your programming and settings. It is possible to retain both of these, but that is beyond the scope of this chapter.	You will retain your programming and settings.
TiVo hard drive lifespan	Depending on the age of your TiVo, you may benefit by removing an older, factory hard drive and replacing it with a new one. In addition, replacing your drive or drives will enable you to retain the factory drives as a backup if, for whatever reason, you need your new drives repaired or replaced down the road.	After the upgrade, your TiVo will have two drives ”one brand-new drive and one factory drive. Because your TiVo now treats those two drives as one, they cannot be separated. If one drive fails, the good drive must be reformatted and reconfigured. By continuing to use an old factory drive, you increase the chance for failure.
Performance	A new replacement drive formatted with MFS Tools 2.0 may perform better (in terms of menu speeds, etc.) than a TiVo that has been upgraded with a second drive using BlessTiVo.	Adding a second drive using BlessTiVo will result in performance degradation that may be avoided using the MFSAdd command described in this chapter, except if a new drive is added to a very old factory drive, or if a second drive is added to a large factory drive. Additionally, the TiVo may not be unable to recover on its own from the green "Severe Error" screen.
Storage space	You will not utilize the space available on the factory installed drive or drives.	You will utilize the space on your factory drive, resulting in additional storage.
Ease of upgrade	Replacing your drive requires a backup of your existing drive and/or a copy of the existing drive to the new drive. This can take 20-30 minutes solely for the backup.	If you do not back up your primary drive, then preparing a second drive takes only a few minutes and is quite easy. If you do back up your drive, then adding a second drive takes no less time than replacing an existing drive. In the end, however, your programming will be preserved.

If you have a one-drive Series 1 TiVo (HDR series, SVR-2000, DSR6000, SAT T-60, or GXCEBOT), we strongly recommend that you replace your drive. Series 2 owners should review Table 2-2 and decide based on the listed factors. However, as Series 2 TiVos age, replacing older drives becomes that much more attractive.

Should You Back Up Your TiVo Before You Upgrade?

The answer is a resounding yes! We strongly recommend that you obtain a working backup of your TiVo software before upgrading your TiVo on your own. Although backing up [Hack #24] and restoring [Hack #25] will add at least an hour or two to the process, having a working backup will at least prevent you from sweating bullets. You might consider throwing caution to the wind if you are in a huge rush to upgrade and have decided to add a second drive; many experts have walked this razor 's edge ”installing the second drive without the backup ”and have come out just fine. While we can't officially say we recommend adding a second drive without a backup, we do understand the urge to give it a skip.

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