Unlock drive from TiVo config mode?

Connecting to my Thomson TiVo by serial cable and logging in pre boot, I get a bunch of options, some of which are to do with drive-locking. Is it possible to permanently unlock the TiVo drive this way?

I realise drive unlocking can be done in other ways (diskutil, Knoppix TiVo image etc), I'm just curious. (Not curious enough to just try it and see though).

Options are below (note 5 and 9).

B - Boot from disk
N - Network (tftp) boot
U - Update flash from tftp flash image
T - Teleworld menu
V - Print TiVo Prom Version
W - Word Write
R - Word Read
P - Change Boot Parameters
M - Configure Memory
C - Configure Video
E - Configure Ethernet
K - Set backdoor password
k - Verify backdoor password
z - Change Serial Number
Z - Run memory tests
1 - Enable/disable tests
2 - Enable/disable boot devices
3 - Change IP/MAC addresses
4 - Ping test
5 - Toggle auto disk locking
6 - Toggle automatic menu
7 - Display configuration
8 - Save changes to configuration
9 - Unlock TiVo Secure Disk
0 - Exit menu and continue

#9 may work if you pull the power after running the command.

#5 will turn it off forever.

But from memory it only effects the old original Quantum drives and some Maxtor units. I havn't had to use any of those utilities for a few years.

Peter.

Thanks. Will give option 5 a try and see what happens.

ok, what drive are you using.

Peter.

I haven't yet opened the case to look. I was vaguely hoping to get a bash prompt with shondss=true and play around non-invasively, but it looks like it's running 2.5.5 or thereabouts, so no hope of that. Once I get the torx screwdrivers sorted, I'll get the lid off.

Where are you located ?

Are you running an OzTiVo or NZTiVo image? bash should be enabled on default.

Peter.

Still running the original factory-installed image, but will fix that as soon as I get the cover off!