Results 1 to 8 of 8

Thread: Recommend a second hd manuf?

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    Melbourne, VIC
    Posts
    11

    Recommend a second hd manuf?

    Hi everyone,

    I'm planning ahead for a second drive in a few weeks. Any recommendations? I'm thinking of up to 500GB.

    I have used an 80GB Seagate 7200.10 for my first drive. I read the warnings about large drives of this type when used as one of two. Could anyone clarify: can I use my current drive as one of two, if I choose a non-Seagate over 200GB as the second drive?

    Also, will cache memory make much difference if a second, or first, drive?

    I'd appreciate thoughts. Cheers, Paula.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Apr 2004
    Location
    Perth, Western Australia
    Posts
    3,037
    We always suggest using a single large drive if possible. TiVo's are very tough on hard drives as they are reading and writing 24 hours a day even when just sitting in standby, so you will get a shorter life from a drive in a TiVo than you would in a PC. Also TiVo's are not very good at mapping around bad sectors on hard drives like PC's do, so bad sectors can kill a TiVo.

    If you do decide to use 2 drives, once installed they are married and cannot be easily separated. So if one drive fails, you risk loosing everything on both drives. using 2 drives doubles the chance of having one drive fail.

    For the same reason it is not suggested to install a new drive with an old drive, as the old drive is likely to fail sooner then the new drive would.

    Unless you really hoard shows a single 500Gb drive should be plenty in an S1 TiVo.

    8mb cache drives are fine, and provide a slight improvement in displaying the Now Playing screen over 2mb cache drives. There has not been any reports of improvements using 16mb over 8mb cache drives.

    Check this WiKi entry for other information.

    Peter.
    Please search this forum and our Website for your TiVo questions before starting a new thread. Thanks!

  3. #3
    Join Date
    May 2004
    Location
    Victoria
    Posts
    1,239
    In addition to what Peter has mentioned there are two other things:

    1. Adding a second hard disk puts more demand on the power supply which may shorten it's lifespan.

    2. To add a second drive means you need another hard disk mounting bracket if you do not have one already. Do not simply "free mount" the additional hard disk or use something like Velcro to hold it down because you will one day pick up the TiVo to move it and wonder what that strange "clunk" sound is. By the time you realise what it was it is usually too late as the hard disk has moved, usually right onto the motherboard and in doing so has damaged one of the large chips. Don't laugh I have seen it happen on numerous occasions!
    Darren King
    OzTiVo Repairs and Modifications
    If your TiVo requires repairs or modifications
    then visit: http://kingey1971.wix.com/tivorepairs

    NOW ALSO REPAIRING FETCH TOO!

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    Christchurch, New Zealand
    Posts
    463

    Thumbs down Wd5000aakb

    I would recommend avoiding Western Digital 500Gb IDE Caviar Blue 16Mb cache (model WD5000AAKB ), as myself and another guy in Christchurch have both so far been unsucessful in getting the TiVo to boot from this drive. Other people however have confirmed they are using this exact drive in their TiVo, so you could try it.

    TiVo Series3 TiVoHD x2

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Apr 2004
    Location
    Perth, Western Australia
    Posts
    3,037
    Thanks Skolink, the WD5000AAKB is already noted as possibly having an issue on the WiKi link I gave.

    Peter.
    Please search this forum and our Website for your TiVo questions before starting a new thread. Thanks!

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    Melbourne, VIC
    Posts
    11
    Thanks, everyone. Very useful.

    So, new plan: switch to a large HD after I have everything working smoothly on the new toy, and before I build up a lot of recording I will miss once I change over.

    I'll try to get another Seagate drive, but larger. I will assume that the process will be a fresh set up the same as my first set up (completed yesterday), but easier, since I have ironed out the quirks.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Apr 2004
    Location
    Perth, Western Australia
    Posts
    3,037
    Fresh start is easyist and best.

    There are ways to copy the old drive to a new drive, but generally not worth the time and hassle.

    Peter.
    Please search this forum and our Website for your TiVo questions before starting a new thread. Thanks!

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    Christchurch, New Zealand
    Posts
    463

    Wd5000aakb

    According to this thread the problem is with the latest firmware, which would explain why some people have sucessfully used them in the past. No firmware to be found on the Western Digital website.

    http://tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/sho...d.php?t=412211

    I'll see if I can acheive anything with the Western Digital Data Lifeguard Tools

    The one from Tom's TiVo reports itself as WDC WD5000AAKB-00YSA0
    Attached Images Attached Images

    TiVo Series3 TiVoHD x2

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •