Just like Chancey Gardener, we like to watch
August 22, 2011 6:43 AM Subscribe
Please recommend a specific vendor for a Series 2 Tivo replacement hard drive kit, or some other way to revive the ancient but beloved machine.
I upgraded to a Series 3 and an HD TV to replace it when it started sputtering but now we want to be able to watch in another room too. The old one has been living in a box in the closet waiting for this moment to arrive.
It has prepaid lifetime service, so it's worth fixing (compared to buying a new Series 4) and we are willing to forego the beauty of HD. We have a wireless network and our computers are MacBooks. Not afraid of taking things apart as long as there are clear instructions for how to put it all back together.
We found what seems to be the right kit on weaknees.com. The reviews are great except when they aren't; then they're dreadful. Take the plunge, or is there a better vendor? Or a better solution entirely?
(The most recent question I could find was from 2006 and things might have changed since then.)
I upgraded to a Series 3 and an HD TV to replace it when it started sputtering but now we want to be able to watch in another room too. The old one has been living in a box in the closet waiting for this moment to arrive.
It has prepaid lifetime service, so it's worth fixing (compared to buying a new Series 4) and we are willing to forego the beauty of HD. We have a wireless network and our computers are MacBooks. Not afraid of taking things apart as long as there are clear instructions for how to put it all back together.
We found what seems to be the right kit on weaknees.com. The reviews are great except when they aren't; then they're dreadful. Take the plunge, or is there a better vendor? Or a better solution entirely?
(The most recent question I could find was from 2006 and things might have changed since then.)
You don't really need a kit.
Just grab a decently sized bare HD -- the "DVR-specific" means something like a WD Caviar Green or some other low-power/noise drive -- and the relevant Torx screwdrivers. The easiest software to copy/bless a drive is WinMFS.
posted by holgate at 6:49 AM on August 22, 2011
Just grab a decently sized bare HD -- the "DVR-specific" means something like a WD Caviar Green or some other low-power/noise drive -- and the relevant Torx screwdrivers. The easiest software to copy/bless a drive is WinMFS.
posted by holgate at 6:49 AM on August 22, 2011
Response by poster: WinMFS seems to be for Windows, and we are a Mac-only household. Thanks, though.
posted by acorncup at 6:55 AM on August 22, 2011
posted by acorncup at 6:55 AM on August 22, 2011
It is, but Intel Macs can cope with the bootable MFSLive CD. Not as intuitive an interface, but I've used it a few times.
posted by holgate at 7:00 AM on August 22, 2011
posted by holgate at 7:00 AM on August 22, 2011
We had Weaknees repair our Series 2 so we could keep the lifetime account on it and they did a perfect job. Ours needed a new drive as well as (I think) a power supply, so it was pretty much worth it; it only cost maybe $30 more than we would have paid for parts and it saved us a lot of aggravation.
posted by bcwinters at 7:04 AM on August 22, 2011
posted by bcwinters at 7:04 AM on August 22, 2011
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posted by inturnaround at 6:46 AM on August 22, 2011