how to upgrade from 500GB expansion disk? I am using the old 500GB expansion disk with my TivoHD. Is there any easy way upgrade to the 1TB expansion disk with erasing all the TV shows I have recorded on my TivoHD? how to upgrade from 500GB expansion disk? I am using the old 500GB expansion disk with my TivoHD. Is there any easy way upgrade to the 1TB expansion disk with erasing all the TV shows I have... » Read More how to upgrade from 500GB expansion disk? I am using the old 500GB expansion disk with my TivoHD. Is there any easy way upgrade to the 1TB expansion disk with erasing all the TV shows I have recorded on my TivoHD? « Show Less
1579196
When you hooked up your original expansion drive to your Tivo, the Tivo started using both drives simultaneously for its recordings. If you now remove your 500GB expansion, you will wipe out all of your recordings -- ALL of them, because the recordings are split across the drives (with the potential exception of something you recorded before you added the expansion drive). So DR Wood is right -- the only way to save any content is to move it to another DVR using Tivo ToGo before you disconnect.
1579197
Easiest upgrade is to buy 1 TB unit from Amazon (now on sale at $129.99) and sell 500 Gig on eBay now going for around $70.
1215443
Depends on your definition of "easy"... If you have a PC and a lot of HD space, you can download all the programs you want to keep with TivoToGo, Switch Expanders, then reload the programs from the PC back to the Tivo.
1579198
As far as I know you cannot. Removing a drive removes everything recorded with it from the Tivo. I believe the files are encrypted as well, so I don't think you can copy them over using your computer.
2009273
I'm having the same problem with the 1TB my dvr expander. Let me know if you found a fix. I've had a 500gb on my other sa 8300 hd and never had an issue.
1779234
Proceed with caution !!!! I'd think that it can logically be done since this is afterall nothing but a SATA HDD with specs that can work w. Tivo...etcBefore you begin:1. Be sure that you will not 'die' if what's in your drive now in terms of content is 'gone'. That's very possible2. Check w. Western Digital directlyAs a rule-of-thumb, Tivo(at least) uses striping... which means that Tivo puts only a portion of the video(s) on this while keeping the rest on the native drive... so if you take the content in this drive to another Tivo or a computing device... the content is not complete and not usableHope this helps ;) wYc Proceed with caution !!!! I'd think that it can logically be done since this is afterall nothing but a SATA HDD with specs that can work w. Tivo...etcBefore you begin:1. Be sure that you will not 'die' if what's in your drive now in terms of content is 'gone'. That's very possible2. Check w. Western Digital directlyAs a rule-of-thumb, Tivo(at least) uses striping... which means that Tivo puts only a portion of the video(s) on this while keeping the rest on the native drive... so if you take the content in this drive to another Tivo or a... » Read More Proceed with caution !!!! I'd think that it can logically be done since this is afterall nothing but a SATA HDD with specs that can work w. Tivo...etcBefore you begin:1. Be sure that you will not 'die' if what's in your drive now in terms of content is 'gone'. That's very possible2. Check w. Western Digital directlyAs a rule-of-thumb, Tivo(at least) uses striping... which means that Tivo puts only a portion of the video(s) on this while keeping the rest on the native drive... so if you take the content in this drive to another Tivo or a computing device... the content is not complete and not usableHope this helps ;) wYc « Show Less
185643
Hi Craig, Thanks for your useful input. At this stage I think I too should have gone for the 1TB model. Now I can't seem to download video clips onto the 1.5 TB. It starts off OK then freezes and the usual Task Manager solutions don't seem to help and I end up with the dreaded blue screen. I have to switch off and start again. Very boring. If anyone has a solution would be most grateful for help
1305572
Amazon's page still says it's not available, but I just received mine yesterday (from Amazon). So far, so good. Plug it in, restart your TiVo, and 5-10 minutes later you got a gajillion hours of HD recording (okay, I think it's 240 hours, but still). One little bummer, you can't cart the drive from TiVo to TiVo (or computer) to transfer your shows. It says it records some of the show in the internal drive and some on the external, so no complete shows are on the external. No big deal I guess.
1540522
I have had prior TiVo's Series 2, Series 3 and now Series 4. They start to have hard drive failures after every 2-3 years. I got lifetime subscription at first but decided not worth it if want latest features on each upgrade and the fact hard drives tend to only last 2-3 years. On Series 4 now have the clue is unexpected reboots at first and now some programs (3 today) only recorded the fist 1 minute and then ended. From all I've read most likely sign of hard drive going again. Yes can be replaced but more of a cost and hassle vs starting over with latest version like now Series 5.
681541
Me, too. I have one that no longer records to disc, and I'd love to replace it with one that works, but not at $850. I paid $250 for mine. The unit, when it works properly is amazing. Recording to the hard drive acts exactly like a Tivo. When you are through recording, you can take out the commercials (about a 5 minute job), then transfer to a disc. (After the commercials are removed, you can fit 3 one hour shows on a disc in 2 hour mode. Yeah commercials now take up 30% of a shows time.) Picture quality was good, it recorded and played back in wide screen ( a lot of recorders will only record widescreen, the play back in 4:3),and it did an excellent job of upconverting a regular DVD to High Def, for viewing on a large screen TV. This was a product that they could have made a good bit of money off of, if they had promoted it properly. They blew it. Don't know if you are aware of monoprice.com for your HDMI cables. Amazon's prices for these cables are good, but monoprice has great prices. (I got 2 10' cables and a 3' cable for $17.00, including shipping.) Check them out. Enjoy your Toshiba. HDD DVD recorders are amazing toys.
277090
a 500Gb for only 4 cameras only record for 24 hours continual and it will write over automatic every day if you want longer record time you have to change the hard drive to a bigger one a 1 tb will record 4 cameras for 45 days it says but I haven't had a chance to test my system for that time yet.You will get longer record time if you change the settings to motion only.The new hard drive runs about 100.00 I was alittle upset that they didn't let me know that before I bought the system and you have to have a special hard drive that works with this system.You can not use a usb hard drive it has to bea internal drive not a external drive.Hope this helps and answers your question. a 500Gb for only 4 cameras only record for 24 hours continual and it will write over automatic every day if you want longer record time you have to change the hard drive to a bigger one a 1 tb will record 4 cameras for 45 days it says but I haven't had a chance to test my system for that time yet.You will get longer record time if you change the settings to motion only.The new hard drive runs about 100.00 I was alittle upset that they didn't let me know that before I bought the system and you have to have a special hard drive that works with this system.You can not use a usb hard drive it... » Read More a 500Gb for only 4 cameras only record for 24 hours continual and it will write over automatic every day if you want longer record time you have to change the hard drive to a bigger one a 1 tb will record 4 cameras for 45 days it says but I haven't had a chance to test my system for that time yet.You will get longer record time if you change the settings to motion only.The new hard drive runs about 100.00 I was alittle upset that they didn't let me know that before I bought the system and you have to have a special hard drive that works with this system.You can not use a usb hard drive it has to bea internal drive not a external drive.Hope this helps and answers your question. « Show Less
1302605
That is the theory of a RAID 5. I had a 4TB drive fail after a month on duty. Western Digital immediately sent me a new one, I plugged it in and it took about four days to re-establish the full RAID. My 16TB with 12 TB usable space on RAID 5 was loaded with 4TB of records. So, if you want to upgrade your system one drive at a time, better be patient.
599473
According to product instruction: "It is possible to expand the available storage using an external hard drive. The hard disk must either be formatted with NTFS or FAT 16/32. Connect the hard drive through the USB port, and the DVR will automatically recognize it. To set the DVR to record onto the external hard drive , access the menu. Under REC tab, select REC device and choose USB....." Seems to me you can do what you seek.
1665317
I am a Vidotron customer with a Illico DVR (Explorer 8300HD+ with 320GB hard drive). Western Digital web site reports compatibility with my Explorer is only with their 500GB model. I requested compatibility report to WD with their 1TB model and my Explorer but no news yet. I see many people with my Explorer model have installed the 1TB version and it appears to be working fine. I am undecided about buying either the 500GB or 1TB version. Do both versions work with my Explorer unit ? Can anybody confirm this? Please advise if you can. Thanks very much, regards.
1668234
THANK YOU!! I didn't know how to get my expansion disk to accept back up information until I read your post and once I used Time Machine to format, everything copied quickly and easily. So again, THANK YOU!!
713397
You are correct the DVR does not come with a hard drive, the hard drive is your typical SATA style hard drive, this is why it only costs a hundred bucks, so you have to install the hardrive and after it is installed, there is an option for formatting it, which you will have to do. Its simple to do, but you void your warranty after opening the box, so that is the kicker.
2257356
TIVO recommends only Western Digital's "My DVR Expander", which currently comes in two sizes: 500GB or 1000GB (one terrabyte). Currently (Jan. 2010) the 1000GB model is back-ordered on all the web-sites I checked. I did find four available at Best-Buy in Bellevue, WA, for $169.95. Be sure to get the eSATA input, as it also comes in a USB 2.0 form.
1189085
i was told from apricorn which used to have the dvr expander and they said that you could get any hard drive that has an esata. I don't know how reliable that would be. I wish i had bought more apricorn's but i guess since the floods in thailand they are not bringing the dvr expander back.
2155502
The 500GB version is most definitely compatible with the 8300HD, or at least was. I have been using one for well over two years, but just in the past couple of weeks it pops up a "disconnect" message at random. I just hit the cancel / exit button and it keeps playing just fine save for the error message popping up every 15-20 minutes or so. I suspect Comcast has pushed some sort of firmware update to the cable box which is causing this problem because the drive itself seems to be spinning just fine with no strange grinding or clicking noises and the data seems to be intact. I am planning on buying the 1TB version so I'm reading through these reviews to see a success story.
687520
yes works well...no issues seen. follow the directions from sony hdd upgrade and get the larger file...think it was 500mb or so....for new drive install.....do hate how you cant back anything up on ps4 except game saves...so you have to redownload everything....i had a god 60+ gb