Replacing or adding a drive to your TiVo DVR is a fast and easy way to increase the recording capacity of your DVR, or repair the most common problem associated with a failing TiVo DVR, a defective hard drive. Installing either type of kit won't affect your subscription status (even if you have a coveted lifetime subscription) and all upgrade kits include new, high-quality hard drives backed by our six-month warranty, and also backed by a three or five year manufacturer's warranty. Our kits also include all the necessary specialized tools and mounting hardware to ensure a successful installation. For more details, or help selecting the proper kit, look here and learn more about increasing your TiVo capacity.
Replacement Drive Kits from the Original TiVo® Upgrade Service
Replacement drive kits are designed to give you maximum capacity with minimal effort. Each kit comes with a drive prepared for immediate installation in your TiVo DVR. No computer or software experience is necessary as each kit is prepared specifically for your particular TiVo. Each kit we provide comes with specialized tools, mounting hardware, and printed instructions; everything you need for a successful installation. Its simply a matter of removing the existing drive(s) in your unit and replacing them with the drive(s) we provide. Under no circumstances will your subscription be affected - even if you have a lifetime subscription!
Why purchase an upgrade kit from DVRupgrade?
DVRupgrade was the first to create the TiVo upgrade kit over seven years ago, and although many have attempted to replicate what we do, few have done so successfully and are still around to support their customers. In addition to using high-quality drives tuned for use in DVR systems (see below), we use a unique combination of tools and utilities not found anywhere else. All drives are shipped in packaging which conforms to the manufacturer's specifications for proper shipment, and we use reliable, trackable and insured shipping methods. So, do be careful when considering the competition, very few offer a genuine and high-quality product and many will say what they need to say to get your business. Chances are they won't be around to support you if you should need assistance in the future, and you may be very unhappy with what shows up at your doorstep.
Some more details about DVRupgrade TiVo upgrade kits:
Will not impact your TiVo subscription, including lifetime subscription holders.
Allows you to start fresh with a new drive; you'll lose your recordings and settings unless you choose a professional installation and send us your unit.
Keep your existing drive as a backup in case of trouble with the product we provide; this is something we highly recommend.
If your TiVo is broken, chances are a replacement drive will repair it!
In several types of systems, drives can be outfitted with networking hardware and/or software for advanced functionality.
About the disk drives we use and recommend
Over the years, we have used number of high-quality disk drive products from several vendors such as Maxtor, Seagate, Samsung and Hitachi. Currently, all of our disk drive kits and upgraded units are based upon Seagate DB35 drives, Hitachi Deskstar, Hitachi CinemaStar, Samsung SpinPoint hard drives, and Western Digital CE/AV drives. In most cases, the drives we are currently shipping are Seagate DB35 drives; if they aren't, then they are noted as such, and it some cases, you will have the ability to choose which drive we use for your kit. In all cases, the drives we sell are new (not refurbished or recertified drives) and in addition to our warranty, they are covered by a manufacturer's warranty, as well. Many of our drives are tuned for quieter acoustics and in some cases, such as with 750GB and 1TB drive capacities, the drives are tuned for optimal use in DVR systems using utilities sanctioned by the drive manufacturer.
Add-On Drive Kits
Add-On drive kits are designed to be added to your existing TiVo factory drive. Each kit comes a drive prepared for immediate installation in your TiVo DVR. No computer or software experience is necessary, and each kit is prepared specifically for your TiVo, comes with specialized tools, mounting hardware, and printed instructions; everything you need for a successful installation. Adding a drive is an option only available on certain units, and can only be done to units which do not contain a previously upgraded drive.
Why purchase an upgrade kit from DVRupgrade?
DVRupgrade was the first to create the TiVo upgrade kit over seven years ago, and although many have attempted to replicate what we do, few have done so successfully and are still around to support their customers. In addition to using high-quality drives tuned for use in DVR systems (see below), we use a unique combination of tools and utilities not found anywhere else. All drives are shipped in packaging which conforms to the manufacturer's specifications for proper shipment, and we use reliable, trackable and insured shipping methods. So do be careful when considering the competition, very few offer a genuine and high-quality product and many will say what they need to say to get your business. Chances are they won't be around to support you if you should need assistance in the future, and you may be very unhappy with what shows up at your doorstep.
Some more details about DVRupgrade TiVo upgrade kits:
No impact to TiVo subscription, including lifetime subscription holders.
Can be seamlessly added to existing drive in many units. No loss of recordings and settings.
Gets "married" to your original TiVo drive and they are inseparable. Any problems with either drive will result in a non-functioning TiVo
New drives cannot be added to units with defective drives.
Simple way of expanding recording capacity. No extended features available.
About the disk drives we use and recommend
Over the years, we have used number of high-quality disk drive products from several vendors such as Maxtor, Seagate, Samsung and Hitachi. Currently, all of our disk drive kits and upgraded units are based upon Seagate DB35 drives, Hitachi Deskstar, Hitachi CinemaStar, Samsung SpinPoint hard drives, and Western Digital CE/AV drives. In most cases, the drives we are currently shipping are Seagate DB35 drives; if they aren't, then they are noted as such, and it some cases, you will have the ability to choose which drive we use for your kit. In all cases, the drives we sell are new (not refurbished or recertified drives) and in addition to our warranty, they are covered by a manufacturer's warranty, as well.
Common questions about our kits
Do you have kits for other DVR systems?
Do you support Replay, DishNet or UltimateTV devices? What about the new DIRECTV HR20 / HR21 devices?
We currently do not offer kits or services for Replay DishNet or UltimateTV devices. We do offer solutions for the DIRECTV PLUS HR20 / HR21 devices like the TenBox available on our site. Also many devices from cable companies support eSATA solutions which can easily be added using one of our eSATA enclosures and a bare SATA drive.
Removing drives for replacement drive kits?
I've purchased a replacement drive kit and my unit has two drives in it, which drive should I replace?
Replacement drive kits are designed to replace ALL of the drives in your unit! Whether you have one or two drives, you should remove them all, and replace with the drive or drives in your kit. Please follow your installation instructions to complete the install.
Will a DVRupgrade kit affect my subscription with TiVo?
If I install an upgrade kit, will it affect my subscription with TiVo? What if I have a lifetime subscription and replace the drive in my unit?
Our kits will not affect your subscription with TiVo. Your subscription with TiVo is associated with the serial number of your unit, and this will not change even if you replace your drives with one of our larger kits. The reason for this is because the serial number is stored on the system board of your TiVo DVR (in a place called "non-volatile memory" aka NVRAM) and this information always stays the same regardless of the hard drive or software version that is installed on your TiVo DVR.
Will I lose my settings if I install a replacement drive kit?
If I install a replacement drive kit, will I lose my preferences and recordings?
Yes. A replacement drive kit completely replaces the drives in your TiVo. Therefore, any preferences, settings and recordings will be remain on the drive(s) you remove from the unit.
A replacement drive kit replaces ALL of the drives in your unit - whether you have one or two, they must all come out. Installing a replacement drive kit will not affect your subscription with TiVo.
If you want to install a replacement drive kit and preserve your recordings and preferences, you can send your unit for a professional installation and we will do it for you.
Can I add a drive to any unit?
Can I add a drive to any TiVo unit?
No, but you can add them to many. Some older Philips standalone units contained two-drives, as well as some early Sony SAT-T60 DirecTiVo units. These units are entirely upgradeable with our replacement drive kits. All Sony SVR-2000 units and ATT/TiVo Series2 units are single-drive units.
Most other units are single-drive units and in most cases you can add them. One exception is the TiVo standalone "dual tuner" unit which does not have the physical space for two drives, although technically, the unit will work with two drives (there is just no place to put the second drive).
TiVo units with DVD players or burners also do not have room to add a drive.
Series3 units also do not have room for more than one drive, however with the Series3 (not the TiVo HD), you can add practically any drive in an eSATA enclosure. If you have a TiVo HD, you can add a drive, but not one that is available from us; you'd have to use the one marketed by Western Digital and sold directly by TiVo.
With all of that said, the units out there that were once suitable for adding a drive are getting relatively old, and because once you've added a drive to a unit, the two drives are "married" (this means you cannot remove a drive without having to reinstall the software on the original), we recommend replacing your drive whenever possible. Another thing to keep in mind is that a single drive system will always be more reliable (statistically) than a dual drive unit because a dual drive unit has twice the chance of a disk drive failure occurring than a single drive unit.
Installing drives in an already upgraded unit; can this be done?
I've already installed one large replacement-drive kit, can I now add another kit to my unit?
Yes, and no. You cannot simply order an 'add-on' kit for a unit which has been upgraded with one large replacement-drive. The software on your current replacement drive would need to be modified to recognize a new drive added to the system. You can however, order an add-on drive kit combined with a Professional Installation and we can install the kit at our facility within 1-2 business days. If you are considering a single-drive replacement kit, but think you may expand in the future, you may want to consider a dual-drive replacement kit now.
Professional Installation Information
This information is reprinted from a page on our main site, please see here for more details.
Professional Installation Services
DVRupgrade understands that your time is valuable and
that you may not want to install a kit for yourself. We offer a full
range of installation products and services and we can even ship you a
box, with a return label, for your TiVo when you place your order!
You can't go wrong with a professional installation.
We'll thoroughly clean your unit, inside and out, install the kit of
your choice, and have your unit on its way back to you within 1-2
business days of receiving it. Simply select a kit for your specific
type of TiVo using our secure shopping cart and choose the professional
installation of your choice. When checking out, you can choose the
shipping method for having your unit return-shipped to you. After that,
all you need to do ship us is your unit; no remote or power cable is
necessary. And, if you do not have your original TiVo box, we highly
recommend you add a custom DVRshipper to your cart before checking out.
We'll ship you an empty box, packing materials and a return label for
safe and secure shipment of your TiVo to us!
Standard Professional Installation (bronze)
Full unit cleaning and checkup. We install your kit for you. If you've
ordered a replacement drive kit, we'll pull your old drive(s) and
return them to you separately. You will lose your existing recordings
and settings. The install will not affect your subscription status,
even if you have a lifetime subscription.
Silver Professional Installations
Same as above, except we copy your settings, season passes and preferences to your new drive kit prior to installing.
Gold Professional Installations
Same as above, except we copy your recorded content to your new
drive kit prior to installing. This service only applies to units which
have not been previously upgraded.
Please note that gold installations can
only be applied to unupgraded units, and can only be performed on
drives which are not defective. If you have drive problems (stuttering,
lost recordings, random reboots, etc) we always recommend a bronze
installation. If you would like us to attempt to recover data using
advanced tools and techniques, you can order a gold installation and we
will make a best-effort to preserve your content, however we cannot be
held responsible, and there are no refunds on professional installation
charges should we be unsuccessful.
Kit Recertifications and Network Upgrades
You can recertify your existing PTVupgrade kit, competitor's drives, or other user supplied drives! Recertification includes exchange with manufacturer for in-warranty, defective drives*. Re-installation of software during repair, or reconfiguration related to moving drives from one TiVo to another. If you've purchased standard IDE drives elsewhere and want us to install them in your TiVo, or simply configure them to be used as a kit in your unit, you can order a standard Kit Recertification and have us do the work for you! Or, if you'd like us to turn your drives into a TurboNet or CacheCard upgrade, simply order a Kit Recertifcation with TurboNet bundle or a Kit Recertification with CacheCard bundle.
Custom Shipping Containers
Can't find your original TiVo box? No worries. Select our custom DVR-shipper when ordering a professional installation. We'll send you our specially designed box and protective packing material for your TiVo. We'll even include a return-shipping label; just place your unit in the box, contact the shipping agent at the supplied phone number, and we'll take care of the rest. When checking out, you can choose how you'd like your unit shipped back to you. All you need to ship us is your unit; no remote or power cable is necessary. If you do not have your original TiVo box, we highly recommend you request a custom DVR-shipper.
How are DVRupgrade kit capacities determined?
How are the number of hours calculated on a TiVo?
TiVo standalone units have four levels of recording quality. At the best recording quality, the number of hours is approximately one third of the hard drive capacity (eg. A 160GB drive yields roughly 55 hours at the highest quality). At the lowest recording quality (basic), the number of hours will be approximately 20% more than the drive capacity (eg. A 160GB drive yields roughly 192 hours, at basic quality).
DirecTV TiVo DVR units do not allow you to adjust quality. They use a 'variable compression algorithm' which means recordings will take up more or less space, depending upon the type of broadcast. (eg. Sporting events and action movies take up more space on a hard drive than a newscast). In either case, quality is 'optimal' regardless of what is recorded. Hard drives usually yield approximately .875 hours per GB. (eg. A 160GB drive yields roughly 140 hours at best/variable quality).
I might want to install a kit myself, are the instructions online?
I want to preview the instructions - are those online?
Yes, you can preview the instructions that you will receive in your TiVo upgrade kit, so that you will know how easy the process is.
Do your TiVo Upgrades come with the latest software?
Do your TiVo Upgrade drives come with the latest software?
We try to build kits with the latest versions of the software for each unit. Unlike many other vendors, we actually have one of every TiVo and attempt to maintain a current library of images for use and prior to using one on a kit, it undergoes extensive testing. With that said, there are several kits which will come with slightly older versions of the TiVo software and this should not be a concern; once your TiVo is reconnected and beings making its daily call, it will download the latest version of the software for which it is authorized and things will go back to normal.
For some Series2 standalone units, some units may ship with a software that will need you to use your phone line, instead of your network adapter to make your initial call and setup call. Once your TiVo downloads the latest software again, your adapter should go back to working just fine.
Configuring PTVnet to make calls using Internet connection instead of phoneline
If you need to 'repeat your guided setup' as a result of doing a 'clear and delete everything' or need to make a test call as part of configuring your satellite connections, you can configure your unit to use an Internet connection instead of requiring the use of your phone line.
There are several ways of doing this, however only one method applies for kits purchased prior to 12/20/2006, or drives prepared with our PTVnet software prior to that date. For kits purchased (or drives prepared) after 12/20/2006, there is a different method, which we recommend.
To force your PTVnet configured unit to make a call using a network connection:
PTVnet SWCD version 1.0 - or kits purchased prior to December 20, 2006
Method one:
You will need to establish a telnet session with your TiVo and edit the following file using "vi":
This method allows you to download and replace the aforementioned file with one that is slightly modified. Use it at your own risk and if it does not work, you will need to use method one.
Establish a telnet session with your unit by typing (use copy and paste whenever possible):
telnet 192.168.1.63 (use your ip address, instead)
Step #3 will download and replace the existing file with one that is modified in the same way the method 1 suggests.
PTVnet SWCD version 1.1 - or kits purchased AFTER to December 20, 2006
If you are not sure what version of PTVnet you used or when you purchased your kit, then you may want to use the previous methods of configuring the unit. Or to verify whether you have the right files in place, establish a telnet session with your unit and type the following:
ls -al /init/ptv_flags
If you see a variable called:
NETWORK_CALL_OFF
then you have version 1.1
now type:
flag_swap NETWORK_CALL
If the network call was previously configured to be OFF, it will be set to ON, and vice versa.
Alternatively, you could type the following to turn things on:
rootwrite
rm -rf /init/ptv_flags/NETWORK_CALL*
touch /init/ptv_flags/NETWORK_CALL_ON
If you wanted to turn it off, then just replace ON with OFF in the previous instructions.
You will need to reboot your unit after doing this; we recommend typing the following to reboot (DO NOT PULL THE PLUG!):
sync ; reboot
OR just use the remote to restart your unit.
What types of hard drives do you use?
Over the years, we have used number of high-quality disk drive products from several vendors such as Maxtor, Seagate, Samsung and Hitachi. Currently, all of our disk drive kits and upgraded units are based upon Seagate DB35 drives, Hitachi Deskstar, Hitachi CinemaStar, and Samsung SpinPoint hard drives, except in some TiVo units which contain Western Digital drives from the factory.
Some of our competitors claim to have "special" drives that nobody else can offer, and this is simply not true. It is true, however that some drives, such as the Seagate DB35 and Hitachi CinemaStar drives are not easily found in retail channels. In reality, there is nothing exceptional or different about any of the drives anyone uses, other than the fact that some drives are tuned in attempts to optimize performance in a DVR. Contrary to popular belief, drives for DVRs do not need to be as fast, or as high-performance as for typical desktop and server applications, so many drives tuned for DVR usage are actually slowed down in order to reduce noise levels.
In any case, ALL of the drives we sell are new (not refurbished or recertified drives) and in addition to our warranty, they are covered by a manufacturer's warranty, as well. Many of our drives are tuned for quieter acoustics and in some cases, such as with 750GB and 1TB drive capacities, the drives are tuned for optimal use in DVR systems using utilities sanctioned by the drive manufacturer. In most cases, we decide what drive to provide with your kit, however in cases of 750GB drives you can specify the drive you'd like, and if you have a choice, you'll be able to select it when choosing your kit.
Do you have kits for other DVR systems?