3.1.5f standard question/dilemma

[codespy]

I purchased the 3.1.5f standard edition software for my HR10-250. While re-imaging a drive, it would get all the way to 'Starting restore, uncompressed backup size <some> 1500 megabytes', and that was the last line on the screen. The 'restoring...' line would not even show on screen, and the system would just hang there.

I did another download, and a re-burn, still no luck.

As a shot in the dark, I tried PTVnet for 6.2 systems (had one laying around) in conjunction with the 3.1.5f, and viola! it imaged the drive. I did not install any hacks after the re-imaging process, loaded it up and everything worked in the Tivo unit. I have had unit up and running for a week now with the phone line plugged in and it hasn't taken a single update yet as I force a call twice a day. Stuck on 3.1.5f.

2 questions-

-Any one else have a problem with the imaging process and what would be the fix?

-In the release notes to this, it says it should take future upgrades and has anyone else had issues with this?

Thanks in advance.

[Lou Jacob]

I purchased the 3.1.5f standard edition software for my HR10-250. While re-imaging a drive, it would get all the way to 'Starting restore, uncompressed backup size <some> 1500 megabytes', and that was the last line on the screen. The 'restoring...' line would not even show on screen, and the system would just hang there.

I did another download, and a re-burn, still no luck.

As a shot in the dark, I tried PTVnet for 6.2 systems (had one laying around) in conjunction with the 3.1.5f, and viola! it imaged the drive. I did not install any hacks after the re-imaging process, loaded it up and everything worked in the Tivo unit. I have had unit up and running for a week now with the phone line plugged in and it hasn't taken a single update yet as I force a call twice a day. Stuck on 3.1.5f.

2 questions-

-Any one else have a problem with the imaging process and what would be the fix?

-In the release notes to this, it says it should take future upgrades and has anyone else had issues with this?

Thanks in advance.

You might want to try reburning at a slower speed and/or on a different media type. Every now and then we hear of a problem like this (not limited to any particular version of InstantCake) but its usually the aforementioned issue, or sometimes a picky CD-ROM or PC (even rarer).

Note to others, a re-download is never necessary unless you are unable to unzip the file, so try to leave that as a last resort.

[codespy]

Thanks for the quick reply Lou. I did burn all the way down to 1X speed (1250kbytes/sec) with the same results. I will try different media- will see if that helps.

This product still should take the software update with the phone line plugged in though, correct? Or does the current version available not allow for updates?

[Lou Jacob]

This product still should take the software update with the phone line plugged in though, correct? Or does the current version available not allow for updates?

Yes, all the versions of InstantCake for this model should automatically update to the latest version available when connected 'normally' - ie 3.1.5f should update to 6.3e by itself and without any user-intervention.

[codespy]

Well I baked 3.1.5f with the help of PTVnet and after 13 days and multiple phone calls, no upgrade to 6.3e.

I tried different media and speeds to reburn 3.1.5f like you said, and still could not get anything past uncompressed backup size.

My 6.3c instantcake images still have not upgraded automatically on two different units, so I am looking to bake the 6.3d image. Has the bug been fixed so the 6.3d will automatically upgrade to 6.3e when plugged into a phone line or do I need the slicer for that? I am not looking to use PTV net in conjunction with the 6.3d.

[Lou Jacob]

Well I baked 3.1.5f with the help of PTVnet and after 13 days and multiple phone calls, no upgrade to 6.3e.

I tried different media and speeds to reburn 3.1.5f like you said, and still could not get anything past uncompressed backup size.

My 6.3c instantcake images still have not upgraded automatically on two different units, so I am looking to bake the 6.3d image. Has the bug been fixed so the 6.3d will automatically upgrade to 6.3e when plugged into a phone line or do I need the slicer for that? I am not looking to use PTV net in conjunction with the 6.3d.

As far as I know, there is no bug that would prevent the upgrade from happening (but if you are using PTVnet to create your replacement drive, you do need to make sure you set the upgrade flag so that upgrades are not suppressed).

Its possible that the upgrade is no longer available (maybe temporary) from DirecTV or that your particular unit was ever 'authorized' for the upgrade (in the past, some releases were not made to all units at the same time). So there are a number factors that could be related.

The only thing that would prevent the upgrade from happening (if it were available for your unit) would be if the upgradesoftware=false variable is set in your bootpage, so if you have telnet access to your unit, you can verify it by typing:


bootpage -p /dev/hda


Here is what it looks like on my personal HR10-250, which is still running 3.1.5:


tivo:/var/tmp$ bootpage -p /dev/hda
root=/dev/hda7 brev=0x100A dsscon=true console=2,115200 upgradesoftware=false

[codespy]

Thanks Lou, hopefully it will upgrade. I do not have telnet access to my units. I will post if it works- usually takes a couple days. Nice feature with email notification on your replies too.

[Lou Jacob]

Thanks Lou, hopefully it will upgrade. I do not have telnet access to my units. I will post if it works- usually takes a couple days. Nice feature with email notification on your replies too.

Another option would be to pull the drive, attach it to your PC and issue the same 'bootpage' command after booting with any of the boot CD's you already have...

... just curious, why the strong desire to have it update; are you having problems with the version that is currently running on your TiVo?

[codespy]

I have 2 HR10's that I baked the 6.3c on 750gig drives about 6 months ago. I had posted those problems back then. Virtually every night I get the pending restart and they reboot, indicates installing service update, but stuck at 6.3c. That is why.

I recently downloaded the 3.1.5f to start from scratch to get to 6.3e, but still can't get it to uncompress and write to the drive, as I have indicated.

I have since baked 6.3d on a spare unit that I am now testing to see if it will take the 6.3e update. If that works, I will re-bake my 750gig drives. I am trying to avoid the problems that I have with the 6.3c when Directv sends down software updates. When the new software comes out next year, I don't want to have to re-image my drives and lose all of my wife's recordings- she gets irrated fast.

If the 6.3e update gives even a little better speed on anything, I am all for it.