Question about Instacake version/drive size

[V-Rod]

Hello I bought Instantcake in sept 2004 at the time it had Tivo version 5.3 for the series 2 541140

I used it on a 250GB drive and it’s been good for years but the drive just took a crap.

Seems most places have good deals on 320GB drives. My question is can I use the version of Instacake that I have on a 320GB drive?

If so do I need to use any special command switches or will it just work.

Or should/do I need to get a newer version of Instantcake?

Thank in advance.

[Lou Jacob]

Hello I bought Instantcake in sept 2004 at the time it had Tivo version 5.3 for the series 2 541140

I used it on a 250GB drive and it’s been good for years but the drive just took a crap.

Seems most places have good deals on 320GB drives. My question is can I use the version of Instacake that I have on a 320GB drive?

If so do I need to use any special command switches or will it just work.

Or should/do I need to get a newer version of Instantcake?

Thank in advance.

Using it on a 320GB drive should work fine; of course, review the instructions and release notes again as a refresher before going through the install again.

[V-Rod]

Ok thanks I will give it a try

[V-Rod]

I bought the drive today 320GB $79 not bad and baked my cake no problem says 366HR

Now I remember why I thought I needed a command line. Back in 2005 I got an email that said that a new version of Instantcake was out for use in drives as large as 2X400GB and that to use large drives with my version I needed to boot IC but use the following command
/mfstools-2.0/mfstools restore -x -r4 -p -s 127 -zi /cdrom/.images/000001/dev/hdc

So that is why I thought that I would need a command line.

Also
I was stuck on the GSOD cycle that from what I read in many post could be that the 2.0 tools on my version of IC did not do the swap file correct. Is this true and should I do anything additional to this drive before use to insure that if Tivo needs to run the repair one day that the it can run it.

Thanks

[V-Rod]

Just wondering why I got 366 hours and some post 369 or higher with a 320GB drive (seen a post that with ver 9x you get 402 hr with a 320GB HDD).

Also am I at a disadvantage by using my old 5.3 version of Instantcake or once Tivo downloads that latest version (9x) to my box will I automatically have everything that I would have had if my replacement drive was built with a later version of Instantcake. Seems some info suggest that I will not get full capacity by using this old version.

I have another Tivo that has a 160GB drive and the latest Tivo software version 9 would I be better off backing that up and restoring that to my 320GB drive or is using Instantcake with ver 5.3 and letting Tivo download the latest version the exact same thing.

If I use the Instantcake with ver 5.3 is it wise to do an additional clear and delete everything after Tivo downloads the latest version of the software to the unit.

Sorry for the simple question but since the unit is down now I just want to make it right before we start loading it up with shows.

Thanks

[V-Rod]

Guessing that know one knows the answers so I went ahead and gave it a shot.

Since I used the Instantcake CD that I had to get my Tivo going with a used 160GB drive and that being on a week was upgraded to the latest version and was setup as needed, I figured that using the Instantcake CD on the new 320GB drive and starting all over again was not the best way to go. Not being a Linux wiz I figured the worst that could happen is I just use Instantcake to get the drive going again and reprogram and let the unit upgrade itself if I messed up.

But I did use the Instantcake CD just not the image on the CD. I tried to just do a copy drive to drive with

mfsbackup -f 9999 -so - /dev/hdc | mfsrestore -s 127 -r 4 -xzpi - /dev/hdb from what I know should copy HDB my working Tivo drive to my new 320GB drive and expand all in one shot (yes the drives were hooked up correct and tried different cables just in case)

It would look good take a while show progress and say it was successful but the drive just GSOD every time. I tried this 3 times, then I gave up on the drive-to-drive copy, and just did a backup restore with

mkdir /mnt/dos
mount /dev/hda1 /mnt/dos
mfsbackup -f 9999 -6so /mnt/dos/tivo.bak /dev/hdc
mfsrestore -s 127 -xzpi /mnt/dos/tivo.bak /dev/hdb
Note: After I did this and it was in and working I noticed that I did not use the –r 4 for the restore. Not sure if it makes a difference but the drive is in and seems to be working fine.

Anyway, this worked the first time the Tivo booted right up and the only thing that I lost was the shows that were on the drive. Everything else was retained even my 30 sec skip now stays after the Tivo is restarted. It has been in for 24 hr now and still seems to be working I will give it some time if it keeps going I guess I did ok. I burned the backup image to a CD if I ever need it again I will have my Tivo all setup ready to restore. I guess I was lazy I should have just backed the thing up years ago after I first used Instantcake. Plus I should have know the drive was going bad and replaced it before it failed. It was freezing and a few times is said that the recorded program could not be played. So I had an idea something was up but being busy just put it off.

I hope this helps someone else looking for info.

BTW from what I now know the /mfstools-2.0/mfstools restore -x -r4 -p -s 127 -zi /cdrom/.images/000001/dev/hdc apparently is only needed it you are installing 400GB worth of space and above with your Instantcake CD.

[Rick Travis]

The mfsbackup command you used should copy HDC to HDB not HDB to HDC.

[V-Rod]

Yup my typo I should have said from what I know that should copy HDC my working Tivo drive to my new 320GB drive HDB and expand all in one shot. I typed the command right just flipped the explanation.