Utilising Tivo 1TB HD

Moto2

We run a Seagate tool at work that sees all seagate drives connected whether formatted or not. [from within Windows]

can't speak for any others

googler

Moto2 wrote: »

We run a Seagate tool at work that sees all seagate drives connected whether formatted or not. [from within Windows]

Well, funnily enough, Seagate was one of the ones I was referring to....

Buzby

Having just read Virgin Media's TiVo T&C's I can confirm that the box is not yours to dispose o and never was your property. Indeed, there are a number of charges that will be added to your a account should the PVR not be confirmed as returned within the relevant timescale.

A side issue, is that failure to pay the outstanding amount will lead to a credit file default. Since the TiVo itself has no other purpose than decode VM transmissions, there are even 2 different versions depending on the underlying cable network it is connected to, so it isn't a universal device even if it could be married to a valid card.

Moto2

googler wrote: »

Well, funnily enough, Seagate was one of the ones I was referring to....

If there is no suitable manufacturers tool, DBAN will recognise an external USB or SATA drive, just be very careful you choose the correct drive

The OP says he has a Mac though, so no idea on those

Moto2

Buzby wrote: »

A side issue, is that failure to pay the outstanding amount will lead to a credit file default. Since the TiVo itself has no other purpose than decode VM transmissions, there are even 2 different versions depending on the underlying cable network it is connected to, so it isn't a universal device even if it could be married to a valid card.

Both of mine are still connect to the feed since we cancelled last summer, they get all the freeview stuff and still record OK.
VM specifically said on the phone we could keep them and there's nothing on the paperwork confirming the cancellation that asks for them to be returned.

S0litaire

You will just need a 3.5inch USB/SATA caddy.

You will probably need a linux liveCD handy to 'repair' the TIVO drive in order to reformat it easily.

I've found that with most DVR's although the drives use Linux friendly "JFS" or "EXT3" partitions they are not 100% compatible until they are repaired by a program like "gparted".

You can then use Mac or Linux to read the contents of the drives (the actual TV recordings will not be in a friendly format!! but you should be able to download a converter to get them playable on PC's)

Once you can see the partitions you can wipe them and use a Windows friendly format on them. ^_^

marleyboy

As far as I am aware, unlike SKY where you own the SKY box, VM own the boxes they supply, both my Tivo and V+ are effectively rented out by VM. Its why should the box break down, VM will repair\replace it for you, whereas with SKY you get a 12 Months free service, after that you pay for the repair.

I am sure the T&Cs will point it out, but whether you are responsible to return it or they to pick it up from you I'm not too sure about.