HDD has started being noisey

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ADKM

860 posts

Ultimate Geek

#282704 7-Mar-2021 11:26

We're getting a continual click/chatter from the HDD. Not that loud, but audible. Started about a week ago but everything still works fine.

If I power down and back, it's ok for about 24 hours... then starts again.

Anyone else had this? Any solution ?

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#2669394 7-Mar-2021 11:31

If there is anything important on it, get it off NOW. If you have nowhere to put the important stuff, turn it off till you do.

Sounds stuffed, how old is it?

xpd

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#2669395 7-Mar-2021 11:35

Brand ? Model ? Age ?

Some drives can be quite noisy but are usually noisy from the start - noises after months of use is not good.

But as above, backup now just in case.

Gavin / xpd / FastRaccoon / Geek of Coastguard New Zealand

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richms

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#2669396 7-Mar-2021 11:36

Replace the HDD, they are a consumable and not something that can be serviced beyond what data recovery places will try once it has totally failed. If its a small one then move to a SSD, if large, then make sure you get one appropriate for the workload (so not a shingled one if you import loads of video and edit on it)

Edit: just saw this was in the tivo section. So just replace the drive with something compatible. No point an SSD in something like that, but again no shingled drives even if someone says it will work because its most likly to give issues in this sort of workload.

Richard rich.ms

Mehrts

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#2669399 7-Mar-2021 11:39

Don't muck around, back that drive up now.

A new drive is much less expensive and worrying than having to go down the data recovery path, just because the drive crapped out before you could get everything off it.

Rikkitic

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#2669406 7-Mar-2021 11:45

Take the above advice seriously. That drive is almost certainly on the way out. If you have anything important on it, back it up immediately or keep it turned off until you can.

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ADKM

860 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2669413 7-Mar-2021 11:53

OK. Not sure of Tivo age etc, probably many years. Tony in Auckland set it all up.

What's involved in backing up/ substituting another drive ? You can't read/copy the drive on a PC can you ?

Mehrts

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#2669418 7-Mar-2021 12:20

Sorry, I thought this HDD was in a PC, not a TV video recorder.

In that case, there's probably nothing worth keeping on it. You should be able to simply open the unit up, replace HDD & then go through some form of format/disk initialisation through the settings menu. You might have to dig deep for that option, because it's not something that would need to be done often/ever.

If you're not sure what HDD to replace it with, see if you can open the unit up and get the drive details of the one which is already installed & we'll be able to offer a suitable replacement option. Most of these video recorders use the smaller 2.5" "laptop" hard drives.

if you really want to go down the backup route: You should be able to create a clone of the drive, even just using a basic drive dock. These are the easiest option for cloning drives with weird and wonderful formats. Simply pop the original drive into one slot, the new drive into the second slot & hit the "clone" button.

Windows might have issues with cloning the drive. Linux is very forgiving & doesn't really care what format the drive has, however requires a small amount of other knowledge to use. It's not hard, just a bit more of a muck around if you're unfamiliar with it.

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old3eyes

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#2669426 7-Mar-2021 12:46

As It's a TiVo you will have to clone the drive or buy a new one and take it to one of the people here on GZ who upgrade TiVos and get the software reloaded. If you have the network package you can copy all your kept programs to your local PC..

Regards,

Old3eyes

ADKM

860 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2669439 7-Mar-2021 13:15

Thanks for the replies. It's not a MAK unit and from Googling process looks pretty specialised.

I'll keep hunting for info. Think i had details at one point but can't find it now. Did read that even taking it out and putting same one back may not work.

gregmcc

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#2669441 7-Mar-2021 13:22

ADKM:

Thanks for the replies. It's not a MAK unit and from Googling process looks pretty specialised.

I'll keep hunting for info. Think i had details at one point but can't find it now. Did read that even taking it out and putting same one back may not work.

ideally replace with a WD purple or similar, there is a windows app (works best Win7) that will duplicate the old drive (can't recall the name of the app off the top of my head).

The software on the HDD are serial number locked to the Tivo CPU's this means you can't take a HDD out of one tivo and put it in another and watch the recordings, it will work but you have do a full reset when the tivo boots this means it deletes all the old recordings.

Depending on where you are located there are a number of people located around the country who can do the drive duplication for you.

MadEngineer

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#2669490 7-Mar-2021 14:34

Buy new, use cloning software from website of either drive’s manufacturer.

You're not on Atlantis anymore, Duncan Idaho.

CrashAndBurn

669 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2669498 7-Mar-2021 14:51

Same thing happened to me over the weekend. Luckily got a few old HDD. Removed the HDD from Tivo then connected to PC then used WinMFS to backup the software without the recordings. Restored to new HDD then plug back in to Tivo then did a factory reset. Working as normal again. Hopefully it would last a couple more years but given I had it since it was launched I already consider it worth it :)

ADKM

860 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2669503 7-Mar-2021 15:00

That's what I need to know, thanks. I'll search for WINMFS. It will read/write Tivo format?

You can't also save the recordings?

Would you have a link or details on doing the factory reset? I also have a few HDDs to try with.

If all else fails, putting the (original) HDD back in would see it working again ?

CrashAndBurn

669 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2669506 7-Mar-2021 15:17

ADKM:

That's what I need to know, thanks. I'll search for WINMFS. It will read/write Tivo format?

You can't also save the recordings?

Would you have a link or details on doing the factory reset? I also have a few HDDs to try with.

If all else fails, putting the (original) HDD back in would see it working again ?

Yes can read/write Tivo format.

I specifically chose not to backup the recordings to have a clean slate. I believe there are ways to copy the recordings to a PC first then transfer back to new HDD but uses another software.

Factory reset is from within the Tivo menu.

Yes, as I tested that before doing anything. Unless of course your HDD is dead.

ADKM

860 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2669512 7-Mar-2021 15:30

Many thanks. Will see how we go.

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