So how do you know that it's just the external drive? Have you done a kickstart? You should start with this:

http://www.weaknees.com/54

If you divorce the external from the internal, you'll lose any show that's even partially on the external, and that's usually most shows.

As far as transferring to a Premiere, both would have to be active on the same TiVo account. But if you can't transfer to a PC, a transfer to another TiVo isn't likely to happen either.

Check your model number. I recently sent in HD series 3 in for repair to weaKnees for rebooting issue. After being diagnosed as bad hard drive and me paying to replace it, plus cost of repair; I still had the problem. I raised the issue and was advised by weaKnees to take it up with TIVO because they had a recent surge of issues around model number TCD652160. Struggling with the direction, because I have another TIVO, same model number (and on same cable network), without issue. Per weaKnees, if you have model number with TCD652160, it is likely something besides hard drive failure - at least that is my interpretation.

I don't think we're still seeing a rash of problems around that model number. Are you still having issues with your TCD652160?