If the drives are dead, which is what it sounds like, you can't even do a kickstart.

We'd recommend trying a replacement drive kit:

http://www.weaknees.com/tivo-upgrade.php

Upgraded 40-hr Series 2 won't boot up

Michael, thanx. As I noted, it was upgraded at some point in the past with an additional drive in a typical A-B drive configuration...

I have opened it up and on power-up I think I can actually hear the distinct whine of each drive starting in turn, but then after a time only one actually feels like it's vibrating significantly, i.e., continues to run. The second drive, the one that I think is the one that was added, and the one that seems to vibrate less, if it is even running at all, is a Maxtor. Is it possible that a newer drive from an upgrade kit could vibrate so much less than an original one a few years older that it's difficult to tell if it's even running? This particular unit is roughly 2004-2005 vintage...

Part of me wonders if there could be a problem with the delay start device in the drive power cable... Do those ever go bad? Or the ribbon cable - do those screw up occasionally? I presume I could get replacements for those, (from Weaknees) right? And I imagine those would be considerably cheaper than a drive, at least to begin with.

And last, if I do go the full drive replacement route, I can always replace the two drives with a single one as you seem to have recommended, right?

Thanks for your original reply, which got me to thinking more about this and I hope some of this helps clarify things 4U a bit.

I'd sure appreciate your further thoughts on my questions above (or anyone else's, for that matter).

j

Yes - really any part can go bad (although for a PowerTrip or a cable to go bad is pretty rare) and yes, you can replace both drives with one newer drive.

I think you just have to start in on the process of elimination, but based on my experience, I'd bet it's the original boot drive in the unit. So getting one new larger replacement drive kit is where I'd start.

Thanx, Michael - To check into this further, I pulled a drive out of another unit and it booted fine with that. Got the [expected] "51" message, so when I put the drive back into the unit it came from, had to do a C&DE on it. No sweat - & it took as long as everyone said it would, too - wow.

Anyway, now I know I need a drive, so I'll be ordering one soon from y'all.

BTW, since I'll be taking this unit from a 2-drive to a single drive config, does WK sell the original, old-style metal single drive mount bracket? (I know I could just use one spot on the dual-drive bracket, but what the heck...)

Anyway, once I put that new drive in and get it to sign onto the TiVo service, I should then (finally!) be able to formally add it to my account from the guy who sold it to me, right? I've got a "case number" to cite and all that...

Thanx,

Jeff

Yes, once you get it dialed in, you should be able to get the unit moved to your account.

Sounds like you're looking for this bracket:

http://www.weaknees.com/s2-bracket.php

Michael, you 'da man'! And does the ribbon cable come w/ it, too? (It's in the pic, but not mentioned in the writeup...)

And a new question (Just full of `em, aren't I?): I recently got a flat panel TV w/ a USB input among others - Can a Series 2 be connected via USB for playback?

Thanx again,

j

Yes, it comes with bracket, screws and the cable.

The USB port is used to connect the TiVo to the TiVo service (using a USB to Ethernet adapter). Through that adapter, you can connect the TiVo to a network and see it from a PC. You can use TiVo's TiVo Desktop software to move content to a PC and play it there.

Thanx, Jeff. I'll be ordering up that HD & bracket shortly.