What's the error?

The error is:

kmod: failed to exec /sbin/modprobe -s -k nls_cp437, errno = 2
kmod: failed to exec /sbin/modprobe -s -k nls_iso8859-1, errno = 2
kmod: failed to exec /sbin/modprobe -s -k nls_iso8859-1, errno = 2
kmod: failed to exec /sbin/modprobe -s -k nls_iso8859-1, errno = 2

It's been quite a few days since I posted this error, and no replies. I've done some internet searching and found surprisingly few references to this error, although others have encountered similar errors. I'm going to assume the error is a result of my particular computer hardware - certainly nothing exotic or outdated, just an ASRock K7VM3 motherboard with Athlon XP (that's the Via KM266Pro chipset). Since my Tivo upgrade works fine, the only thing I'm missing is the Tivo OS backup. I'll re-try an OS backup later on a different (older) computer I have laying around, and report if the backup worked or not.

We think you're right - sometimes the non-Intel chips do have a little heartache over the Linux software on our CD images.

Second machine, an Epox motherboard and plain old Athlon produces the exact same error. I just don't understand the dearth of others who encounter this error.

I decided to try using the Tiger's Mfs Tools Boot CD (MFSLBA48.iso), linked to on the Hinsdale how to website (section 4):

http://www.newreleasesvideo.com/hins...to/index9.html

Running this boot CD looks quite different than the Weaknees CD. I was able to verify the correct drive sizes reported, and despite a message "for Series 1 only", I forged ahead. Following the Hinsdale instructions for backup, with FAT32 c: on primary master and Tivo source on Primary slave, I entered:

mkdir /mnt/dos
mount /dev/hda1 /mnt/dos

....and there was no error at this point! Encouraged, I entered the backup command:

mfsbackup -f 9999 -6so /mnt/dos/tivo.bak /dev/hdb

....and the backup began executing with percentage completed updating. When the backup completed, I unmounted the backup drive using:

umount -f -a -r

...and exit/shutdown using the ctrl-alt-del.

That's it, I think I have a usable backup, though I haven't actually tested it. The size of the backup from my 40GB Maxtor source turned out to be a bit over 400MB.

If anyone thinks I've fouled up the backup somehow, I'd invite your comment.

These are the exact commands I used, and the exact respnses Linux gave me, during my 2 hacks. The size of the .bak file you got is reasonable. Looks to me like you succeeded. Do your self a favor, and copy this .bak file to a couple places including a cd-r, for safekeeping. Congrats.