DirecTV TiVo TCD24 Series Quick start guide

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TIVO DVR UPGRADE INSTRUCTIONS (#79)
(c) 2001-2006, weaKnees. All rights reserved.
Instructions for TwinBreeze® Gen2 / DIRECTV DVR, TCD24 and similar architectures
Instructions are available online (in COLOR) at http://www.weaknees.com
A FEW WORDS OF CAUTION:
Upgrading a TiVo DVR presents a few physical hazards. As with most consumer electronics devices, components in the TiVo may still
carry a lethal charge, even after disconnecting from your power supply. Be aware of this while working inside your TiVo. Allow
sufficient time for discharging of components and avoid contact as much as possible with potential hazards. While we have done
everything we can to provide accurate, easy-to-follow instructions, we cannot be responsible for any damage done to your TiVo or to
yourself as a result of your upgrade. By opening your TiVo, you agree that neither weaKnees nor any of its members or affiliates is
responsible in any way for any harm done. Please be VERY careful when upgrading. NEVER open the TiVo while the unit is plugged in
and NEVER operate the TiVo if the lid is not securely fastened. PLEASE NOTE: Opening the TiVo voids the warranty.
IF YOU NEED TECHNICAL SUPPORT:
If you have purchased an upgrade kit that included one or two pre-configured hard drives: We are more than happy to answer any
questions that you might have regarding your installation. We answer email very frequently, and can often be reached that way at night or even
on weekends. We encourage you to try email first, but you are also free to call us any time if you have questions about your installation or these
instructions.
If you have purchased a TwinBreeze Bracket package (without a pre-configured drive): These kits are designed for people who already
know how to prepare a drive (or drives) for use in a TiVo. We unfortunately do not have the resources to teach our bracket customers how to
upgrade their TiVos.
Required Tool (not included): Phillips-head screwdriver.
Kit includes all items shown below.
Figure 1
Not shown:
(1) Set of printed instructions
(1) or (2) Upgrade hard drive(s) (if applicable)
*Small fan, small washers & 4 self-tapping screws included in optional advanced cooling pak; large fan/large washers included in advanced
cooling pak for some models.
**PowerTrip included in kits for standalone (non-DIRECTV) TiVo DVRs.

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1. OVERVIEW
Upgrading your TiVo entails just five basic steps:
(a) Open the TiVo (Section 2)
(b) Remove the factory drive (Sections 3 through 5)
(c) Install drives on the mounting bracket and assemble parts (Sections 6 through 9)
(d) Install bracket and cables (Sections 10 through 13)
(e) Close the TiVo (Section 14)
2. OPENING THE TIVO
Unplug the power cord from the back of your TiVo and wait five minutes for the
TiVo to discharge. Do not plug the TiVo back in until you are completely
finished. Be very careful of static electricity, which can destroy your TiVo’s
internal parts. You should not perform this upgrade on carpet. You may want to
label the wires that you remove from the back of your TiVo so that you can easily
locate where they belong.
Using the Torx T-10 (smaller of the two) L-key included with your kit, unscrew
the four or five Torx screws on the back of your TiVo. The screws are surrounded
by gray from the top of the TiVo’s case. See Figure 2.
Set aside (to be used again): TiVo lid screws.
Once the screws are removed, remove the lid. Place your palms on the top side
edges of the TiVo, toward the back and push toward the back of the TiVo (this
occasionally requires a bit of patience). The cover should slide back and then up.
Remove the cover from the TiVo. See Figure 3.
Set aside (to be used again): TiVo lid.
Figure 2 (above) Back view
Figure 3 (above) Top view
3. DISCONNECTING THE EXISTING DRIVE BAY
With the cover off and looking to the front-right of the TiVo, you will be able to
see (1) one hard drive, (2) a gray IDE ribbon cable that runs from the greenish
motherboard to the hard drive, (3) a multi-colored (red/black/yellow) power
cable that runs from the power supply to the hard drive, and (4) two bracket
screws that connect the hard drive and its bracket to the TiVo. See Figure 4.
Using your Torx screwdriver, unscrew and remove the two bracket screws that
connect the hard drive bracket to the lower bracket (part of the bottom of the
unit). These screws are located at the front-right of the TiVo. As you look down
into the TiVo, you will see the two screw heads. See Figure 4.
Set aside (not reused): Two bracket screws.
NOTE: Be very careful not to dislodge (even slightly) the front panel ribbon
cable. If you do, simply push it back in place. NEVER power on your TiVo
with this cable even slightly dislodged. See Figure 4.
Figure 4. Front/top view

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4. REMOVING THE POWER CABLE AND IDE RIBBON CABLE
Situate yourself in front of the TiVo. With your left hand, push the drive/bracket
back slightly toward the power supply and then flip it over to the left (see Figure
5).
While holding the drive bracket in your left hand (being careful not to touch the
components on the drive itself), use your right hand to remove the power cable and
IDE cable from the hard drive. These can sometimes stick, so you might have to
wiggle the power cable a bit. NOTE: If this method of removing the cables is
difficult for you, you can instead remove the cables at the end of step 2. However,
you MUST be VERY CAREFUL of the front panel ribbon cable. If this cable is
dislodged even slightly and you power on your TiVo, you can cause permanent
damage.
Set aside (not reused): One IDE cable.|
Figure 5 Side view
5. REMOVING THE EXISTING DRIVE
Now, using the larger (T-15) Torx tool, unscrew the four Torx drive screws that connect the hard
drive to the hard drive bracket. See Figure 6. You will not re-use these four screws or the metal
drive bracket, but you should save the screws and bracket, together with the ribbon cable you
removed.
Set aside (not reused): Four drive mounting screws; one IDE cable; one metal bracket
NOTE: Your factory drive might appear different than the one pictured in Figure 6.
Figure 6
6. SETTING THE JUMPER (ONLY APPLIES TO “ADD” KITS – “REPLACE” KIT INSTALLERS
CAN SKIP TO STEP 7)
Pick up the factory hard drive and look at the hard drive with the label facing up and the empty power/IDE
cable connectors facing you. Your TiVo’s hard drive has one or two small white or black plastic
“jumper(s)” that are located between the IDE cable and the power cable connectors. Follow the steps
below (depending on your drive manufacturer) to confirm that your factory drive is set to Master. DO
NOT MAKE ANY JUMPER CHANGES TO ANY DRIVE(S) THAT YOU RECEIVED IN YOUR
UPGRADE KIT.
If your TiVo’s original drive is a Quantum or Maxtor hard drive: If your drive has one jumper, then you
will see a total of four pairs of pins (and, therefore, 4 possible vertical places for the jumper). Ignore the
single pin located closest to the IDE cable connector. If your drive has two jumpers, then your drive has a
total of 5 sets of two pins. See Figs 7 and 8.
In a one-jumper Quantum or Maxtor hard drive, the jumper should be moved to the furthest left-hand
position (again, ignoring the single pin). Gently remove the jumper with the end of a paper clip or your
fingernail and move it to the proper position. NOTE: the jumper must be vertical and must be carefully
inserted so that the jumper fits inside the left-hand most pins. See Figure 7. In a two-jumper Maxtor hard
drive, the jumper should be set properly, and should be in the shape of an "L" turned 90° clockwise. See
Figure 8.
If your TiVo’s original drive is a Western Digital hard drive:
You will notice a total of five pairs of pins (and, therefore, 5 possible vertical places for the jumper). In a
Western Digital hard drive, the jumper should be moved to the center position. Gently remove the jumper
with the end of a paper clip or your fingernail and move it to the proper position. NOTE: the jumper must
be vertical and must be carefully inserted so that the jumper fits inside center pins vertically. See Figure 9.
Figure 7 (above)
Figure 8 (above)
Figure 9 (above)

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7. CONNECTING THE BRACKET FAN (IF INCLUDED IN YOUR KIT)
Your kit may include a small bracket fan. Look at the edges of the fan and locate the two airflow directional arrows printed in black on one side of
the fan. Once you have located the arrows, insert a self-tapping screw into each fan hole, in the opposite direction of the airflow arrow. See Figure
10. (When installed on the bracket, the air flow should be moving from under the bracket up toward the lid of the TiVo.) Once you have the four
screws through the fan holes, screw a small rubber washer onto the end of each screw. You need only turn each washer one or two turns. See Figure
10. Place the fan on the bracket as shown in Figure 11. Screw in the four fan screws (through the fan and into the bracket) until they are tight; do
not overtighten.
Figure 10 (above) Figure 11(above)
8. CONNECTING THE HARD DRIVES TO THE DRIVE BRACKET
Using four of the hard drive screws included with your kit, screw your A/Master
drive to the bracket (the screws connect to the drives from the underside of the
bracket). In an "ADD" kit (in which you are retaining your factory drive), the
A/Master drive will be the factory drive. When the A/Master drive is connected
and screwed in properly, the back of the drive will hang off the end of the bracket.
Be sure to orient the drive as shown in Figure 12. Do not overtighten the screws.
Connect your new upgrade drive (or “B” drive) to the drive bracket using the
remaining four hard drive screws. Be sure to orient the drive on the bracket as
shown in Figure 12. The "B" drive should be connected near the bracket tab shown
in Figure 12. The IDE and power ports should be facing the middle of the bracket.
Do not overtighten the screws.
Figure 12
9. PREPARING THE CABLES
IF YOU ARE UPGRADING A DIRECTV DVR UNIT
(kits for these units do not ship with, or require, a PowerTrip™)
Once you have the drives and fan on the bracket, connect one end of the
fan’s power pass-through to theA/Master drive (only one end will fit).
Attach the other end to the power splitter cable included with your kit.
Attach the other end of the power splitter to the B/Slave drive. You
should now have the fan cable and power cables running to each drive on
the bracket. See Figure 13a. NOTE: If your kit did not include a fan,
connect one end of the power splitter directly into each of the two hard
drives.
Figure 13a
IF YOU ARE UPGRADING A STANDALONE DVR UNIT
(kits for these units ship with a PowerTrip™)
Once you have the drives and fan on the bracket, connect one end of
the fan’s power pass-through to the A/Master drive (only one end will
fit). Then, connect the PowerTrip (red box with drive power connectors
on both sides) to the other connector of the fan’s power pass-through.
Finally, attach the power splitter so that one end goes into the
PowerTrip, and the other end goes into the B/Slave drive. See Figure
13b. DO NOT CONNECT THE POWERTRIP TO THE SLAVE
DRIVE. NOTE: If your kit did not include a fan, connect one end of
the power splitter into the B/Slave drive, and the other end into the
PowerTrip.
Figure 13b

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ALL UNITS, CONTINUE WITH THESE INSTRUCTIONS:
Take the IDE cable included with your kit and attach the BLUE connector to the
motherboard. NOTE: Be careful to insert the cable in the proper direction – each
connector on the cable has a notch that aligns to ensure it is not installed upside-down. See
Figure 14. Drape the remainder of the cable over the front of the unit.
Move the TiVo's internal red/yellow/black power connector over the back side of the
TiVo, as shown in Figure 14. You might have to flex or bend the power cable a bit to get
it to stay in place.
Figure 14
10. INSTALLING THE TWINBREEZE BRACKET INTO THE TIVO AND ATTACHING THE IDE
CABLE
From the front of the unit, hold the bracket in your left hand near
the A/Master drive (being careful not to touch the circuit board of
the drive) and use your right hand to guide the bracket tab (located
near the edge of the B drive) into the center of the metal bracket
base where the old drive bracket had been mounted. Be sure that
the bracket tab is centered under the metal bracket. You can gently
move the white cable under the fan toward the power supply to
keep it from obstructing airflow under the fan, but be careful not to
dislodge it. See Figure 15.
As you slide the bracket tab under the metal bracket, align the
anchor screw hole (located next to the power connector of the
B/Slave drive) so that when you lower the TwinBreeze bracket
down, the anchor screwhole is aligned with the screwhole in the
metal bracket. See Figure 18.
As you lower the bracket down, thread the IDE cable between the
power cable and the fan. Insert the gray IDE connector into the
B/Slave drive. See Figure 17.
Next, connect the black connector of the IDE cable into the
A/Master drive. Again, be sure that the notch in the connector faces
up. You can then tuck the cables under the front lip of the TiVo—
but be careful not to dislodge the white panel ribbon cable. See
Figure 16.
NOTE: BE CAREFUL NOT TO DISLODGE THE FRONT
PANEL RIBBON CABLE. (See Figure 5.)
Figure 15 (above) Right side view
Figure 16 (above) Front/top view
Figure 17 (above) Front/top view

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11. ANCHORING THE TWINBREEZE BRACKET
Once the bracket has been lowered, insert the bracket
mounting screw into the bracket anchor screw hole, and
use the T10 torx key to tighten the screw. Do not
overtighten. See Figure 18
Figure 18 (above) Front top view
12. SECURING THE TWINBREEZE BRACKET TO THE BASE OF THE TIVO
Insert a metal washer onto each of the two remaining self-
tapping screws. Turn the TiVo so that you are facing the left
side of the unit (the side further away from the power
supply). Use one hand to push the bracket down. Using your
other hand, lift the left edge of the TiVo. Using Figure 19 as
a guide, locate the pre-drilled holes in the bracket feet,
which should be visible through the grates.
Be sure that the bracket mounts are aligned properly –
counting from the gap between the sets of holes, you should
be screwing into the fourth hole towards the back, and the
third hole towards the front.
Figure 19 (above) Bottom left side view
Once you have the bracket aligned, insert the self-tapping
screws through correct hole in the bottom of the TiVo and
into the pre-drilled holes in the bracket.
Gently tighten the screws in place. Do not overtighten.
Once you have secured the bracket using the two self-
tapping screws, your TiVo should look like Figure 20.
Figure 20 (above)

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13. CONNECTING OPTIONAL CASE FAN (INCLUDED IN SOME ADVANCED COOLING PAKS)
NOTE: If your kit included a new case fan (shown in Figure 21), it is not imperative
that you install it. The replacement case fan is designed to reduce noise. The factory fan
is a more powerful, noisier fan, so if you would like maximum cooling and do not mind
the noise, you can certainly leave the factory fan installed. (If your unit has a raised fan
grate in the rear, you will NOT replace your case fan.)
To replace the case fan: Locate and remove the factory fan cable from the TiVo’s
motherboard. Pull the fan power connector straight up and out. You can locate the
connector by following the wire from the fan (which is mounted at the back of the
TiVo) to the motherboard. See Figure 21.
Using the Torx T15 tool included with your kit, unscrew the four screws on the back of
the TiVo that are holding the fan in place. Set aside (to be used again): Four fan
screws.
Figure 21 (above)
Using the same screws that you removed from the factory fan, push each screw through
the holes. Insert one of the large rubber washers on each fan screw (these fit tightly, so
you will have to actually screw the washer onto the screw). Locate the air flow
directional arrows on the new fan and place the new fan in the TiVo so that the
screwholes are aligned and so that the air is flowing out of the TiVo. The screws you
are using will be cutting threads in the new fan, so a bit of force may be necessary. DO
NOT fully tighten any of the screws until you have partially screwed in all four screws.
You may need to use one hand to hold the fan in place while you screw in the screws.
Figure 22 (above)
Attach the fan connector to the motherboard. If your replacement case fan has three
wires—red, black, and white (or yellow), then the white (or yellow) wire will NOT be
used, so you must connect the fan as shown in Figure 23. The two pins on the
motherboard should be connected to the red and black fan wires. The white/yellow wire
will hang over the connector. If you connect the fan incorrectly, it will not power up.
NOTE: If your kit included the small bracket fan but not the larger case fan, then you
will not need to replace your case fan. Your TiVo already has a larger, quieter case fan
from the factory.
Figure 23 (above)
14. RE-ATTACHING THE TIVO LID
Place the TiVo lid back over the TiVo. Align the clips on each side
of the lid so that they clip down on the sides of your TiVo. Slide the
lid toward you while simultaneously pushing gently down on the
top of the lid. See Figure 21. Once the lid is in place, reattach the
Torx screws. Plug in your TiVo and enjoy!
You can verify your new capacity by looking in the System
Information screen of your TiVo. The System Information screen is
located in the “Messages and Setup” menu. Once in the System
Information screen, you will see “Variable up to XXX hours” (you
may have to scroll down the page using the “channel down”
button). This message gives you the maximum capacity of your
unit, after the upgrade. In rare cases, you may not see your local
channels immediately after installation. If this occurs, simply wait a
few hours for them to populate automatically
Figure 24
We thank you very much for your purchase and hope that you enjoy your newly-enhanced TiVo. Please email us with
any comments, suggestions or complaints. If you found the upgrade easy to install (or even if you found it more
difficult than you expected), we’d love to know. If you found our service to be excellent (or awful), we want to know
that too. We’re always looking to improve our products and services…the more we hear from you, the better. Thanks
very much!