Drive Size Causes Crash?

[scottmd1us]

Hey all,

I have been working on one of my parents Replay TV's since last Christmas. I bought them a 300 gig drive (one of the Maxtors with the 16mb cache)...and that of course didn't work after awhile...

...then I bought a new drive that met everyones spec's (listed here) and it would crash constatnly on them

...then I bought then a new drive that also met with the specs, just thinking we got a bad drive....same issue

---then I put the original 40 gig drive back in....NO PROBLEMS....worked like a charm

....then I put in yet a another large drive (last weekend) and back to crash city.

So, question is, has anyone heard of the drive size in a particular replay cause it to have problems?

I have a spare replay I am just going to swap it out for them with this weekend, but........curious if drive size has caused anyone else issues?

[dstoffa]

[QUOTE=scottmd1us]Hey all,

So, question is, has anyone heard of the drive size in a particular replay cause it to have problems?

I have a spare replay I am just going to swap it out for them with this weekend, but........curious if drive size has caused anyone else issues?[/QUOTE]

Well, there has been a lot of traffic here lately on the topic of drive compatibility. My guess is that new hard drive firmware isn't compatible with ReplayTVs. I don't believe your problem is related to drive size, per se. It may just seem that way because today's hard drive do not come in small sizes anymore....

-Doug

[Ed_Gein]

I just replied to another thread (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=8651152#post8651152) that I installed a WD3200JBRTL about a month ago with no problems. So I'll vouch for a 320Gb working.

I'm sure someone on this board has installed a 400.

[rm -rf *.*]

PU82 had installed dual 400GB Hitachi's in an RTV at one point. Last post I recall from him on the subject was that they were working fine. But I might have missed a post there.

I seem to recall at least a few people reporting succuess with Seagate 400GB drives - which models I don't recall.

[Mark Nudelman]

Are you formatting it with "large clusters", or whatever that option is called in the formatting tool? A large drive formatted with small blocks could cause a crash.

--Mark

[rm -rf *.*]

1) The small cluster option was depreciated from RTVPatch - it now just formats everything with large clusters.

2) That option had to do with the older RTV's (2k/3k/SS) not having enough RAM to properly handle the larger disks when formatted with small clusters. The ammount of RAM in the 4k is over 4 times that of what was installed in these older machines and 5k has has twice the memory of the 4k. Large cluster/ small cluster simply isn't an issue for these newer machines.

[Mikeyboy]

[QUOTE=Mark Nudelman]Are you formatting it with "large clusters", or whatever that option is called in the formatting tool? A large drive formatted with small blocks could cause a crash.

--Mark[/QUOTE]I'm glad to see Mark is still around. For those who don't know. Mark made us aware that increased cluster size could resolve memory issues using large drives in the legacy Replaytv line years ago. Flipflop upgraded RTVPatch with this capability somewhere around RTVPatch2.2.4

Having said all this, the 4000 and newer recorders are known to run fine with huge drives. Assuming the upgrade drive is compatible and upgraded correctly including jumper set to cable select or master. My guess is some component in this recorder isn't up to the increased amperage when running huge drives.

[scottmd1us]

What components in the replay might not be up to snuff with the larger drives?

And, I am not saying everything was done correctly, but, I have done quite a few of these upgrades and this is the only one that has this type of issue....the latest drive was a WD that a lot of folks here recommended....

[Murphy]

[QUOTE=scottmd1us]Well, I have been using the format option in "disk management" in windows...I do not recall if I used a full format or a quick format (does that matter?) and I use all the default settings, including the allocation unit size which is set to "default"....when I click on the down arrow it give me options such as 512, 1024, etc.....so, I am not sure what large/small means and I am not sure what size "default" actually uses...

Any comments on that?[/QUOTE]
Do NOT format the drive with Windows disk management.

RTVPatch is the only program that should be used to write to the Replay drive. Wipe the drive using the drive manufacturers utility software and then install the Replay software using RTVPatch.

[scottmd1us]

Well, I should re-phrase....those times that I have formatted a drive (I may have used them first for regular computer applications before using them as replay drives) I used windows....then of course I use RTVPatch for the Replay Software.

However, the current drives in question (all 4 that have caused issues and the 1 40 gb that has not caused issues) have NOT been formatted at all in windows.......

The only software I have used on them is RTVPatch after opening up the boxes.

That said, on the 4 or 5 that I have used windows formatting on before using RTVPatch that HAVE NOT gone into the troubled replay, but into other replays at my home, I have no problems with....

It seems to be very specific about the drive size to this one replayTV...all large size drives have been problems (one becasue I used the wrong drive, a 16mb cache maxtor that everyone now says do not use and I agree) and 3 drives that meet with everyones specs (here, replaytvupgrade etc...)

[Mikeyboy]

[QUOTE=scottmd1us]What components in the replay might not be up to snuff with the larger drives?

And, I am not saying everything was done correctly, but, I have done quite a few of these upgrades and this is the only one that has this type of issue....the latest drive was a WD that a lot of folks here recommended....[/QUOTE]My guess which parts could cause a 5000 not to boot with non-original drive are; the upgraded drive, IDE ribbon, power supply and power supply to motherboard 12 wire power lead, then the drive power lead (specifically if you don't hear the drive spin up). All else fails the problem should be the motherboard itself. Since you have numerous 5000 recorders you have access to all the parts needed to solve the mystery.

[Ed Rempalski]

Swapping a different Replay into your folks house is also a good idea, just to make sure that it isn't something enviornmental there, like bad power, no ups, etc.

[scottmd1us]

Good calls....all. They do have 3 replay's in their home all with 300gb drives....so, I will try some swapping out of parts and stuff.........

Thanks :)