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InstantCake install problems - Stuck on Welcome Screen
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Posted by: kpt369

Just bought the InstantCake software from PTVUpgrades and am trying to install on 2 brand new Seagate 160Gig drives. Connected drives as stated in readme drive 1 (secondary master), drive 2 (secondary slave) CDROM (primary slave). Software install goes through no problem and all looks good until placing drives in DTivo and get stuck on Welcome Screen forever.

Tried this with the 2 new Seagate drives and also tried with 2 Quantum 40gig drives. No matter what even though install goes fine, once powered up the Tivo gets stuck on Welcome screen and doesn't boot. Unit is a Sony SAT-T60 and works well with 3.1 Upgrade software, but can't get InstantCake to work at all. Has anyone else had this problem with InstantCake and figured out how to get around it or make it work?

I thought maybe the Seagate 160gig drives were incompatible, but then tried the 2 Quantum 40gig original drives and didn't work either? Checked out PTVupgrades forum and no help there so I figured I would ask the experts here if they have seen this before and found a fix for it? The software has worked for others and have seen many with same problem as me, but no answer to why or how to get around it and fix the problem or what is being done wrong? Any help would be appreciate greatly. Thanks guys:confused:

Posted by: tivoupgrade

quote:
Originally posted by kpt369
Just bought the InstantCake software from PTVUpgrade and am trying to install on 2 brand new Seagate 160Gig drives. Connected drives as stated in readme drive 1 (secondary master), drive 2 (secondary slave) CDROM (primary slave). Software install goes through no problem and all looks good until placing drives in DTivo and get stuck on Welcome Screen forever.

Tried this with the 2 new Seagate drives and also tried with 2 Quantum 40gig drives. No matter what even though install goes fine, once powered up the Tivo gets stuck on Welcome screen and doesn't boot. Unit is a Sony SAT-T60 and works well with 3.1 Upgrade software, but can't get InstantCake to work at all. Has anyone else had this problem with InstantCake and figured out how to get around it or make it work?

I thought maybe the Seagate 160gig drives were incompatible, but then tried the 2 Quantum 40gig original drives and didn't work either? Checked out PTVupgrade forum and no help there so I figured I would ask the experts here if they have seen this before and found a fix for it? The software has worked for others and have seen many with same problem as me, but no answer to why or how to get around it and fix the problem or what is being done wrong? Any help would be appreciate greatly. Thanks guys:confused:

Hello -

We've verified that InstantCake for this model does work. If the InstantCake scripts are completing without error, it is indication that you are installing it properly, but just to be sure, please do verify that you are connecting your 'target' drive(s) to the secondary IDE channel, not the primary. Detailed installation instructions can be foundhere.

If your unit is still not booting up, the problem is one of four things:

1) the unit itself
2) the IDE cable
3) the jumpers on the drives you are using
4) one of the power connectors in your unit is not plugged in properly

From your post, you indicated that the unit was working properly with version 3.1 of the software. My recommendation would be to reconnect your original drive and ensure the unit is booting and working properly. Then build a new, single drive using InstantCake and connect it to the same connector on your IDE cable and power cable to ensure you are eliminating any other variables.

Continue your trouble-shooting along those lines. And if you can provide more specifics, I am happy to respond.

We've seen several posts of this nature, however in EVERY case, it ended up being either an incompatible disk drive, or a misconfigured jumper, and in one case, a TiVo that was broken prior to the attempt to upgrade with InstantCake. The majority of folks who have used this product have not had a problem with it.

A couple of facts for the uninitiated:

InstantCake is a set of scripts that allow an end-user to quickly and easily build a replacement drive (or drives) for their units (here are screenshots ). Although a few have reported trouble booting the CD and running the scripts from some older PC's, the fact is that if the CD boots and the scripts run to completion without error, then the scripts are doing their job. If problems persist, to date, it has been some issue related to the drives or the TiVo in question.

Thx,
Lou

PS When quoting your original post, I modified your mention of us from PTVupgrades to PTVupgrade; unfortunately, there has been confusion regarding our name, a competitor stole the domain name ptvupgrades.com from us quite some time ago and won't give it back. We don't want folks attempting to go to ptvupgrades.com by mistake.
Thx, Lj

Posted by: kpt369

Hey Lou, here is were I'm at.

Took original Quantum 40gig drives and loaded 25xtreme on them and then did a upgrade to 3.1 that was downloaded from the web and placed on a boot cd.

Put in Tivo and works fine.

Used same Tivo, same connectors, same pc, same drives? The only difference is the boot cd? I have not done with the 2 160gig Seagate drives yet, but worked with the 2 Quantum 40gig drives and can't get the InstantCake software to get past the "Welcome screen"

I was going to attempto to try with another PC and see if it is related to the pc I am using. I have several different pc's to try. Other than loading 3.1 and network drivers do you know what the InstantCake does or what could be different then say an ISO software cd running 2.5 or 3.1?

I had also used two different IDE cables to check that on the Seagate drives and didn't work using either. For some reason I can very easily set up any drive using a standard ISO image of 2.5 or 3.1, but using same hardware and jumper settings can't get InstantCake to work after it installs. Have you seen any problems with certain pc's or processors? Just curious.

Thanks Lou

Posted by: tivoupgrade

quote:
Originally posted by kpt369
Hey Lou, here is were I'm at.

Took original Quantum 40gig drives and loaded 25xtreme on them and then did a upgrade to 3.1 that was downloaded from the web and placed on a boot cd.

Put in Tivo and works fine.

Used same Tivo, same connectors, same pc, same drives? The only difference is the boot cd? I have not done with the 2 160gig Seagate drives yet, but worked with the 2 Quantum 40gig drives and can't get the InstantCake software to get past the "Welcome screen"

I was going to attempto to try with another PC and see if it is related to the pc I am using. I have several different pc's to try. Other than loading 3.1 and network drivers do you know what the InstantCake does or what could be different then say an ISO software cd running 2.5 or 3.1?

I had also used two different IDE cables to check that on the Seagate drives and didn't work using either. For some reason I can very easily set up any drive using a standard ISO image of 2.5 or 3.1, but using same hardware and jumper settings can't get InstantCake to work after it installs. Have you seen any problems with certain pc's or processors? Just curious.

Thanks Lou

Still needing more details here; you say the InstantCake software will not get past the "Welcome screen" -- this does not make sense to me. InstantCake is a script used to build a disk which you put in your TiVo; if the InstantCake software is not running, it means you are having trouble on the PC used to build an upgrade disk. I don't think that is what you mean, but I want to understand the problem you are having.

Can you please verify that you are going through this process here:

http://www.ptvupgrade.com/support/i...ml/screen1.html

and if you are receiving any errors or not?

The only problems we are aware of is that a few folks have had a problem booting the InstantCake CD in older computers. Another problem people have had is related to them not connecting their drives as specified in the instructions. A detailed accounting of the procedure you are following will help narrow down any potential issues related to it, but as far as the 'image' is concerned, we do know that works; if the script fails during the installation process, then it could be another problem.

Posted by: kpt369

Hi Lou, sorry for not being clear enough, I will tell you all that has been done thus far.

I used the INstantCake CD on a dual PIII machine with 2 x Seagate 160gig drives. The software ran perfect and got through all the screens just like on your site as the screen shots show. NO errors at all. After it finished I pulled the drives out and installed in the Sony SAT-T60 Tivo. Master next to fan with jumpers still intact. With these Seagate drives Master is with 1st jumper installed and Slave is without installed. Plugged in Tivo and did not get past "Welcome Screen"

Next I did the exact same thing with the original Quantum 40gig drives that came out of the Tivo. Went through the same screens and install was perfect. When second time around asked if here to put icing on cake and answered yes. Finsihed install without errors. Put these drives in Tivo same as others and same problem. Stuck on Welcome Screen.

Next I decided to set up the dual Quantum drives using 25xtreme boot cd and then 3.1 upgrade cd. All went well and ket drives attached in pc same as before with same jumper settings, etc. Drives are Secondary Master and Slave with CDROM as Primary Slave. No Primary Master installed. After completing the install of 3.1 upgrade loaded drives in Tivo same as before and worked fine. Built database, etc and watched TV.

I have not attempted to install the 25xtreme or 3.1 upgrade on the 2 x 160gig Seagate drives as of yet and would much rather use the InstantCake on those if possible. Anyway as stated, same install as InstantCake was used except asked for drive letter where InstantCake does not. I answered hdc and hdd for the install of 25xterme. This being Secondary Master and Slave.

Do I need to have a Primary Master installed for the InstantCake install to completely work? There was no Primary master in any intsall of any software, could that be the problem? I just attempted to do the Seagate drives again and checked the web site for proper jumper settings and all and they were correct. While the pc boots it list which drives are were on the IDE chain and they are correct. I changed to another pc this time to see if it was related to the problem, but exact same thing. It doesn't make sense at all. Am I correct to say that InstantCake just copies the same files as a standard 3.1 install with the exception of some additional files for add ons? If so is it possible that you need to have a primary master for some reason to work correctly? I got no errors at all with install and like I said used the exact same drives to install the 3.1 upgrade as well as InstantCake and 3.1 upgrade worked?

I appreciate the help Lou and more than anything at this point I am interested in just figuring it out and why they don't boot after using teh INstantCake installation opposed to 3.1 upgarde install. I know the software and install works based on all the poeple who have raived about it, but there must be something going on that I am missing. Thanks again and look forward to hearing back from you on this.

Posted by: tivoupgrade

quote:
Originally posted by kpt369
Hi Lou, sorry for not being clear enough, I will tell you all that has been done thus far.

I used the INstantCake CD on a dual PIII machine with 2 x Seagate 160gig drives. The software ran perfect and got through all the screens just like on your site as the screen shots show. NO errors at all. After it finished I pulled the drives out and installed in the Sony SAT-T60 Tivo. Master next to fan with jumpers still intact. With these Seagate drives Master is with 1st jumper installed and Slave is without installed. Plugged in Tivo and did not get past "Welcome Screen"

Next I did the exact same thing with the original Quantum 40gig drives that came out of the Tivo. Went through the same screens and install was perfect. When second time around asked if here to put icing on cake and answered yes. Finsihed install without errors. Put these drives in Tivo same as others and same problem. Stuck on Welcome Screen.

Next I decided to set up the dual Quantum drives using 25xtreme boot cd and then 3.1 upgrade cd. All went well and ket drives attached in pc same as before with same jumper settings, etc. Drives are Secondary Master and Slave with CDROM as Primary Slave. No Primary Master installed. After completing the install of 3.1 upgrade loaded drives in Tivo same as before and worked fine. Built database, etc and watched TV.

I have not attempted to install the 25xtreme or 3.1 upgrade on the 2 x 160gig Seagate drives as of yet and would much rather use the InstantCake on those if possible. Anyway as stated, same install as InstantCake was used except asked for drive letter where InstantCake does not. I answered hdc and hdd for the install of 25xterme. This being Secondary Master and Slave.

Do I need to have a Primary Master installed for the InstantCake install to completely work? There was no Primary master in any intsall of any software, could that be the problem? I just attempted to do the Seagate drives again and checked the web site for proper jumper settings and all and they were correct. While the pc boots it list which drives are were on the IDE chain and they are correct. I changed to another pc this time to see if it was related to the problem, but exact same thing. It doesn't make sense at all. Am I correct to say that InstantCake just copies the same files as a standard 3.1 install with the exception of some additional files for add ons? If so is it possible that you need to have a primary master for some reason to work correctly? I got no errors at all with install and like I said used the exact same drives to install the 3.1 upgrade as well as InstantCake and 3.1 upgrade worked?

I appreciate the help Lou and more than anything at this point I am interested in just figuring it out and why they don't boot after using teh INstantCake installation opposed to 3.1 upgarde install. I know the software and install works based on all the poeple who have raived about it, but there must be something going on that I am missing. Thanks again and look forward to hearing back from you on this.

Really not sure what it could be; it does sound like you are doing everything right - ie drives are connected properly.

Two more things to try would be

1) skipping the "icing" step
2) trying a different pc if you have access to one.

BTW, how long are you waiting on the 'welcome screen' when you put those drives back in after an InstantCake build? The "icing" step is actually installing some software that 'flashes' the proms in your TiVo - it usually takes 40 seconds for that part of the install to complete, then the unit should reboot itself and then boot normally.

Posted by: kpt369

Hey Lou, finally figured out the problem. I decided to use my work pc which is a Dell Server P4 machine and although it took a long time to finish it finally worked. For some reason it didn't like the other two pc's, but it worked fine after using this P4 machine. I had to use Primary Master for CDROM, but still worked fine. Booted past Welcome and after about 3 minutes watching tv. Might want to keep in mind in case someone else asks same question, that it is very important to use a compatible pc with software or Tivo will not boot past Welcome. Any ideas why it likes certain pc's over others? Just curious. Thanks again for all the help and I'm very happy that I got it working. Its a real nice utility for setting up Tivo's and loading all the utilities needed. Thanks again Lou

Posted by: tivoupgrade

quote:
Originally posted by kpt369
Hey Lou, finally figured out the problem. I decided to use my work pc which is a Dell Server P4 machine and although it took a long time to finish it finally worked. For some reason it didn't like the other two pc's, but it worked fine after using this P4 machine. I had to use Primary Master for CDROM, but still worked fine. Booted past Welcome and after about 3 minutes watching tv. Might want to keep in mind in case someone else asks same question, that it is very important to use a compatible pc with software or Tivo will not boot past Welcome. Any ideas why it likes certain pc's over others? Just curious. Thanks again for all the help and I'm very happy that I got it working. Its a real nice utility for setting up Tivo's and loading all the utilities needed. Thanks again Lou

Still no idea why the scripts ran without error and you wound up with an unbootable drive; you said you had to use the primary master for the CDROM; that is interesting because the scripts are hard-coded to use the primary slave. My guess is that there may have still been something awry in your initial attempts, but I really don't know for sure.

The only problems I'm specifically aware of are situations where the boot disk or CDROM is not fully compatible which has always been the case with boot CD's of this nature, whether they be InstantCake or not. Unfortunately, there is no way to tell what is compatible and what is not, but I can tell you the number of folks who have had a problem is very small.

Glad you got it working!!!

Lou

Posted by: DCIFRTHS

quote:
Originally posted by kpt369
......Thanks again for all the help and I'm very happy that I got it working. Its a real nice utility for setting up Tivo's and loading all the utilities needed. Thanks again Lou

Are you now using the two Seagate drives in your TiVo?

Posted by: DCIFRTHS

quote:
Originally posted by kpt369
......Thanks again for all the help and I'm very happy that I got it working. Its a real nice utility for setting up Tivo's and loading all the utilities needed. Thanks again Lou

Are you now using the two Seagate drives in your TiVo?

Posted by: kpt369

Yes, the two Seagate drives are working fine and being used.

Posted by: boilerbots

I think I am plagued by this exact same problem.

I am trying to get a single 120gig Seagate to work and I see this same symptom.

I am restoring a GXEB0T image from an undisclosed location using the latest MFS tools.

I am going try it with DMA disabled when I start MFS and see if it makes any difference.

Posted by: boilerbots

An observation not mentioned previously.

Original old drive which is no good. During Welcome screen the power LED flashes yellow and it trys to boot and crashes.

New seagate drive, the LED never flashes yellow. I think this means that the TiVo hardware is not even recognizing the disk or it doesn't find a bootable partition. Any ideas?

Posted by: Robert S

Not getting the 'Welcome' screen does suggest a hardware problem (probably with the drive). The Boot PROM seems to check for a master drive before it prints that. I don't think it matters what's on the disk, though.

Could be as simple as a jumper problem.