TiVo Bolt: Adding external storage

[iXod]

I have 2 identical TiVo Bolt DVRs, one with lifetime service plan, the other--not so much. Both have identical OS versions, recently downloaded & updated.

So I'm cannibalizing one for parts. I'm taking the perfectly good internal 2.5-inch HD (500 GB) from one to use as the external, add-on drive for the other. The internal drive cable (a "Y" cable with SATA and mini HD power connectors) isn't appropriate for the external drive ports (eSATA and USB-A). So I go to Amazon and get this:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01E3G4W5K/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Perfect, right?

So I plug in the drive using the new cable, power up the TiVo, go to the storage menu and see "This device is not supported". Huh.

I search a little and find that I "might have to get a specific external HD cable" from TiVo.

My question: What the heck could be the difference between this cable and anything TiVo could offer? I've searched endlessly and found no information on the TiVo external (sometimes called "extender") cable.

Any ideas?

Thanks.

[dc101]

It's very possible it has nothing to do with the cable, but rather the drive that is connected. My guess would be it's looking for specific hardware id's. A little google search implies that the external storage only works with the official TiVo "DVR Expander", which of course is no longer manufactured. https://tivoidp.tivo.com/tivoCommunitySupport/s/article/My-Book-DVR-Expander-FAQ

Gotta love planned obsolescence. Good luck.

If you have access to the firmware, it would be an interesting project to see what exactly TiVo is looking for from an external drive.

Edit: Found this forum post that pretty confirms what I was thinking. https://www.bestbuy.com/site/questions/tivo-bolt-ota-1tb-dvr-streaming-player-black/6293218/question/6278885b-7b59-34d2-9ffb-b1ee9e2ca9e3

Cheers
-Tim