How can I take my recorded shows off my old TiVO box and put them on a dvd?

Question

I know it uses a hard drive (the tivo box), so i was wondering if i can plug that into my computer (the hard drive), take the recorded files and put them on my computer. from there burn it on a DVD?

If so, what file format are the Shows, and in what directory are they in (on the TiVO hard drive)?

Answer 1

Which Tivo series are you referring?

Tivo Series 1 - purchase of a modification kit are required if you want to transfer video from the Tivo to a PC. Tivo Series 1 has no DRM encryption on the video so converting it to a DVD or other media type is not an issue. It is currently not possible to copy the file directly from the Tivo to another drive due to the modified Linux format used to scramble the files. Attaching a Tivo drive to a Windows machine will instantly kill the Tivo drive. Windows will perform a boot sector reformat without your permission and destroy the Tivo boot.

Modifying the Tivo is risky. It requires skill, tools and software to achieve success.

TurboNet or CacheCard for the network hardware and an open source program to dial into the Tivo and copy the video stream.

Series 2 and 3 have DRM added to prevent the video stream from being copied. Connection to a network and TivoToGo software are needed to copy the video from the Tivo. No hacking is required but copying the file only will result in a encrypted file that you will not be able to use unless decrypted by TivoToGo.

Answer 2

i think that would work

Answer 3

It's theoretically possible, but you wouldn't be able to browse the files on the TiVo's hard drive the way you are thinking. The formatting etc. just won't translate. Also, the files themselves wouldn't be really playable due to nature of the encoding. If the TiVo still has active service, you can use TiVoToGo to transfer the files to your PC and then burn them. Otherwise, get a standalone DVD burner and burn them like you'd copy to VHS.