TiVo Series 3 PROM hack - Not for the non-techies

Posted Jan 31st 2007 1:18PM by Chris Tew
Filed under: Hacks, News, TiVo, DIY, TiVo Series 3

Engadget has discovered that the TiVo Series 3 has had the PROM chip hacked. If you're like me your probably thinking "what the hell is a PROM chip?"

Well PROM stands for Programmable Read Only Memory and the PROM chip is placed on the motherboard inside your TiVo and contains some pre-loaded basic intelligence. It is this intelligence that contains security to prevent your TiVo from being modified with third party software and hacks.

This PROM hack can be done in the following not-so-simple steps:

De-solder the PROM chip from the TiVo motherboard
If you haven't fried the chip continue...
Extract the code from the Chip
Edit the Hex
Burn a new PROM
Re-solder the new chip back to the motherboard
Hope you haven't fried the chip

As you can see this is not exactly the easiest hack to do and it is only the first step. The next stage is developing individual hacks to alter the functionality of the TiVo, such as enabling TiVo2Go.

If you're technically minded enough and want to learn more then head over to the DealDatabase forums for more info.

[Via TiVo Lovers]

Reader Comments

(Page 1)

1. I am interested in some way to copy HD movies out of my Series 3 TIVO to my PC. Has it been done yet?

Thanks! I am a new member, I think.

Posted at 7:29PM on Feb 16th 2007 by dumkopf

2. I can't see how to subscribe to this forum, but it looks great!

dumkopf

Posted at 7:32PM on Feb 16th 2007 by dumkopf

3. Ok, sorry, I see the password now..

I love my TIVO and want to use it like my ReplayTV to network to my PC and get by the barriers, so to speak.

I use DVArchive for my ReplayTV to network to my PC.

Is there a similar program for TIVOs? Will this PROM hack facilitate this feature? So far I have not had a problem copying movies off my TIVO to my Panasonic E100 PVR, but unfortunately it's only standard DVD quality. I really would like to copy a movie from the Series 3 to my PC and view HD on my PC. My display is 122x1600 although I have noticed a new model now that is HD 16:9 format with similar resolution. I think it's dell.

dumkopf

Posted at 7:39PM on Feb 16th 2007 by dumkopf

4. Whadda HEll? Gotta findda joy someplace!

Posted at 5:20AM on Mar 9th 2007 by WendyB

5. Help me find myself in the mirror, bro...

Posted at 5:19AM on Mar 9th 2007 by WendyB

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