How to: Upgrade your Apple TV hard drive
The Apple TV is a closed sandbox. Even when ordering, your only options are how much capacity the integrated hard drive has—40 ($229) or 160 gigabytes ($329) — though even the largest of those two choices is puny and inadequate for many (and neither is cheap).
That said, just because Apple says those are your only options doesn’t make it so.
In the do-it-yourself department, you can add up to 1 terabyte of storage. Thereupon, you have two options: replace your Apple TV’s hard drive or add an external USB 2.0 drive. Of these choices, the latter is by far the easiest.
Engadget has published an Apple TV hard drive upgrade article that well written. AwkwardTV.org offers a detailed guide on how to enable the USB storage (wiki). See also: Reburbished Apple TVs
Also, if you are considering replacing your Apple TV’s hard drive, you will a few things first, including TORX 8 and 10 screwdrivers, spray adhesive, and an external 2.5 inch drive enclosure or a USB to IDE adapter. Needless to say, performing surgery on an Apple TV is involved, will void the warranty and require several hours.
Discretion is the better part of…
If you are not technical inclined, you will need to part with a little more of your hard earned cash and Macservice provides Apple TV hard disc upgrade services and they’ll install up to 320GB drive, which can hold up to 400 hours of video, 72,000 songs or 200,000 pictures.
Their published rates are:
80GB Hitachi 5400rpm — $175 160GB Hitachi 5400rpm — $195 250GB Western Dig 5400rpm — $245 320GB Western Dig 5400rpm — $295 See also: Mission Repair Apple TV repair service
MacService’s rates include roundtrip shipping (two to five days), though express overnight shipping ($79) is also available.
As mentioned above, of the DIY options, going with an external USB drive requires the least effort, time and skill. You will still need to make and apply a Patchstick, as well as run several scripts from the terminal command line.
Have you upgraded your Apple TV’s hard drive or attached an external USB hard drive? Running smoothly or was blood shed? Share your experiences below…
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