Puting and Playing Tivo files on Surface Pro 2 or Surface 2 effortlessly

Microsoft Surface Pro 2 tablet seems not support to play Tivo recordings directly. Fortunately, here is an easy way to help you view the Tivo recordings on Surface 2 and Surface Pro 2 on Windows 8.1/8/7.

A question from TiVo Community Forum: Playing .Tivo File on Surface Pro 2

“I have the Surface Pro 2. I installed the Tivo Desktop Plus software on my device. When I was at home, I transfered a show from my tivo to my home computer (.tivo format), then transfered that file to a USB drive and then placed that file onto my Surface Pro 2. When I try to play the file with windows media player, or VLC, it gives me an error and wont play it. When I try playing the video through the Desktop Plus software, it gives me same error.

Anyone have any suggestions to play this file? When I try to convert the file, it wont let me. When I right click on the file, it will only let me play or delete the file. The “convert” option is greyed out. I have uninstalled the software and re-installed it as well. Same results.

Thanks for any help or suggestions,

Delaney”

First, you should get know that Surface Pro 2 does not support TiVo format; while, MP4 format is supported (Which file types are supported on Surface 2/Pro 2?).

Then, the .tivo files will not play in VLC, only Windows Media Player. Secondly you must have TiVo Desktop installed on the Surface and the MAK entered correctly for TiVo Desktop to decrypt the files. Last you need to have a Tivo to Surface Pro 2 converter installed on your system for it to play. (Windows 8 does not come with one) TiVo Desktop Plus does come with one, so if you actually paid for the Plus version then it should work.

So, to stream TiVo recordings to Surface Pro 2 effortlessly, you’d better convert your TiVo recordings to MP4 format in advance.

I ended up the incompatibility with the help of the third-party software TiVo to Surface Video Converter (You can also get the Mac version). It is a dynamic Surface video convert tool that can help users convert TiVo files to Surface tablets supported video files e.g. MP4 with the highestvideo quality and fastest converting speed. Besides, you are allowed to edit the videos by trimming, cropping, adjusting video effects, etc. to get the very wanted part and effects as you like. Moreover, this Surface Pro 2 video converter can also encode videos in any regular formats like MKV, M4V, VOB, MOV, AVI, WMV, FLV, 3GP, VOB and more for playback anywhere.

Just get it now and follow the steps below to convert TiVo files for play on your Surface Pro 2 smoothly.

Software Download

(Windows 8.1 supported)    (OS X 10.9 Mavericks supported)

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Important Tips: How to transfer TiVo files to laptop?

1. Download and install TiVo Desktop on your PC. This is a freeware offered by TiVo community for users to transfers shows from your networked TiVo box to computer hard drive.

2. Run TiVo Desktop, click “Pick Recordings to Transfer.” A window showing your TiVo box’s “Now Playing” or “My Shows” list appears.

3. Highlight any title in the list to see more information about the show. Check the box next to the title of the show (or shows) you want to transfer.

4. Click “Start Transfer”. Transfer times vary, but may take as long as the show’s duration to complete the transfer.

How to convert Tivo recordings to MP4 for Surface Pro 2?

Step 1: Load Tivo file.

Run the Tivo to Surface Video Converter and load your Tivo recordings to the program through the “Add video” button.

Note:When you load the Tivo recordings to Pavtube Video Converter, the program will ask you to input your Media Access Key. Do as the program requires, and then click “OK” to continue.

Step 2: Select output format.

From the format bar, select “Windows”, choose the “Microsoft Surface Windows RT/Pro H.264 Video (*.mp4) which is suitable for Surface 2 and Surface Pro 2.

Note: In order to watch on Surface 2 and Surface Pro 2 with full screen and optimal image, you can click “Settings” button and adjust the video and audio settings according to your own request.

Step 3: Start Conversion.

After finishing these steps, back to the main interface and click the “Convert” button to start the Tivo file to Surface tablets conversion with the best video quality.

After the conversion, get the output MP4 video from output folder. Now, you can stream the converted Tivo files to Surface Pro 2 easily. It will be easy for you to play TiVo recordings on Surface Pro 2 or Surface 2.