Copying files to external usb drives etc are slowww. If I was to replace my hard drive with a larger capacity can I use, any of the linux supported disk imaging software like acronis, paragon drive image etc.

Doubtfull, but if you install the custom firmware you can ftp recordings direct to a PC.

Thx Graham, I have the custom raydons firmware and was thinking of doing that way, but still not as quick as a disk to disk image. I remember many years ago doing a TIVO disk to disk and that worked a treat. I might try a disk to disk, no harm I guess in loosing any of the existing stuff.