Hi

I tried this similar sort of thing from Sky (UK Satellite) and got the same response from my Sony RDR GX7 model. I believe this is because the signal from the SKY box, or in your case TIVO, is encrypted so that you cannot record from one to the other various televisions signals - with my SKY this was in particular movies from the Pay Per View.

With regards to the discs you are using, I have only ever used Maxell discs and have no problems at all with them.

I hope this helps.

Mike