TiVo Kaput, what now?

[Lampei]

My TiVo has gone kaput :( (I think it may have been a power surge) and I have a lifetime subscription on the box. Does anyone know if TiVo would allow me to switch the subscription to a new box (I own a Sony SVR-2000, but would probably end up purchasing a Series 2 of some sort).
Thanks.

[funtoupgrade]

You basically have two options. Have Sony repair the unit ($150 and up) or sell it off as is on eBay and buy a new unit. Lifetime subs stay with unit and are not transferrable to another unit unless a lifetime unit is replaced by the manufacturer.

[simonalope]

Your third option is to try and fix the TiVo yourself. If it's the harddrive, that's a pretty easy fix. If it's the power supply, Weaknees can sell you a replacement and instructions for installation.

[Stanley Rohner]

Please explain kaput to us.

Did it explode ?

Catch on fire ?

Does it do anything when you plug it in ?

Does it start up but get stuck at the - almost there - screen ?

[Lampei]

Nope, no lights, nothing, no hd noise. Pretty sure something's fried in there.

[MadGreek]

I had a TiVo die on me back in the summer. I had purchased this in 2003 with a Lifetime subscription. I called TiVo and they said to fill out a TiVo Exchange Form which I sent to their RMA center with the broken TiVo and a few days later I got a refurb TiVo at a cost of $79. Doing it this way keeps your Lifetime service intact.

[Lampei]

Cool. Thanks.

[funtoupgrade]

Don't think Tivo will do this for a Sony or Philips unit, only their own. Let us know though if wrong.

[punchinboy]

If you get no lights what so ever and the hard drive is not spinning up and the rear fan is not on. It must be the power supply. However, the power supply does have a fuse in it and this may well be blown, espescially if it was a quick power surge. Take the cover off the unit and check this fuse. (unplug first of course). This fuse could be purchased at Radio Shack for next to nothing. If the fuse is good more than likely the supply is fried. You could always test at the spare hard drive power cable with a volt meter. (plug back in of course) and be careful with the power.

[Lampei]

I may end up just waiting until the S3 comes out and see if TiVo will have a transfer policy again like they did for the S2.