Trouble With DTivo unit

[mccoady]

I've had Directv for over an year now and when I originally bought my receivers I got two Samsung 70hr DTivo's, one for my son and one for me. I've never had any problem with mine but my son's unit has been locking up (picture freezes) for several months now, at first once every couple months and now a couple of times a day. The only way to correct things is to unplug and plug back in, then it will work for a few hours. Is this the harddrive going bad?

If it is, what are my options since it is out of warranty and what will it cost me? I'm not sure I want one of Directv's new dvr's.

I do have a new Hughes 35hr DTivo (that has been used for about three days) in a box but I know my son would rather have a 70hr unit. If I would temporarily use this 35hr unit would it be a matter of switching cards or do I have to call Directv and they would have to switch it over? And if they have to do it, is another year added on to my subscription? What if I want to switch back to another 70hr?

I've not kept up on things lately on how you replace your equipment so any info would be appreciated, but I would like to stay with a DTivo unit not Directv's dvrs.

Mike

[morgantown]

Check out the free TiVo offer DirecTV now has. I happened to get a 70 hour R10 TiVo for $16 shipping with the offer. Other's have also reported to be willing to trade a 70 hour TiVo (R10 that is not hackable) for a 35 hour TiVo, so they can hack it.

As far as the stuttering, the HD would be the most likely thing. You can get a 160MB HD (or larger) on the cheap. If your comfortable changing out the HD, you can upgrade for little effort and a modest cost.

[Guindalf]

You would need to call D* to activate the other receiver.

If you have some PC knowledge, then visit the TiVo Upgrade Center on this forum. You can learn how to replace the hard drive in the dying DVR for just the cost of the drive (currently, there are some very good offers in the ads).

Edit: MT - you thunder thief!!!

[mccoady]

Well I really wouldn't be comfortable changing out the harddrive, isn't there a site sponsored company that does this or would it be too expensive?

Is this $15 offer on another dvr for a 70hr Tivo? Where is the link?

If you have to have Directv activate or switch over the card do they add another year (or two) on to your subscription? I'm trying to get all the facts before, or if I have to call them because I know it can be so confusing talking to their customer service.

[morgantown]

All yours Guindalf...:)

[pscherry]

I am having a similar issue with my Hughes GXCEBOT TiVo. I think it might be the hard drive as well. I get choppy LIVE TV like there is a storm, but the weather is great. Also, when I try to access menus it could take 10 seconds or more for a menu to come up.
The live TV issue is more prevalent on my local (St Louis) NBC station that just went to HD, but it appears on other channels.

I have ordered an upgrade "free" ($16 shipping) unit, but I would like to get this resolved on my existing unit. Also, is there a way to move programs from my existing unit to a new unit I receive?

Thanks for everyone's help and suggestions that I have already read through.

[dtremain]

You would need to call D* to activate the other receiver.

If you have some PC knowledge, then visit the TiVo Upgrade Center on this forum. You can learn how to replace the hard drive in the dying DVR for just the cost of the drive (currently, there are some very good offers in the ads).

Edit: MT - you thunder thief!!!But he can replace the whole unit for free!

[mccoady]

Well I was tempted to start another thread titled "When dealing with Directv is this just the way the cookie crumbles"? but this is what I did. I didn't think I was capable of changing out the harddrive so that was out and buying a ready to drop in harddrive from Weaknees was going to cost $119 shipped. I next considered the free units ($16) but didn't want to take a chance of getting one of Dtv's units so I instead decided to just use the new Hughes 35hr I already had but let me regress and explain how I ended up with this DTivo.

We got hooked up with Directv in October 2004 and I got two Samsung DTivo's and one Hughes D-10, why I just didn't order three DTivo's to begin with I really don't know. Anyway my son and I liked our Dtivo's so much I thought I'd go ahead and order my wife one, this was now the first week of November. I called Dtv and had them de-activate the Hughes D-10 and activate the new Hughes DTivo. We had this hooked up for maybe three days or so and my wife complained that the text was harder to read on the Tivo (don't agree) so she wanted the D-10 hooked back up I know, I know. I called Dtv again and had them de-activate the Hughes DTivo and re-activate the D-10 again. Now back to the future.

I called Dtv last night to de-activate the Samsung with the bad harddrive and activate the Hughes DTivo that had been setting in it's box since November 2004. The customer service gal sounded young and admitted she was still learning the way things worked but was very polite. She informed me that my account showed no record of the Hughes Dtivo being on my account and that anytime you add a dvr to your account now you have to reup for two years. I argued (politely) for awhile that the Hughes DTivo had to be on my account because I had to call them to activate it and it showed having made a call November 9th besides the fact I was never billed for not activating it. She couldn't explain why it wasn't on my account but there was still nothing she could do.

I then asked to talk to a supervisor and explained everything but again he said there was nothing he could do, he said no one had the authority (including Retention) to add a new dvr to an account without signing up for another two years, he said this was all cut and dried. I said I felt like I was getting screwed because of some error on their end but he simply said he was sorry I felt this way but there was nothing he or anyone else could do.

If I had known how things would have worked out I probably should have just ordered the free dvd with a one year agreement but I didn't have a clue I'd have a problem re-activating a dvr that should have already have been on my account. The two year agreement may or may not end up being an issue but I'm not working now so I didn't want to get locked in to anything besides the fact it's the principle of the thing.

When I first signed up with Dtv in October 2004 I was with Pegasus and if I remember right in March of 2005 I was switched over to Dtv so don't know if this was the reason of loosing the Hughes dTivo from my account although the other receivers were transferred correctly.

Anyway I suppose there's nothing else I can do but accept the two year agreement even though Dtv's in the wrong, I just can't believe they can't correct errors like this when it's their fault.

[morgantown]

mccoady,

Order the $16 TiVo. Very few people have been sent the R15 (most who end up with them get it when the installer brings one -- after they have already recieved the TiVo via fedex). If it is a 35 hour one just activate it and then deactivate it after a few days if you really do not like it (and have them note it on your account). You very well may end up with a 70 hour TiVo. If by some reason they send a R15 via fedex just call them and explain it is a "TiVo offer" and you will not accept the R15. The offer does not include any commitment.

Call back, ask for the TiVo offer, and the Hughes being taken off your account, as well as the 2 year commitment. Explain the Pagasus situation...you needn't be placed under commitment because some data did not transfer.

Good Luck.

[Tonedeaf]

Your kind of stuck if you activate a dvr now whether it is a new one or it is one you woned before. The only way out of the commitment and getting a "new" Tivo units is to get the DVR4ME promo for $15 which is activated with no additinal commitment.

[mccoady]

So you're saying that if I order the $16 Tivo they will let me replace my Hughes 35hr I just hooked up with that unit and my two year agreement just goes away? I spent 45 minutes on the phone with them last night explaining the situation and got nowhere, so unless you're saying replacing my Hughes with the $16 Tivo automatically cancels out my two year agreement I'm not sure explaining the situation further will do any good.

[morgantown]

Anything clould happen with DTV. Although, I do see in your first post you said the Hughes was never used. So perhaps the commitment is legit and requesting the free TiVo offer yesterday was the way to go... I do not see the harm in calling them and reexplaining the situation and indicating on reflection you don't want the 2 year commitment and would rather have the box taken back off your account.

I don't work for them or claim to have the answers, I just know it is the roll of the dice when you call 'em.

Good luck.

[mccoady]

I actually misstated in my orginal post (I corrected) about the Hughes never having been used, it was used for three days in November 2004 as I later stated.

Well the only way this works out for me is if they let me keep the Hughes hooked up with no commitment otherwise I would always have this almost new Tivo setting in a box I couldn't use.

[pscherry]

Just out of curiousity, do people feel the issue I have having with the Hughes (mentioned above), is a hard drive issue? And what is the easiest way to get the info off of that one, and onto the new unit I should be recieving?

[morgantown]

Just out of curiousity, do people feel the issue I have having with the Hughes (mentioned above), is a hard drive issue? And what is the easiest way to get the info off of that one, and onto the new unit I should be recieving?

Try a restart. If it continues it certainly could be the hard drive.

DirecTivos can not share programing without hacking.

You can still view previously recorded shows even after it is deactivated.

[pscherry]

I've restarted a ton of times, and tried all the tricks in the book. I guess I just need to burn these off onto DVD and wait for my new unit.