Just got refurbished unit from D* - What should I do?

[wxman]

Just got a refurbed unit from D* after my one year old unit started freezing, pixelating and rebooting like crazy. I've heard that some of the refurbed units are just as bad, if not worse, than the ones that are being returned so I wondered if there was anything I could do to remedy this. I assume I could replace the hard drive with a better one, but I'd prefer not to void the one year warranty. Or do I just fire it up and hope for the best? Is there anyway to access the hard drive without voiding the warranty?

[Guindalf]

How about actually plugging the unit IN????????

Otherwise you might never buy ANYTHING ever again.

Just because a small percentage of people have had problems with their purchase, it doesn't mean you will. And you'll never know unless you actually apply juice to the box.


Don't believe all you read. There's a heck of a lot of happy people out there who don't even POST in this forum.

[jamieh1]

I got a replacement HR10-250, and the logos were missing. I called Directv and they said that they CLEAR and DELETE all units, so there will be logos on replacement units.

[jamesbobo]

While I still have the HD-DVR that I bought about a year ago, my standard Directv DVR died after about six months. It was replaced by a refurb which ran fine for over a year. I still have it as a back up in case the HD one goes.

[Dirk Legume]

I am one of those happy people that don't post. I had to replace my 10-250 about 6 months ago and got a refurbished unit. It has run flawlessly ever since. No problems at all.

[wxman]

Thanks for the votes of confidence (and I'll try and remember to turn it on ;) ). Hopefully I won't have to worry about this again because based on the previews of the new Directv HD receiver I'd much prefer to keep the Tivo version.

Speaking of which, will D* always replace bad HR10-250's with refurbed HR10-250's or will they stop doing that when their new receiver comes out? I assume at some point they'll start running out of the old ones and have to replace them with their new model.

[borgslayer]

I am one of the unlucky owners of th HR10-250 that has had multiple replacements. All were replaced with refurbs. The last refurb unit laste about 20 mins and went into major stuttering, freezes. I called retention and bitched and said I had enough and was going to cancel unless a NEW unit was sent ASAP. To my amazement the retention rep said he would have to get that Ok'd by a super. He returns and says it has been approrved. I really didn't believe him. 3 days later two units show up another refurb AND a BRAND NEW unit.
The new unit has been running ever since. I hope it's the last one I have to replace but only time will tell....

[DDayDawg]

I'm one of those non-posters too because I never had reason to complain. In fact (at the rist of jinxing myself and knocking on lots of wood) my original HR10-250 (one of the early 1k ones) has run without problem since the day I got it. No HDMI issues, no studdering, just ole faithfull. We are the silent majority but I assure you it does happen.

[convbcuda]

I have a replacement HR10-250 that I'll be setting up tonight. I haven't even opened the box to see if it's a refurb.

The CSR was pretty nice about it. The one I have that's about to croak isn't under warranty, but he deactivated/reactivated it to make the computer system think it was new. Then he sent out a replacement for free.

I still have 2 UltimateTV receivers that are faster and more reliable. I know some of you are Tivo worshippers, but I'll never be one. This HR10-250 must run on a Timex Sinclair 1000 processor. I'm really sick of seeing Please Wait just because I have several season passes.

[steady teddy]

I will be getting my refurbed unit within the next few days. This will be my 3rd Tivo. D* replaced my original unit with a new one about 15 months ago. I guess they can't afford to do that anymore...

[MoInSTL]

How does one determine if it's a refurb? Mine is only 6 weeks old and I am very ticked off that I may get a refurbished one. Mine had no date on the back which supposedly means it was a newer one with the HDMI fix. I have no idea what this one will be until I receive it.

[steady teddy]

How does one determine if it's a refurb? Mine is only 6 weeks old and I am very ticked off that I may get a refurbished one. Mine had no date on the back which supposedly means it was a newer one with the HDMI fix. I have no idea what this one will be until I receive it.

Not sure about this but I'm assuming all replacements D* are currently sending out will be refurbs, unless you can convince them to send you a new one like borgslayer did.

Did the D* rep know how old your Tivo is? Maybe they would have sent you a new one. If mine was only 6 weeks old I'd be mad as hell too...

[Lije Baley]

When my original (5/04) Tivo began to spontaneously reboot and freeze, Tivo replaced it with a refurb. On the one hand, it was free, despite the original being out of warranty. On the other hand, it too began to reboot after two weeks and was replaced with another refurb. That unit has been working satisfactorily for over two months, but has no logos. I'm not sure if they'll ever appear.

Does anyone know how to get the logos back? I know the units originally lacked them and received them in a download in about July '04.

[MoInSTL]

Not sure about this but I'm assuming all replacements D* are currently sending out will be refurbs, unless you can convince them to send you a new one like borgslayer did.

Did the D* rep know how old your Tivo is? Maybe they would have sent you a new one. If mine was only 6 weeks old I'd be mad as hell too...

/rant on

It's 9 weeks old, not 6 as I previously posted. I guess they spoiled me as when my first purchased D* DVR died they sent my a free 30 hr Hughes. When I grew tired of an RCA receiver in my bedroom they sent me a free 70 hr R10. I paid $200 for the HD box and got lots of credits and free programming. Great deal. Still, it irks me so much that after 4.5 years with D* I am really ticked off. If they gave it to me like the SD DVRs I wouldn't mind but I no of know other business that would push a refurb unit on a new purchase. For example, imagine buying a TV and they just swap out a new set and give you a used TV. Maybe it shouldn't irritate me as much as it does but it does.

I called CR and even spoke to a supervisor. Since I am locked in a new 2 yr commitment it would cost me to cancel and switch. I never considered switching before and even did the Movers Connection.

Obviously the tier two tech was wrong.

/rant off

[Stanley Rohner]

I'm sure you're probably all gettting refurbs when you get your HR10-250 replaced thru DIRECTV.

What do you think they do with all the bad ones they get sent back to them ?
Answer: Refurbish them.

Do you really think they take back broken ones, and send everyone brand new ones ?

[MoInSTL]

I'm sure you're probably all gettting refurbs when you get your HR10-250 replaced thru DIRECTV.

What do you think they do with all the bad ones they get sent back to them ?
Answer: Refurbish them.

Do you really think they take back broken ones, and send everyone brand new ones ?

Off course not. But I paid cash for a new one and not a refurbished unit. If it were 9 months vs. 9 weeks I would be more understanding.

[TyroneShoes]

...I still have 2 UltimateTV receivers that are faster and more reliable. I know some of you are Tivo worshippers, but I'll never be one. This HR10-250 must run on a Timex Sinclair 1000 processor. I'm really sick of seeing Please Wait just because I have several season passes.
How nice for you. When was the last software update on your UTVs? Pre-911, I would guess. Also, how much HD content do they hold? ;) Among all of the choices out there, apparently you still found a reason to own a HD Tivo.

[mikeny]

If you have a problem with your refurb replacement, within 30 days I think, they send you a new one. That's what happened with me a few months back anyhow.

[Lije Baley]

Not necessarily. See my post (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?p=3926071&&#post3926071) . After two weeks, my refurb began rebooting and was replaced with another refurb, which has worked for over two months. It's missing the logos, however.