Ugh, I think my Tivo is dead

[uhphikap]

So, I've been checking out the forums here and I think my Tivo Series 2 40hr DVR is dead. It is stuck on the "Welcome. Powering Up." screen, and has been for several days, despite multiple reboots and plenty of waiting.

My wife loves TiVo, so she's urging me to get the problem fixed. So, I call TiVo customer support and they tell me they'll replace it for $150. I was in shock, as I though the $500 I spent 3 years ago was on a lifetime subscription. Turns out it's the lifetime of the box only, so since the box is dead, they get to charge more money for a new box, though the lifetie subscription will indeed transfer over. Splendid. Plus, the "new box" isn't even new at all...it's a freaking refurb. So, my concern is that in less than 3 years we may have to spend more money on another one. Is anyone else concerned with this? Seems fishy to me.

Anyone have any suggestions?

Reading through the forums, I saw a mention of purchasing just a new hard drive to put in there because that's the likely culprit. I currently have 2 brand new 160GB hard drives still in the box. One SATA and the other IDE. One is a Seagate, the other a WD. Can one or both of these be used? If so, what's the process that I would need to go through to make the swap?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

I'm almost f the mindset to just chunk it because I should have an HD Tivo instead anyways now that we have an HDTV, but that's a lot of cash spent on the lifetime service to just chunk after only 3 years.

Sorry if all of this is covered elsewhere, I couldn't find details on any of it...just mentions of it.

Thanks in advance for any assitance.

[funtoupgrade]

You can use the IDE only and you will need to do a lot of reading in the stickies at the top of the upgrade forum. The necessary software is available there.

Your non-working lifetime unit has value and could bring $300 or more on eBay.

[HomeUser]

The TiVo uses the EIDE (PATA) drive, think about it a 160hr TiVo :)

If you can replace a Drive in a PC replacing the Drive in a TiVo is not too difficult More about that in the TiVo Upgrade Center (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/forumdisplay.php?f=25) see the Sticky's.

Purchase a preloaded drive from one of this forums sponsors (WeaKnees or PTV Upgrade)

Sell the TiVo as is on E-Bay, Life time TiVos get premium $ even non working ones.

[jk5598224]

Hello this happened to us this week ALSO? Is it really the Drive? We have a SVR3000 and I don't know how to fix it either.

Anybody know what drives the SVR3000 use?

[jk5598224]

Hello this happened to us this week ALSO? Is it really the Drive? We have a SVR3000 and I don't know how to fix it either.

Anybody know what drives the SVR3000 use?

[HomeUser]

I think all TiVos use EIDE drives.

http://www.weaknees.com/tivo-series2-svr3000.php

[SJAndrew]

If you have moderate computer knowledge and the HDD is the culprit, you can fix this yourself.

I sent my unit back to TiVo. While waiting weeks and weeks for its return, I found this forum. Long story short - if I had it to do all over again, I would have fixed the problem myself.

You can PM StanSimmons for a TiVo image and using free software, fix it yourself with a new drive. The great thing about this is that you will never again be beholden to anyone again - you will always be able to buy a new off the shelf HDD and fix it when the HDD dies (as it will - all HDD's die eventually, it's a moving part).

If you have interest in doing this, PM me and I can help you out.

[uhphikap]

Thank you all for your replies.

[uhphikap]

I was able to get them (Tivo) to lower the price of the replacement unit, and ship it for free for me...it arrived this week, and I've got it all setup.

One question - How do I force a software update? My previous unit had software on it that allowed, among other things, for you to delete an item and it went into a "recently deleted items" folder instead of asking whether you want to delete or not, whereas that update has obviously not taken effect on this unit. Is there a way to force this update? I've attempted multiple phone calls, but no dice.

[wscannell]

It should automatically update in a few days. You could place yourself on the priority list for the latest update (7.3.1) by entering your TiVo service number. This will take about 3 business days. (www.tivo.com/priority)

[uhphikap]

Thanks...just signed up.

[edwa]

uhphikap? Is that you Brian?

In the latter half of March I finally got a big HD screen an upped my service to HD Tivo. Now for the second time a power outage (lasting about 4 hours) has killed the DirectTV TIVO HR10-250.

I find it hard to believe these things are that sensitive. By the way, both units were plugged in to a ZeroSurge. Although the LCOS is plugged into a UPS the DVR. I figured if power goes out an I'm not home the UPS will run out of juice because the DVR never powers off.

Both times neither the Std Def Samsung Tivo (SIR-S412OR) or the std rcvrs that are in use in the rest of the house were effected. AND they were plugged straight into the wall.

Anyone else have this experience? Have any explanations?

Thanks in advance.