DIRECTV TiVo HDVR2 Problem

[gordon1fan]

I have a DIRECTV TiVo Hughes model: HDVR2 that is stuck on the gray screen that says: "Almost there, few more seconds please". Does anyone have any recommendations on what to do? Is my TiVo dead? Thanks for the the help.

[wscannell]

Have you tried unplugging it, wait 30 seconds, and plug it back in?

Otherwise, it is likely a hard drive problem. You can replace the hard drive yourself with an image. See the upgrade forum stickys for more information.

You can purchase a preloaded drive from forum advertisers like Weaknees or ptvupgrade.

[gordon1fan]

Have you tried unplugging it, wait 30 seconds, and plug it back in?

Thanks for the reply!

I unplugged the TiVo for a about a minute, then plugged it back in. I was just sitting their watching TV and the TiVo rebooted and that is when I got stuck on the gray screen.

[Dirac]

So, is it working now or no?

If it's working now, keep an eye on it. Sometimes they lock up and are fine... sometimes it means your hard drive is dying. Better watch all those episodes of 24 before you lose them (oh wait, I need to do that).

[gordon1fan]

So, is it working now or no?

If it's working now, keep an eye on it. Sometimes they lock up and are fine... sometimes it means your hard drive is dying. Better watch all those episodes of 24 before you lose them (oh wait, I need to do that).
Sorry to say it is still not working. Still stuck on the gray screen. I'm pretty sure that the hard drive is dead! I'm either going to replace the hard drive or call DIRECTV and get a new one. If I call DIRECV, I'm going to ask for a R-10. I have heard to many bad thing about the R-15.

Thanks for the Help!

[Dirac]

If you feel comfortable replacing a HD, you might want to keep your HDVR2 and go that route (and upgrade the storage space while you're at it). The HDVR2 is fully hackable (see the TiVo Underground) if you decide to do that later, whereas the R10 is only capable of upgraded storage unless you replace one of the chips on the mainboard.

If it's getting past "Welcome" and to "Almost There", it is getting through its initial boot sequence and attempting to access the HD, so the HD is almost certainly the problem.

[Sknzfan]

Sorry to say it is still not working. Still stuck on the gray screen. I'm pretty sure that the hard drive is dead! I'm either going to replace the hard drive or call DIRECTV and get a new one. If I call DIRECV, I'm going to ask for a R-10. I have heard to many bad thing about the R-15.

Thanks for the Help!

I would ask for a HD DVR TIVO ! ..... Love mine...w/ another on the way...

[rock_doctor]

I suggest you pull the unit apart first and unplug the HD and then re-plug it back in. Sometimes the connections will work themselves loose and it will look like a bad drive also pay attention to whether the HD is spinning up. The power supplies have been known to go bad, not often but it can happen.

good luck,
mark

[gordon1fan]

I would ask for a HD DVR TIVO ! ..... Love mine...w/ another on the way...
I don't have a HD TV, I'm still waiting on the HD TV to come down in price.

[gordon1fan]

I suggest you pull the unit apart first and unplug the HD and then re-plug it back in. Sometimes the connections will work themselves loose and it will look like a bad drive also pay attention to whether the HD is spinning up. The power supplies have been known to go bad, not often but it can happen.

good luck,
mark
If the the power supply was bad, would it power up at all? I have not payed to much attention to the hard drive spinning up. I will check that out. Thanks!

[gordon1fan]

If you feel comfortable replacing a HD, you might want to keep your HDVR2 and go that route (and upgrade the storage space while you're at it). The HDVR2 is fully hackable (see the TiVo Underground) if you decide to do that later, whereas the R10 is only capable of upgraded storage unless you replace one of the chips on the mainboard.

If it's getting past "Welcome" and to "Almost There", it is getting through its initial boot sequence and attempting to access the HD, so the HD is almost certainly the problem.
I have replaced hard drives in computers before, but not a TiVo. I'm pretty sure it is basically the same thing. I have never opened a TiVo box before either. I may try that, that would be something new that I have never tried before. Thanks! :)

[gfb107]

I have replaced hard drives in computers before, but not a TiVo. I'm pretty sure it is basically the same thing. I have never opened a TiVo box before either. I may try that, that would be something new that I have never tried before. Thanks! :)
The physical process is basically the same, but installing the TiVo software on the replacement drive is not, if you choose to go that route instead of buying a drive with the software preloaded.

[gordon1fan]

The physical process is basically the same, but installing the TiVo software on the replacement drive is not, if you choose to go that route instead of buying a drive with the software preloaded.
If I decided to buy a basic hard drive to install in the TiVo and install it myself, where can I get the Tivo software and instructions on how to install the TiVo software on the hard drive?

[wscannell]

Instantcake from ptvupgrade.com. Make sure you get the right version for your TiVo model.