DSR6000 Resetting

[CaptainRotundo]

Recently my Series 1 starting resetting, and getting stuck at the "Welcome Powering up" screen. Simply removing power and re-applying it causes the unit to boot properly.

I pulled the drive (an upgraded maxtor quickview) and ran the maxtor error checking software (think its called PowerMax) it showed no errors on all tests (didnt use the destructive tests obviously).

So I got a new fan, and although its loud the unit now doesn't go above 38c. still restting.

So I thought maybe it had to do with daily calls (I hadnt made one in over 300 days). Last night I plugged in a phone line and forced a call. Got an upgrade, went through the whole reset and re-install (now at 3.5-something).

This morning the unit is stuck at the welcome screen again.
Could this be a hard disk problem that the maxtor utility didnt find?
Would it be helpful to completely reset the system, wiping all data? or is this most likely a hardware glitch?
Should I just go out a buy a new drive? - will that help if the maxtor software found nothing?

[rock_doctor]

Yep rebooting is a sure sign the HD is bad. Go get a new drive and download a software package called instantcake from pvrupgrades and just build a new drive.

The new fan is a good idea but I will warn you that if you got a radio shack fan it will not last very long. Every one I have installed into my DSR6000 has lasted less then a year... http://www.ptvupgrade.com/

Good luck,
mark

[CaptainRotundo]

is there some advantage to this instantcake software to justify the 20$ it costs? all the other tivos I've upgraded were with the mfstools disk image. I've done two DSR6000s and a regular series 1.

Also if the drive has an issue will making a complete copy (saving all programs) duplicate the issue on the new drive?

[rock_doctor]

Just ease. The instantcake comes with the up to date drive software allowing you to install a larger drive and in most cases when the drive starts to reboot you can no longer get a clean copy of the OS off the drive. I would give the Linux upgrade route a try first and if it does not work then try instantcake. I am not sure about saving the programs, it depends where the bad sector is in the drive.

From what I was told... The drive develops a bad sector and the OS cannot mark the sector for non-use. So the unit attempts to use the bad sector and hangs. From what I have seen once rebooting becomes more frequent getting a clean image off it isn't likely, but give it a try it is possible if the drive is not too bad.

good luck,
mark

[CaptainRotundo]

how much is frequent. my tivo resets once a day at most, and sometimes it goes a couple of days.

[rock_doctor]

Once a day would be frequent... Get a new drive and give it a try. If the new drive does not boot then you can download a copy of instantcake and do the upgrade that way. You have nothing to loose but a few hours out of the day.

good luck,
mark

[CaptainRotundo]

well I dont want to buy a drive if a reset will fix the problem... but I am gathering from what your saying that the drive is toast and a system reset isnt going to help. (tought choice since its full of programs :))

[rock_doctor]

I hear ya, it just the nature of the beast. In reality, the drive itself may be still useable. You probably can format it and then have windows scan it. Windows will mark the bad sectors for non-use. If you have an old computer you wanted to resurrect, it may be a way to go. Besides drives are some-what cheap now-a-days. Shop around, use any online coupons you can find and just pick it up at your local store. I do this all the time with circuit city, fightdivx.com always has tons of coupons.

good luck,
mark