HDVR2 Frozen at "Almost there"...

[te00294]

I think I know the answer for this, but I'd like to get some feedback and maybe some options.

I got a refurbished Hughes HDVR2 from DirecTv about three years ago, when I signed up for the Tivo service. Love the service, but the box seems to have junked itself. We moved the entertainment center last week in order to paint. Before the shutdown, I made sure I put the thing on Standby, then I pulled the plug. After plugging it back in a few days later, it only gets as far as the "Almost there" screen. I left it on overnight, still no change.

So, I know this box is unusable without an harddrive upgrade, but I'm not even sure that would work. I am currently looking at just getting another DirecTivo box from ebay, or wherever. But I'm wondering if a harddrive swap would fix this...

So, is the box hosed? Are there any diagnostics I can run on the drive, or any hotkey combos I can use? Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Just an aside: we have the Advanced Product Protection Plan, and DTV said they would replace the box with another DTivo. Sorry, we got the R15 instead. Now I'm pissed. Cancelled that plan fast...

[Dkerr24]

Most likely it's a failed hard drive. You can either pickup a pre-formatted drive from Weaknees if you don't want to load it yourself, or pickup a cheap EIDE drive - many local retailers run 300gb drives for less than $99. 300gb in a DTivo will give you ~265 hours recording time. You'll then have to use mfstools and you'll also need a drive image from ptvupgrade ($20).

You might also get lucky and the image on your existing drive might still be intact and you can use it to setup the new drive and save yourself the $20.

[te00294]

Yep, that's what I was thinking.

I looked at the Weaknees drives, but I also have an email for 10% off harddrive upgrades from the tivocommunity store. I'm not looking for hundreds of hours of recording time, but it would be nice to get the box on my home network.

I've not seen anyone referring to the tivocommunity store - is it not recommended?

[litzdog911]

...
I've not seen anyone referring to the tivocommunity store - is it not recommended?

You can trust the Tivo Community Store. You don't see many recommendations yet because it's only been here for a month.

[te00294]

Good to hear. I ordered the 80G drive with PTVnet and TivoWebPlus last night.

[te00294]

So, how can I track my order? I received the confirmation email, but no links for tracking.

[tPSEA]

My H10-250 -which I was happy with- quit a few weeks ago and I since have been sent 2 HR20s (they will NOT replace my H10) ... both feeeze the same way. I was told today that the replacements are all refurbished from early trial markets. Two of them are defective ... because I am on the "A" list I may get a tech sent out in mid -december. No HD for 3 weeks and no real help from DTV - they refuse to send a new reciever as a replacement to honor the warranty on one taht is not a yera old.

[te00294]

I got the drive on 12/1 and installed it that night. It worked fine, although I had to run through the guided setup to get my zip code in and turn on both tuners. I had a Belkin F5D5050 adapter set up (a leftover), but it didn't recognize it. So, I went to Circuit City on 12/2, and picked up a Linksys USB200M. I returned it today.

I found the Netgear FA120 on eBay, now I just have to wait for delivery.

So, the problem with my Hughes HDVR2 was the hard drive. The replacement works fine, just like new. And I got the drive in 3 days from the tivocommunity store. They even sent a new connector cable and a Torx screwdriver. Very nice.

All's well that ends well. Thank you for your assistance, and, given the ease of repair, I am thinking about getting another DirecTivo box for the bedroom.

[litzdog911]

Thanks for the follow up. Glad to hear everything is working again.