Downloading new software over the phone

[Jason One]

-

[John T Smith]

I don't know if they no longer allow telephone downloads, but since the current software is 6.2a and it is still CURRENT via satellite, you may just have to wait until your unit is reached in the rotation and the satellite data stream updates your box

[rbtravis]

Directv is not supporting software versions that old. You waited too long. Go to DVRupgrade and purchase a copy of Instant Cake. You will need a larger hard drive to make the unit work again. Sorry :(

[Cheryl327]

I have a Hughes SD-DVR120 with the same problem. It is stuck on version 3.1. It hasn't been used it in a couple of years. Been forcing the daily call and re-starting the system like crazy. If the S/W version is not supported, you'd think that one of the 30 people I've talked to at DirecTv in the past few days would have mentioned it. I did find the DVRupgrade site yesterday. How does one install InstantCake on their DVR? Do I need to remove the hard drive from the DVR and connect it to my PC to do the download? I'm not a very technical person. Does it come with complete instructions. I did see where you could download it or get it on CD.

Thanks

[goony]

How does one install InstantCake on their DVR? Do I need to remove the hard drive from the DVR and connect it to my PC to do the download? I'm not a very technical person. Does it come with complete instructions.

1) Buy their CD or download the image and burn your own CD

2) Remove drive from DTivo (lots of guides to help with this, one is at http://tivo.upgrade-instructions.com)

3) Unplug any hard drives in your PC temporarily (that way you won't mess them up) and connect the Tivo drive to it - no need to install it in the PC, it is only for a few minutes - put it on some phone books next to the PC, cable the data and power to the drive, put a couple of pencils under it for airflow. NOTE: This needs to be a PC with a 'parallel' disk interface - i.e. 2.5 inch wide ribbon cables... won't work if all you have is SATA (serial ATA) cabling (i.e. a very recent PC).

4) Power up the PC, put in the disc you bought/made, boot from it and follow onscreen instructions

5) Power off, put drive back into the DTivo

6) Go through any setups prompted on the DTivo

[Cheryl327]

Thanks for the instructions. I have another (possibly dumb) question.

I also have a Hughes SD-DVR40 that is on the current 6.2a sofware. Is there any reason I can't make a backup of that drive and install it on the SD-DVR120 drive? Would that work to get the drive on the correct software version - and function properly?

[goony]

I also have a Hughes SD-DVR40 that is on the current 6.2a sofware. Is there any reason I can't make a backup of that drive and install it on the SD-DVR120 drive? Would that work to get the drive on the correct software version - and function properly?You could clone the operating system part of the drive, but whatever box the clone ends up in will need a "Clear and Delete Everything" run on it as the software "marries" itself to the mainboard in your box - doing this C&DE will "re-marry" the software to the mainboard, but you would lose all of the programs.

Cloning the operating system part of a DTivo is done with a special tools boot disc and not your run-of-mill Windows backup programs - see the Underground or Upgrade forums here for more info. Also, if you go to the link I posted above for "upgrade-instructions" and you answer the questions in "Step 3" properly you will end up with the exact instructions on how to do this procedure.

The exception to this is if you have "enhanced" your box (see the Zipper link in my sig), in that case when you move the drive to a new box you simply connect to it via the network and run a script called 51killer.tcl, reboot and presto! the problem of a disk being moved to a different box is nullified (I just swapped drives between two boxes just two days ago and this worked like a charm.)

[Cheryl327]

Thank you for the information. Lastly, If I purchase the InstantCake S/W, what version will it be? The latest from DirecTV is 6.2A. Is this what DVRUpgrade should have?

[Joe C]

Directv is not supporting software versions that old. You waited too long. Sorry :(

Where did you get this info from ? I always thought a dvr would upgrade to the latest software IF that unit received the update "OK" from the mother ship. Am I wrong ?

[Cheryl327]

After hours on the phone with DirecTV, they seem to think it should download. Then again, they are only Customer Service Reps and the 20th guy I spoke with (in Advanced Technical) was reading from a manual. I asked him if maybe the problem was that I needed the "next" s/w version after 3.1.1, and perhaps the s/w would never jump from 3.1 to 6.2 (kind of like MS). He confirmed that the only s/w on their system was the 6.2a. It's plugged in all the time, so I will wait a couple of weeks and see if that solves the problem. If not, then I guess it's InstantCake for me.

[calguy99]

Hi,

This may be of some help. I have a three year old Philips DSR 704 that quit working a few months ago. I had added a second 120 GB hard drive with a WeaKnees kit right after I first purchased it. A couple of months ago the Philips 704 rebooted and was stuck on the "powering up" startup screen. I figured that the original 40 GB drive had died. Last week I purchased and downloaded the InstantCake software for the 704 followed all the instructions and set up the 120 GB drive as the master single drive. The software installation went well and the drive worked perfectly when I installed it in the Philips 704. When I checked the system information the software version installed was 6.2a.

The whole InstantCake installation was great. Everything worked as advertised. Worth the $20.

[Cheryl327]

Well, I decided to let the dvr make the call itself - which of course wasn't scheduled for another 6 days. Checked the unit the morning after the call was made and found that it upgraded to version 6.2a by itself. I guess it will eventually do it even if you are back as far as 3.1. :)

[Larmik]

I got the same results-- thanks for sharing your experience. it helped me be patient and hang in there as the unit did its thing.

Process:
After my unit running v6.2 started to have issues, I replaced my drives. I restored from a backup on I created in 2005 when FW 3.1.1e-01-251 was in place. I made the unit call back many times after the restore; the FW version never changed. After 2.5 days had passed and the 3.1 FW still in place the unit stated "pending restart." Cool! I manually forced the restart and the system came backup up with FW 6.2a-01-2-151.

Lessons Learned:
1) Keep a rolling backup of major FW rolls if you dont want to wait days. Doing mine now.
2) Remain thankful I had two other units while this main family unit was in hospital! Back those up again since they have major FW updates as well.

[DonDon]

Hi all.

I recently plugged in a ver 6.2 HDVR2 that had been off for a couple of months. I forced calls for the first several days it was plugged in with no luck on the update. Then I got busy and left it for several days. I came back to it and it still had not initiated it's own phone call yet, so I forced it again. Viola, it came back pending restart. :D

Cool, now I can install the bigger drive, and Zipper the pig with the latest, and probably last official software on it. :(

FYI, it took 9 days after I plugged it in and turned it on before I got the new software. Just be patient, it will download eventually. :up:

Don