Updated to 6.3c - now my HR10-250 is dead

[Danamck]

OK - I received the on screen messages telling me that I need to upgrade to avoid the DST problems. I also received a phone call as well. So the idiot that I am, I forced the units to upgrade (I have 2 HR10-250s - one I use for HD, the other I keep in SD). The unit I use to record and play back in SD is fine. The HD unit, which is less than 1 year old and has worked fine - no longer functions. Here are the symptoms - unit works fine for 15 minutes, then begins to stutter and slow to respond to the remote, then locks up and does not respond to the remote. It doesn't matter if I am watching live TV, a recorded program, or the menu - the results are the same.

I called D*, and they claim there are no reports of problems regarding the recent upgrade. They, of course, offered to upgrade me to the HR20. I install Home Theaters for a living and I am very familiar with all the bugs these units have. Heck, even the D* representative agreed with me on this one!

So it looks like it's time for a new hard drive. Crap!

Has anyone else experienced problems with the upgrade?

[litzdog911]

Welcome to TivoCommunity. Sorry that it's under such crappy circumstances.

You'll need to replace your hard drive. This sometimes happens after Tivo software updates because your Tivo is now using its alternate software image partition. Any problems with that portion of the hard drive now appear. Hard drive repair utilities, like SpinRite, might fix the problem, but I usually prefer to just replace/upgrade the drive.

[ssandhoops]

Though your problem may well be the hard drive going bad, before replacing the hard drive you should try clearing out the database and if that does not do it, clear and delete everything. I had the exact same issue you describe (though it didn't happen as often as you describe) and clearing out the database fixed it for me. My unit has been rock solid since doing that.

[Danamck]

litzdog911 - Thanks. I have replaced both my HD TiVos within the last year with brand new models. The problems they suffered from were different, and had to do with missed recordings, partial recordings, and constant re-booting. You still think it's a hard drive issue even though the stuttering happens on the menu?

ssandhoops - Thanks as well. By clearing out the data base, do you mean just deleting the shows on the hard drive? I know what clear and delete is, as this is what D* thinks solves every problem with this box (and usually does not).

I'm going to try and dump the important shows I have on the dying HR10-250 to DVD. I'll have to record them in 15 minute increments, so we'll see how long I can put up with that!

[ssandhoops]

ssandhoops - Thanks as well. By clearing out the data base, do you mean just deleting the shows on the hard drive? I know what clear and delete is, as this is what D* thinks solves every problem with this box (and usually does not).


There is another option on the same menu where you do the clear and delete everything that only clears out the database (todo list, program guide data and season passes) but leaves anything already recorded in tact. This is the option that worked for me.

[Joe Smith]

OK - I received the on screen messages telling me that I need to upgrade to avoid the DST problems. The HD unit, which is less than 1 year old and has worked fine - no longer functions. Here are the symptoms - unit works fine for 15 minutes, then begins to stutter and slow to respond to the remote, then locks up and does not respond to the remote. It doesn't matter if I am watching live TV, a recorded program, or the menu - the results are the same.

Has anyone else experienced problems with the upgrade?

If you are in Cleveland, disconnect the satellite cables, reboot, and remove channel 5-1 from the list of channels you receive to bring the box back to life.

http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?t=343076

[Danamck]

Nope - Northern California.

ssandhoops - well, I tried the to delete the database, and the unit just sticks on the "this could take up to one hour" screen. I've re-booted twice, will give it a few more hours then try and delete everything off the hard drive. Don't really think it's going to work, though.

[Sir_winealot]

A 'clear and delete' can sometimes take many hours to complete (I've read of instances where it's taken a full day, but that's no guarantee the hd will ever recover and come out of it), and by unplugging/rebooting you're starting the cycle over again.

[swickland]

Mine is not dead but is sick. Yesterday evening my HR10 was frozen. Rebooting it froze at the "few more minutes" message. Rebooting again it came back. I started to watch a show and it in less than a minute it rebooted itself and froze at the "Few more minutes" message. One more reboot and it was fine for the 2 hours that I watched.

The Warriors game was painful to watch!

Steve W.

[GreyGhost00]

I've had two HR10-250s killed as the result of software upgrades. The new packages get laid down on bad sectors in the HD and when the install runs, it has holes punched in it and makes the unit unstable or even unable to boot properly. The only solution is to re-image. InstantCake is your friend.

[designr]

You might find this thread interesting:

:mad: 6.3b murdered my HR10-250 (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?t=338379)

I got a $200 credit for a new hard drive because I proved to D* that the upgrade killed my drive :D