I think it must be fate (My Tivo may be dying)

[aadam101]

I just received my new DT Series 2 and I'm thrilled. I have two other Tivo's in the house. I hooked it up last night and I love it.

Well when I went to bed I walked into my bedroom and heard a loud humming sound coming from my 4 year old series 2 unit. I unplugged it and plugged it back in but it was still making the sound.

I left it unplugged for the night and this morning when I plugged it in the sound had stopped. However, it's getting old and I'm worried it may be on it's last leg.

Any idea what the sound is from? I know that it always makes a low hum but this was much louder than usual.

[DaveBogart]

Probably just needs a new hard drive. Or cooling fan.

[ZeoTiVo]

Probably just needs a new hard drive. Or cooling fan.
open the box up (need a TORX wrench - lowes has them) and see where the sound is coming from. You can see wires going from the fan to the notherboard. You can power down the unit then unplug the fan and power the unit back up to see if the HUM goes away. If so you will see how it is just more TORX screws to replace the fan.

If it is the hard drive then you will see how it cna be removed and the undergorund forum here has details on how to replace that. BEst to do while the Hard drive is still readable and you can copy the shows over.


WARNING- unshielded power supply in DVR - all the usual warnings on being careful apply here. No warranty to void in your case though ;)

[debest]

I recommend calling TiVo's tech support and see what they say. Maybe they will send you a free refurbished box to replace your dying one.

[rainwater]

I recommend calling TiVo's tech support and see what they say. Maybe they will send you a free refurbished box to replace your dying one.

They will send you one but not for free (it's $150). It's probably not worth it if all you need to do is clean off a dusty fan with a can of air. Or better yet, for $150, you can replace the hard drive (if that is the cause) with a much bigger drive for that price. Those are the 2 biggest causes of noise and both can be fixed for cheaper than $150.

[TiVoDan]

I recommend calling TiVo's tech support and see what they say. Maybe they will send you a free refurbished box to replace your dying one.
Tivo tech support is useless.

If the box is 4 years old, replace the Hard drive, it's not difficult. Read the posts in the upgrade center, and you''ll have an easy time doing it.

[aadam101]

It stopped making the noise. It's 4 years old anyway. If it does die I'll get a refurb for $50. I'll just be a bit sad.......

[mattack]

Then the sound may very well be the fan. I have to touch one of my S1s to make it stop humming every once in a while.. The top is also not screwed on but just sitting on (because I was having to switch IR boards when one was dying -- I finally bought a used IR board to replace it)..

The fan is/was causing it to resonate sometimes.

[hokiesvt]

The same humming sound is happening with my Series II (almost 5 years old). It may have been happening for a while, but it's been in a large living room previously. It's now in a much smaller room (bedroom) and the sound is very noticeable.

I'll try opening it up and taking a look at the fan.

[HDTiVo]

Its a good time (for a TiVo) to die.