I think my Series 3 is dead...

[TreoFred]

it is rebooting all the time now and getting stuck in the Powering Up screen...

If I leave it unpluged for a while, it works again, for maybe 80-90 minutes... then reboots... Then the reboots are closer and closer together (40 minutes, 25 minutes, etc...) And everytime, it gets stuck on reboot. :(

I thought maybe it was a hard drive problem (I had a couple of HDTivo died that way before) but it doesn't always happen on the same program or while doing the same thing, just a time thing. I was thinking it could be overheating but the internal temperature never goes above 43c and says normal...

I've already asked TiVo for an RMA but I'm just wondering if somebody has an idea of what the problem could be and if there's anyway to fix it without the exchange. I really like my Series 3 (it's my 8th TiVo so I'm kinda loyal to the brand) and do not want to go through the activation nightmare from the Cox OC technical monkeys... :mad:

I'm open to all suggestions ! Thanks

[Tippy]

I had a similar, though not exact problem, just two weeks ago. Just got the exchanged unit working this past weekend. I tried all of the suggestiong in this thread http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?t=351767&highlight=tippy but wasn't able to fix it on my own.

I really missed my S3 for a couple of weeks. I hated paying the $50 for the exchange but at least I'm back up to speed now.

Good luck.

[Bierboy]

If you have cablecards, did you try pulling them and rebooting?

[Leo_N]

I had this exact problem with one of my S3s a few months ago. I tried just about everything suggested here on the forums. Leaving network cable unplugged, cablecards out, cable disconnected, switched hard drives, redid setup to both cable +OTA and then switched it back to just cable. Of course none of them worked :( Called TiVo, explained my situation, all that I had tried, and got a new box. No problems since!

[TreoFred]

If you have cablecards, did you try pulling them and rebooting?

Yep, I tried that... didn't work...

In fact, I've tried leaving the Tivo unplugged from Cable with no cable cards in and it start rebooting after a while too :(

Looks like other have had the same problem with no results either. I guess 'replacement unit, here I come'.

btw, for those that have had a replacement unit but already had the cards working in the unit before, did you have to work with your cable company to get them activated again?

[Leo_N]

Yep, I tried that... didn't work...

In fact, I've tried leaving the Tivo unplugged from Cable with no cable cards in and it start rebooting after a while too :(

Looks like other have had the same problem with no results either. I guess 'replacement unit, here I come'.

btw, for those that have had a replacement unit but already had the cards working in the unit before, did you have to work with your cable company to get them activated again?

I didn't as Charter in my area doesn't do the complete pairing of cards to equipment, but that is going to be a cable company to cable company thing. Probably even different within the same cable company across different head ends also.

[Stanley Rohner]

Cox OC technical monkeys...

Being a bit harsh maybe ?
:rolleyes:

[JPBOSS]

My S3 has been problem free (nock on wood) however I experienced almost the same issue you describe with an old S2 and it turned out to be the power suppy. I ordered one from weaknees and it fixed my reboot problem. It was acting the exact same way the OP described. I haven't busted my S3 open yet so I don't know how the power supply looks but this could be the culprit.

JP

[morac]

I'd be curious as to what the S3 is reporting temperature-wise while running.

[CrispyCritter]

I had much the same problem; saga reported in this thread. (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?t=351445) By the end it was clear it was a power issue, and not a heating issue - the last day it was rebooting after a couple of minutes, and never reached even normal temperatures (screen showed 44C, normal was 46C). The last day reboots occurred after the S3 had been off for 12 hours, so the S3 was really cooled down!

[Leo_N]

I had much the same problem; saga reported in this thread. (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?t=351445) By the end it was clear it was a power issue, and not a heating issue - the last day it was rebooting after a couple of minutes, and never reached even normal temperatures (screen showed 44C, normal was 46C). The last day reboots occurred after the S3 had been off for 12 hours, so the S3 was really cooled down!

Same as when I had the problem, definitely not heat related. Mine was usually at about 44-45C, which incidentally is about the same as the one that replaced the bad one is running at. The one in my living room normally runs about 46, and never had a problem with that one.