Cake Baked or Goose Cooked? Problem with HDD Booting

[Davidson]

I just got Instantcake and it worked great after I figured out the config in my pc. I used an old WD 120gig hdd, I had laying around. I installed it in my tivo and perfecto, worked like a champ. Then I connected the service from directv, which also worked.


Problems start: I notice the second tuner is deactivated, so I do the guided setup and magicly everthing works, but then my tivo gets super sluggish, so I reboot. Now, I'am stuck on the Welcome. Powering up... screen. The hard drive is working, I can her it spinning.

I alredy re-installed IC, just to make sure and no change. Please help? :>(


This message also posted on dvrupgrade.com, with no responce yet.

[rbtravis]

Have you run the Manufacturers diagnostics on the disk to make sure it is working perfectly? You said it was an old disk lying around and not a new drive.:confused:

[Davidson]

No, but I did install the hdd in my pc, removed files I wanted and then formatted the disk, so I assume the hdd is working, since it was fully functional before I installed IC. Bad assumtion? Maybe. Also, I've never used a manufactures diagnostic before.

[rbtravis]

suggest you go to http://support.wdc.com/download/index.asp?cxml=n&pid=999&swid=30
download burn and run the diagnostics. Good luck:)

[Davidson]

Thanks, for the link. I removed the cover and took another look inside and noticed one corner of the ide cable, going to the motherboard, partially up on the corner. I pressed it in firmly. It only moved about an eighth of an inch, but I rebooted and it came right on. It seems to be working fine now, the menu moves quick as well. Its only been working for a few minutes so I'm unsure if the cable was the problem, since it did work after the first install. I'll have to wait and see. Again, thanks for the link, I have other WD, hdd's laying around and I'll put it to use. I'll post back if the problem is corrected. :>)

[Davidson]

Ok, everything was working perfectly; I had to go to work, so I set it up to record one show and put the machine on standby. I came in from work and it was on the power up screen. I tried to reboot, still just the power up screen. So I used the WD Diagnostic Tool, which showed the drive is fine.

I re-installed the drive into the tivo and I don't know if it's normal, but the drive never just spools up immediately. It always starts and stops several times and then spools up. Currently the drive is spinning and I'm still on the power up screen.

Could this be a power supply problem? The only variable is there is a new cooling fan in the machine, but I have even unplugged it to be sure, still nothing.

Thanks :(

[rbtravis]

Either the drive has bad spots or something is wrong with your motherboard.
You can send it to www.dvrupgrade.com, they can install a new drive if needed and send it back to you working or if you are sure its the motherboard a good place to get it fixed:
http://www.ccscorporation.net/dss.htm
fast and reasonable. have it fixed, it's the green thing to do. :D

[Davidson]

Well, I don't get it, I rebooted the machine and the hdd spooled up instantly and I could hear the distinct sound a hdd makes when it's working. Then, voila!! Also, the program I recorded works perfectly.

How can I test the MB? Is it uncommon for the power supply to be bad? I'll be home today so I'll put the tivo through the paces! Thanks, again for the links, I really want to try and fix this thing myself first, but if all else fails...

[Davidson]

Well, exact same problem, worked great all day. Woke up to “power up screen.” I'm just wondering if it’s not a PS problem. It takes several reboots to start up. How do you test the PS? There is a noticeable clicking at start up.

[rbtravis]

Are you running one or two drives? are you using Seagate drives which are power hogs? the clicking is a sign of power supply problems. Weakness sells new power supplies, a used machine off ebay would be cheaper. Salvage the power supply. Good Luck :)
Another solution if you are using two drives
http://www.dvrupgrade.com/dvr/stores/1/accessory_nomodel.cfm?SID=1&Product_ID=375
Trouble Shooting aid
http://www.ccscorporation.net/dss.htm

[Dkerr24]

The 'clicking' could also mean the drive heads are hitting on the disc platters which means the drive is toast.

[tivoupgrade]

We did respond to your post here (http://www.dvrupgrade.com/forums/showthread.php?t=368); you REALLY need to run diags on your drives. That should always be the FIRST thing you do when putting ANY drive in a TiVo. It doesn't matter whether the drive appears to work fine in another unit, a PC or is brand new. The ONLY way to know if a drive is good is by testing it.

I know I sound like a broken record on this issue, but it truly is a "best practice" - if you are skipping that step, then you are not eliminating the most common variable.