Tivo freezes or reboots while watching - Help!

[chezwic]

I have a series 2 TCD540 is the beginning of the model number (or something similar to that). This thing will just reboot while watching it or when you go to turn it on it will be frozen and I need to pull the plug to reset it. Sometimes when it's frozen, the red light is on and other times not. I've verified that it is not over heating as well according to the system information. It goes thru stages where it does it more often than other times.

I've replaced the hard drive and it still does it. Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance.

[bamachick19]

Actually, since the harddrive has been replaced, then it sounds to me like the motherboard is fried. Now, if you do decide to replace the motherboard then you will basically lose service on your unit bc the TSN is linked to the motherboard.

[chezwic]

That's fantastic news!! Is it worth having repaired? I have the lifetime service plan with this box. Is there anything else that I can try??

Thanks.

[greg_burns]

Only thing left you can try to replace is the power supply. But weaknees wants $50 for one. :(

http://www.weaknees.com/tivo-power-supply.php

I believe Tivo will repair (via a new box) and keep your lifetime going for $150 fee.

[chezwic]

I don't know that it would be the power supply. It never seems to lose power. It either freezes or reboots while you're watching it,, OR the red light is on in standby and it is unresponsive and you need to pull the plug. You can hear the hard drive stop when you pull the plug so it is getting power.

Is this a symptom of a faulty power supply??

thanks.

[greg_burns]

Is this a symptom of a faulty power supply??

I've seen power supplies in PC that cause weird lock up, but otherwise seem to be powering the computer. Probably the same could be applied to a Tivo, but I am not sure.

[dwit]

Did this just begin? Do you think it maybe got corrupted during an update?

What software version is on the System Info?

[CajunTim]

I have the same problem and also have the lifetime membership. I wonder if Tivo sends a virus to destroy the boxes so that we have to spend more money on their equipment and services?

[HomeUser]

I have a series 2 TCD540 is the beginning of the model number (or something similar to that). This thing will just reboot while watching it or when you go to turn it on it will be frozen and I need to pull the plug to reset it. Sometimes when it's frozen, the red light is on and other times not. I've verified that it is not over heating as well according to the system information. It goes thru stages where it does it more often than other times.

I've replaced the hard drive and it still does it. Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance. Are the symptoms the same with the new drive that they were with the old dirve?

If you copied the existing hard drive to the new one it is possible that the image is bad try Clear and Delete Every Thing with the replacement drive.

Next step would be to try one of the KickStart commands (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?p=3795194#post3795194).

[Solver]

A kickstart 57 or 58 may help but there is also a small chance that things will get a lot worse. If you are using 9.1, you may want to sign up for 9.3 and wait a couple of days for the update. This will force a reindexing of everything. You can always do a Clear and Delete Everything unless you get to the point where you can't start up (remember I said a lot worse.)
You may also want to have an electronic expert friend check the regulation of the TiVo power supply. This should be done while still inside the TiVo.

[greg_burns]

I have the same problem and also have the lifetime membership. I wonder if Tivo sends a virus to destroy the boxes so that we have to spend more money on their equipment and services?

It's not a membership. Product Lifetime Service = lifetime of the box.

I've never seen a virus that would create bad sectors on a drive. :D I would test your drive in a PC with Hitachi Drive Fitness test and see what's up.