Stuck at gray 'Welome, Powering up...' screen, even after new HD!

[physans]

I read many threads before posting this, so I hope someone can help.

I built the Sapper 9.3 CD onto my 160 GB hard drive. My tivo is a 240 series that was an 80 gb. It used to work with the old version of sapper with the 160 gb drive. Everything in the sapper script appeared to go smoothly, and the script finished successfully. I don't think this is a sapper issue. I think it is a TiVo issue.

I then put the HD in the Tivo, plugged it in, and the Tivo just stays at the gray 'Welome, Powering up...' screen for ever. I hear the hard drive spin up, then after a minute it clicks off, then after another minute I hear it spin up again... cycle repeats forever while it stays at the Gray screen.

I tried rebuilding the HD from the sapper CD from a different (non-Dell) computer, same problem.
I tried using other IDE cables, same problem.
I tried rebuilding the HD from the sapper CD from yet another computer, same problem.
I went out to Best Buy and bought a new 160 GB hd, bulit the TiVo drive from multiple
computers and plugged into the tivo with multiple IDE cables, STILL the same problem!

I don't think my TiVo is fried, because the video outputs, the front of the tivo lights up green, and the HD is getting power and spinning up.

Is it possible I have some stupid easy to solve problem causing the gray screen and hard drive click-off/click-on, such as a bad lithium battery on the tivo motherboard?

I don't want to trash the box because I have lifetime service. It is a 240 series (originally 80 hours).

What should I do to solve this and get my awesome SAppered TiVo running again? Thanks for any input!

Please note that I tried Instantcake alone, without the Sapper, and have the same issue. Even with the brand new drive!!! What to do? :confused:

[scandia101]

This is really a question for the Tivo underground forum which is specifically for discussing Tivo hacking. The odds of getting the answer here are far less than the odds of getting an answer in the correct forum, and I see that you are aware of how low those odds are.

[physans]

Unfortunately the only information I got there was to do some stuff over serial port. I have no clue how to do this, nor the hardware.

I was hoping for generic troubleshooting tips.

[unclemoosh]

Did the problem cause you to replace the drive, or did the problem start as a result of placing the drive?

Do you have the tools and expertise to check the power supply?

Do you have the tools and expertise to look at the logs if you pull the drive?

[physans]

Did the problem cause you to replace the drive, or did the problem start as a result of placing the drive?

Do you have the tools and expertise to check the power supply?

Do you have the tools and expertise to look at the logs if you pull the drive?

1) The problem caused me to replace the drive, but the new replaced drive had the same symptoms, leading me to believe that the original drive is fine. Especially because my computer recognizes it.

2) I don't know the method. Though I would suspect it's fine if the HD spins up (which it does, though only for 1 minute), and the video outputs to the TV... right?

3) I know how to put the drive in my computer, but do not know how to check the logs.

Any tips on #2 or #3? Thanks so much for your reply.

[unclemoosh]

Did you boot the PC up with Windows XP while your drive was connected? If so, it hosed the drive and it needs to be re-imaged. If you don't know what you are doing with the power supply, its best you stay away. You could get stung.


As for looking at the logs, it may be a little tricky if you are not familiar with Linux.

[physans]

Did you boot the PC up with Windows XP while your drive was connected? If so, it hosed the drive and it needs to be re-imaged. If you don't know what you are doing with the power supply, its best you stay away. You could get stung.


As for looking at the logs, it may be a little tricky if you are not familiar with Linux.

I didn't boot up with XP. Only instantcake to re-image it (both the old and the new drives). Neither works - I get gray screen only.

I am familiar with linux and not afraid of power supplies (if only I knew what to do with the power supply).

[unclemoosh]

OK. You can put your drive in your PC, boot up linux and mount partition 9. Go to the logs directory and look at kernal.log for any clues.

You may want to try a few of these first:

http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?t=371093

:confused:

[physans]

OK. You can put your drive in your PC, boot up linux and mount partition 9. Go to the logs directory and look at kernal.log for any clues.

You may want to try a few of these first:

http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?t=371093

:confused:

Awesome, thanks so much. That is extremely helpful. I will try.

[sieglinde]

Some of the Tivo Series IIs had power supply problems. I am rather inexpert at this sort of stuff and I ordered one from Weaknees and installed it myself. I forgot where on the internet I found the info, probably Weeknees but you can check the serial number of your box against the list of boxes that had bad power supplies.