New Tivo HD - Constant re-boots - Any one else have this problem?

[ChrisFix]

I have a new Tivo HD (since Friday) which randomly re-boots multiple times a day...with and without Cable Card installed. I'm with TWC and the Tivo HD is running the latest v11.xx software and is connected to the wired ethernet port. Re-boots happen with and without any user intervention...watching live TV, and suddenly re-boots, switching to Tivo menu and it re-boots, recording a show and find the show recorded in 3 separate recordings due to re-boots during the recording.

Tivo support said to exchange the unit as it must be a hardware problem (hard drive was blamed). Anyone else have any experiences like this, and did a new box fix the problem?

TIA,
Chris

[bkdtv]

Is your TiVo activated?

There is a known reboot issue with unactivated TiVos running the latest 11.0 software.

Evidently, TiVo forgot to test the 11.0 software on unactivated TiVos.

[richsadams]

bkdtv's point is correct. Otherwise it does indeed sound like a failing hard drive. Not common, but it happens.

[Pixel]

I have a new Tivo HD (since Friday) which randomly re-boots multiple times a day...with and without Cable Card installed. I'm with TWC and the Tivo HD is running the latest v11.xx software and is connected to the wired ethernet port. Re-boots happen with and without any user intervention...watching live TV, and suddenly re-boots, switching to Tivo menu and it re-boots, recording a show and find the show recorded in 3 separate recordings due to re-boots during the recording.

Tivo support said to exchange the unit as it must be a hardware problem (hard drive was blamed). Anyone else have any experiences like this, and did a new box fix the problem?

TIA,
Chris


Yup. Been there, done that. At the time (last November) I bought a refurb, it was activated, connected to an antenna and cable for basic channels only, no cablecards and used a wireless network connection. The TiVo brand wireless adaptor.

Problems were as you describe and included the picture "freezing" at random times and taking on a pastelish color palette.

Tivo support sent me another refurb after a few calls. The refurb has been running continuously since that time with nary a problem.

[ChrisFix]

Thanks for all the replies...

Yes, the Tivo is activated (Lifetime), and I activated prior to updating to the v11.xx software, as I had read that this was the recommended way to upgrade (thank you Tivo Community!).

Sounds like it really is just a defective unit out of the box.

I bought it from Amazon, and requested a replacement on-line today...received confirmation that they are shipping a new one that will arrive tomorrow for $0, and I have 30 days to return the defective unit (with Amazon paying the return UPS shipping). Can't beat that return policy anywhere!!

BTW...it has re-booted several more times since I posted this afternoon...so I won't miss this particular box when it's gone.

[NarcoSleepy]

I have a new Tivo HD (since Friday) which randomly re-boots multiple times a day...with and without Cable Card installed.
Tivo support said to exchange the unit as it must be a hardware problem (hard drive was blamed). Anyone else have any experiences like this, and did a new box fix the problem?

I am currently experiencing the exact same issue with the Tivo HD unit I just got a week ago. Already spoke to support and they decided it was a hard drive issue and are shipping me a new unit. Hopefully that is the real issue. Already missed 3 shows I really wanted to watch because of the continual random rebooting.

Brandon

[ChrisFix]

I received my replacement Tivo HD from Amazon, and this one is running perfectly...no random restarts since turning on 3 days ago. I had to call TWC and get them to pair the M-Cable Card to the new Host ID, and after that, it was up and running. So it seems that it actually was flaky hardware from the start with the original unit.

[orbops]

I had a refurb unit that rebooted continuously and after numerous trouble tickets, they sent me a new HD unit. That one also rebooted every 2 days, and ultimately I returned the units for a refund. Their customer service was a disaster, always trying to make me send the unit back as opposed to a refund.

There are 4 things that really irritated me:
1. After I returned the unit, they sent an email saying the refund would be posted to my credit card in 7-10 days. After 13 days, I had to call 2 more times to get the credit to post.
2. I was then charged an early termination fee of $120 even though my 30 day period had been extended 3 months due to all the problems I had. That took another call - so I probably spent 15 hours with customer service over the entire process over a 3 month period.
3. When returning the unit for a refund, I had to pay shipping back. They refused to pay for shipping.
4. I offered to reinstate my Series 2 unit, if they would credit my account for the shipping charges ($12), and they refused. I can't believe they were willing to lose a subscriber over such a minor refund.

This experience convinced me that going back to my VHS/DVD recorder was better than trying to deal with Tivo!:down::mad:

[Loquitur]

I had the exact same random rebooting problem multiple times a day with a new Tivo HD purchased just before X-mas and the new box solved all the problems. I've had the on screen clock on for a week and it hasn't gone off once so I know there have been no reboots. It was a pain to have to reintegrate another component in my system, redo the season passes and hurriedly watch what was recorded on the rebooting Tivo but the new Tivo works perfectly. And, Cablevision was able to get the cable cards reauthorized over the phone, which was a pleasant surprise.

Susan

[alyssa]

<snip>This experience convinced me that going back to my VHS/DVD recorder was better than trying to deal with Tivo!:down::mad:

wow, VHS...:eek:
Have you tried to contact tivoStephen?
I've found the upper CS people to be very reasonable & practical. Here's TivoStephens email address, perhaps an emailed outline of your situation might get rid of the tape(!). Just a thought.
estephen@tivo.com