Tivo playblack getting locked up...

[spicolte]

I am currently experiencing trouble with my Hughes direct tv tivo. Recorded programs are freezing, pixelating, and pausing. They eventually continue playing, but realize I may be heading towards a new hard drive. The model # is HDVR2. (The power supply was replaced less than a year ago...purchased from Weakness)

I do not regularly visit this site, and it has been a while since I searched for info concerning my SAT-T60. I do recall while I was searching, receiving information about getting my Tivo to "self repair". Using the search function to search for this information provides no help however. I apologize, as I don't want to be blasted for starting a thread for information that already exists.

I have searched this forum for information on attempting to get my tivo to repair the problem area on the hard drive...but cannot locate the info. I enter my query into the search function, and it returns threads that have my "key words" contained in them...but I cannot seem to locate something similar to an FAQ that covers it all. For instance, I found information related to "kickstart" which I assume is a way of getting the Tivo to correct something...but I cannot locate specific information as to what this means, or what it does.

Can someone provide me with some assistance, or point me to information already in existence on this site?

Thanks.

[rbtravis]

"While booting the power light will change from green to yellow as the line 'checkpanic' in the rc.sysinit gets executed. This happens a few seconds before the screen changes from the startup image to "almost there" and it's your cue to hold down a button (use pause) on the remote to trigger a panic. When the record light changes yellow, key in one of the following sequences:

0 - emergency call to tivo, touchtone dialing
1 - emergency call to tivo, pulse dialing
9 - emergency call to tivo, touchtone w/ 9 prefix
-- I suggest not doing any of these unless explicitly instructed


52 - emergency reinstall
-- this will act like you've received new software but will reinstall the existing software on the alternate root partition and boot it, particularly useful so you don't have to go trolling for backup images when your hacks fail.

56 - software install

57 - MFS check
58 - perform MFS cleanup
-- both of these will cause the green screen and various MFS checks"
From a previous post by Gunnyman

[spicolte]

Thanks for your help. You mention the following:

0 - emergency call to tivo, touchtone dialing
1 - emergency call to tivo, pulse dialing
9 - emergency call to tivo, touchtone w/ 9 prefix
-- I suggest not doing any of these unless explicitly instructed


Whom would be "explicitly" instructing me to do this? It reads like I shouldn't do any of those until "someone" instructs me...who would that be?

52 - emergency reinstall
-- this will act like you've received new software but will reinstall the existing software on the alternate root partition and boot it, particularly useful so you don't have to go trolling for backup images when your hacks fail.


This seems to be the most logical route. It is the hard drive which came with the box at purchase, and it has the most recent direct tv software version on it. I assume I won't cause any damage to the box doing this?

56 - software install

57 - MFS check
58 - perform MFS cleanup
-- both of these will cause the green screen and various MFS checks"

What does "MFS" stand for? What will this do?

Is there truly a way to block off the section of my hard drive that is bad? That is what I recall reading here...somewhere. I believe it was called "partitioning" of the hard drive. Basically walling off the bad section.

Does any of that make sense?

__________________

[rbtravis]

When you ask for information we assume you know how to use it. If you don't you can get your Tivo fixed here:

http://www.dvrupgrade.com/dvr/stores/1/
or
http://www.ccscorporation.net/dss.htm
or
http://www.weaknees.com/

They can fix it for you. :)
If you have to ask you should not use the kickstarts. They were only for use when instructed to do so by Directv Technicians who are long since gone.

[JimSpence]

I think MFS stands for Media File System or words to that affect.

I know of no way to block off bad sectors on the HD while still in the unit. But, the 57 and 58 options might help.

The partitions you have seen referenced is how the software is updated. There are two partitions used. Only one is active at a time. When a new software version is download it is put on the inactive partition, then the update occurs by swapping the two paritions. These partitions are separate from where the shows are recorded.

To make it easy, I'd buy a new preinstalled hard drive for this unit.

[Dkerr24]

As Jim said, there isn't a way to keep the unit from attempting to write to bad sectors on the hard drive. Usually, bad sectors will spread to other sectors, so the only option is to replace the drive.

[spicolte]

Thanks all for the information.

It appears in my research on past posts on this site, I might have read the information incorrectly. I truly thought that folks had stated there was a way to "wall off" the damaged section of the hard drive. I know eventually I am heading for a new drive...I just figured I might be able to prolong it with what I had thought I had read here.

I am not extremely knowledgeable when it comes to the intricacies of computers, but I am capable and comfortable with taking "things" apart and repairing or replacing things inside.

To "rbTravis", your reply is exactly why I didn't feel comfortable posting my inquiry. Having purchased two upgraded hard drives in the past, I had initially contacted "tivoupgrade" via a private message with my concerns. I had mentioned to Lou that I have read far too many posts with folks just getting "flamed" or treated poorly for their inquiry posts, so I was reluctant to start a thread with my inquiry. Whether it be folks asking a question with answers already available on the site, or double posting, some of the members here can just be brutal in their replies to the original poster. Whether it is annoying to the veterans or not, it's just uncalled for...period.

Their is nothing in my original question that should leave anyone replying to my inquiry with the impression that I have the "knowledge" to understand what is being written in the replies. I suggest you re-read my original post. I explicitly stated I had no idea what these suggestions meant. Which was the reason I had posted my original inquiry, and then my follow up response to the one individual that had responded to my question.

I think the bottom line is , as with any list or website such as this, you have folks extremely knowledgeable about the topic (in this case tivos), and then you have folks who are novices, who are in search of advice.

I would never personally "assume" anyone I was replying to understood my reply when it involved some sort of jargon such as the "kickstarts". Especially since that had already stated that fact in their original inquiry.

[rbtravis]

I read Gunnyman's post and figured out what to do. If you can not do that I gave you alternatives. I answered your first question, your following questions indicated you were totally lost. It is not my job to teach you. Directv discontinued TiVo support other than software support. I do not have the time to entertain all your questions.