Tivo Series 3, rebooting, skipping, not working

[sdistheplacetobe]

My tivo series 3 keeps rebooting, and skipping. Im not sure why its not working. It will skip when its playing a channel. It will just lock up and then 10 minutes later start playing, and skipping. This just started happening, how can I fix this?

[DougJohnson]

My tivo series 3 keeps rebooting, and skipping. Im not sure why its not working. It will skip when its playing a channel. It will just lock up and then 10 minutes later start playing, and skipping. This just started happening, how can I fix this?

Replace the hard drive. These are common symptoms of hard drive failure.
-- Doug

[sdistheplacetobe]

How do I replace the hard drive? Will tivo do it for me for free? If not, will an external hard drive work? Whats the cheapest thing I can do to fix this?

[sinanju]

Though it is probably the drive, it's worth verifying before going through the trouble of a replacement.

Go here: http://support.tivo.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/308

Try the procedures under Check the TiVo DVR and DVR Expander hard drives

[RonDawg]

How do I replace the hard drive? Will tivo do it for me for free?

Not unless it is still under warranty, which offers free parts for a year, and 90 days on labor, after which it is a $50 cap on labor for the remainder of the year.

If not, will an external hard drive work?

An external hard drive will not work unless the internal is working properly.

[RustySTL]

My tivo series 3 keeps rebooting, and skipping. Im not sure why its not working. It will skip when its playing a channel. It will just lock up and then 10 minutes later start playing, and skipping. This just started happening, how can I fix this?

Do you have a DVR Expander installed? There are many people, including myself, that are having problems since the latest update. Most of us have removed the DVR Expander and everything works fine.

[sdistheplacetobe]

No, I don't have any expander installed. I have a tivo series 3 with a wireless network adapter. Maybe I have the expander enabled in the tivo settings? If I disable this, will it work? I wish I could even get to the settings right now. Its skipping and won't go anywhere. I think its probably the drive that needs to be replaced. This is going to cost me $200. Fukkkk. Is there anyway I can fix this for free?

[sinanju]

No, I don't have any expander installed. I have a tivo series 3 with a wireless network adapter. Maybe I have the expander enabled in the tivo settings? If I disable this, will it work? I wish I could even get to the settings right now. Its skipping and won't go anywhere. I think its probably the drive that needs to be replaced. This is going to cost me $200. Fukkkk. Is there anyway I can fix this for free?

Did you run the tests as I suggested? At least one of the potential results of the SMART test is "Errors Repaired".

[sdistheplacetobe]

Did you run the tests as I suggested? At least one of the potential results of the SMART test is "Errors Repaired".

I cant get to the test. I restart the tivo and hold the pause button for 2 minutes and then I press 54 but I cant get the amber light to come on and for the tests to start. It just restarts the tivo and said ready set tivo and then starts normally and starts skipping etc. Any trick to getting the tests to come up? Even if they do, it probably wont fix the drive. This series 3 was a refurbished unit bought from tivo.com. Im thinking its gotta be a bad drive since someone had it before me and the unit broke. Then repaired and sold to me.

I will probably try a few more times to get the tests to come up. If I still cant get it to work, Ill have to order the new drive. I know how to install it so that wont be a big deal. I just dont want to have to pay $200 to fix it, when for $300 I buy a whole new hd unit at bestbuy. I dont want to have to pay anything really, but I need this working somehow.

Does anyone know a place that sells a cheap replacement hard drive. Like a 100-250gb for $100ish maybe?

[JFKLS1]

You can get 500GB drives for well under $100. Sounds like you need a new one. Newegg is a good e-tailor and good prices. There are many places to get one but be sure you get the correct model. Do plenty of research and make sure you understand how to copy the tivo software onto it first. Otherwise it will not work.

[mattack]

Actually, 1 TB drives are about $100 nowadays.. (so, ok, I guess that means 500 GB is 'well under'.. But I think 1 TB is now the sweet spot.. soon to become 1.5TB.)

[shaggy314]

If you go the new drive route there are many articles about how to do it. I replaced my Series 3 drive with a 750 GB...

The Windows program that copies the drive worked great, although I strongly suggest deleting any' deleted' programs first as it will try to copy those as well.

Last piece of advice: get a DVR (ex: Seagate DB35) class drive. They are designed (or lead us to believe) that they are better as sustained operation and better performance for sequential duties. They are a little more expensive but should run cooler and quieter than your typical consumer drives.