Tivo Stinks!!

quickbuyman@hotm · 04-08-2006, 02:04 AM

What the heck is up with Tivo? I was watching some recorded shows as i work late and about 2:00am My Tivo shuts down & powers back up...then it says: Installing service upgrade.... So i now cannot watch the shows due to the stupid timing of the 3 hour upgrade!This sucks as I think Tivo should send a message & let the owners set an upgrade time, not the way Tivo now does it by shutting down My Tivo! Plus the useless infomercials that are being downloaded late at night thus spamming Us/Me!Personally,I could care less about the service update because lately it only benefits Tivo & their totally useless spamming & their paid advertisements!

PS: My crappy Tivo now says: The DVR has detected a serious problem and is now attempting to fix it.

...Toshiba RS-TX20..

Tivo thanks for the lousy timing of the update & now a problem with My DVR due to Tivos useless service update! Accound will be cancelled tomorrow & the problem that now occured with My Toshiba better be resolved due to Tivos incompetent programmers.

Turtleboy · 04-08-2006, 02:05 AM

Why do you say "your?" Who do you think you are talking to?

dkahs23 · 04-08-2006, 02:23 AM

Turtle Boy what are you talking about?

dkahs23 · 04-08-2006, 02:27 AM

Quickbuyman what update did you recieve? And I have never heard of a three hour update?

Stylin · 04-08-2006, 03:07 AM

I agree it would be nice to have a warning. It's happened to everyone, including me the other day. As I was advised, it can be solved by forcing the update before it's next scheduled time. Did it today, and worked no problem. In the future just check when your next update is supposed to occur, and force it at a convenient time. You live, You learn.

quickbuyman@hotm · 04-08-2006, 03:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dkahs23

Quickbuyman what update did you recieve? And I have never heard of a three hour update?

I have no idea what update I am getting as it still is stuck in repair mode. My dial in was not due till later tomorrow. as i said, I was watching TV and without warning the Tivo shutoff-rebooted & after the powering up crap it said receiving service update --- then---problem--Tivo will ATTEMPT a repair.Plus I have no idea when a service update will occur,just the normal channel lineup update(minor updates)

dkahs23 · 04-08-2006, 03:19 AM

Are you using dial up or broadband connection?

quickbuyman@hotm · 04-08-2006, 03:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dkahs23

Are you using dial up or broadband connection?

I am using dial up.... But tivo could not dial up due to that I had My computer on & it uses dial up,so how did the update get through?

mick66 · 04-08-2006, 03:31 AM

The software update was downloaded the last time your Tivo made it's regular daily call. After new software gets downloaded, your tivo waits until 2:00a.m. to restart and install the new software.

quickbuyman@hotm · 04-08-2006, 03:37 AM

What was this service update for? does anyone else's Tivo randomly at late night download those stupid infomercials??...Roll-up piano etc.(My tivo is set not to downlioad tivo suggestions)

dkahs23 · 04-08-2006, 03:38 AM

Sounds like you got a bad software download. dialup has alot of static in the lines. I would not blame the programers. Mick66 is right all Tivo's regardless of the brand waits until 2 am to reboot. Hopefully the unit will default back to the previous version.

dkahs23 · 04-08-2006, 03:40 AM

Its for new app such as recently deleted shows. if you wanted to recover them before they are gone forever.

Stylin · 04-08-2006, 04:03 AM

This thread may be helpful...Random reboots: http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb...2&page=3&pp=30

quickbuyman@hotm · 04-08-2006, 11:08 AM

Well,i do not know about random reboots as this only happened when the new service update was forced on Me.
Turned the TV on & it still was in the error mode! Unplugged the tivo for a little over an hour..plugged it back in & still the same thing...tivo really screwed up my unit... Thanks tivo for a totally useless update= WoW,able to recover deleted programs! They are deleted for a reason!
Regarding the other posts from the links provided,the posts seem to be network related in which does not pertain to me as I use a dialup connection..no network.
I will call tivo up & see what they say & if they cannot fix the problem,lets see what they do regarding My now useless tivo (Toshiba) as the warranty has run out.

jfh3 · 04-08-2006, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by quickbuyman@hotm

Well,i do not know about random reboots as this only happened when the new service update was forced on Me.
Turned the TV on & it still was in the error mode! Unplugged the tivo for a little over an hour..plugged it back in & still the same thing...tivo really screwed up my unit... Thanks tivo for a totally useless update= WoW,able to recover deleted programs! They are deleted for a reason!
Regarding the other posts from the links provided,the posts seem to be network related in which does not pertain to me as I use a dialup connection..no network.
I will call tivo up & see what they say & if they cannot fix the problem,lets see what they do regarding My now useless tivo (Toshiba) as the warranty has run out.

Sounds like you have a hard drive that's failing ... nothing to do with the service update - all it did was "find the problem" before you otherwise might have.

You may want to consider replacing the hard drive.

greg_burns · 04-08-2006, 12:04 PM

Sounds like the alternate partition your hard drives uses for software updates was dying...

http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb...&&#post3920730

Quote:

Originally Posted by rsnaider

TiVo uses alternating partitions for the operating system and in your case the 'other' partition most likley had errors on it.

Maybe time for a new harddrive. (See above thread)

I am suprised Tivo doesn't prompt before rebooting at 2 am for service updates. But it must not, because a lot of people complain about that. Is it possible it did prompt and you just missed it? I agree 2 am is inconvient time for night owls. (Just about anytime inconvient for someone). User configurable would be nice, but updates are so infrequent...

Moebius · 04-08-2006, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by greg_burns

I am suprised Tivo doesn't prompt before rebooting at 2 am for service updates. But it must not, because a lot of people complain about that. Is it possible it did prompt and you just missed it? I agree 2 am is inconvient time for night owls. (Just about anytime inconvient for someone). User configurable would be nice, but updates are so infrequent...

No prompt. It won't reboot if a program is being recorded, but beyond that will automatically do it. For most users, this usually means it's done overnight and they don't even know until a PTCM pops up. I've had it do it to me a time or to while up late, but was never really bothered by it. Not too different then when my cable box has been updated in the middle of the night and shut down automatically aftewards.

quickbuyman@hotm · 04-08-2006, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jfh3

Sounds like you have a hard drive that's failing ... nothing to do with the service update - all it did was "find the problem" before you otherwise might have.

You may want to consider replacing the hard drive.

I doubt that as I never had a problem until the service upgrade.The Toshiba is only 2 yrs old & I really do not use it a lot...now this BS happens.Tried calling tivo but lines are busy,probably everyone else complaining.
I want to see what tivo does to try to get out of this one regarding my situation as I am sure they WILL come up with some reduculous excuse if My Toshiba is damaged due to tivos software designers 3rd grade mentality.
Like the one guy from tivo said on another post...we get the update out to the masses & then deal with the problems....nice thinking tivo,test Your upgrade first!

goony · 04-08-2006, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by quickbuyman@hotm

...This sucks as I think Tivo should send a message & let the owners set an upgrade time...

Maybe that's a feature that is part of the update.

greg_burns · 04-08-2006, 01:37 PM

Why don't you take your drive out and test it instead of just complaining? What do you have to lose since you're cancelling tomorrow anyways.

aztivo · 04-08-2006, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by quickbuyman@hotm

I doubt that as I never had a problem until the service upgrade.The Toshiba is only 2 yrs old & I really do not use it a lot...now this BS happens.Tried calling tivo but lines are busy,probably everyone else complaining.
I want to see what tivo does to try to get out of this one regarding my situation as I am sure they WILL come up with some reduculous excuse if My Toshiba is damaged due to tivos software designers 3rd grade mentality.
Like the one guy from tivo said on another post...we get the update out to the masses & then deal with the problems....nice thinking tivo,test Your upgrade first!

You do understand that a hard drive can die at any time. If it is two years days or decades old it is still a compnant that can have mass things go wrong with it.. It sucks but they are inexpensive enought that for around 80 bucks you can get a new one and have more space.

Moebius · 04-08-2006, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aztivo

You do understand that a hard drive can die at any time. If it is two years days or decades old it is still a compnant that can have mass things go wrong with it.. It sucks but they are inexpensive enought that for around 80 bucks you can get a new one and have more space.

It seems he only wants to scream and moan, rather than realizing the TiVo, despite its use, is still just a computer, with computer components, and that like all computer components, they fail.

People tried to explain the alternating partitions, but that apparently went unheard. People tried explaining that the update probably just caused a building problem with the HDD to show up, but that was dismissed quickly.

To the OP, I'd recommend putting your "broken" TiVo up on EBay and recoup what you can. I'd wager there are plenty of users who would love to take the effort required to either re-format (depending) or replace the hdd for a small chunk of change and have a nice fully working TiVo. Or, you can listen to the people here who are offering sound advice (many from experience) on how to solve what is most likely a simple problem with a failing drive. If you're at all tech savvy, it's a pretty easy operation. If not, there are plenty of folks here who will be more than happy to help you through it.

Yes, it's frustrating that a service update triggered the problem, but odds are better than good that they just brought it to light quicker than it would have otherwise. It might have been a useless update to you, though it has more than just the undelete added (and I guess you've never had someone in the house delete something you wanted to watch, or deleted something by mistake), but it was a valuable update to many.

greg_burns · 04-08-2006, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by quickbuyman@hotm

...due to Tivos incompetent programmers.

Does that line rub anybody else the wrong way?

I think Tivo's programmers have done an incredible job to date and deserve more credit than that.

quickbuyman@hotm · 04-08-2006, 03:46 PM

My harddrive is fine. Got off the phone with tivo & the first person said that when she came in for work to be aware of the complaints as they are numerous. She did everything she could...told Me to unplug my tivo (3 times,reqired) still the same problem. She even said she hopes when she gets home that her tivo is okay.She even knows what i will be told when transferred higher up(standard BS) get transferred higher up and now the BS comes,he tells me to send it in to the manufacturer=GREAT I saw this coming!So anyone that has prblems that cannot be resolved by unplugging & then plugging their tivos back in,be prepared for tivo to pass the buck at Your expense! Well,in the garbage my Toshiba RS-TX20 goes.... Again,thanks tivo for the fine update & terrific pass the buck support!

bostlaw · 04-08-2006, 04:09 PM

Bye.

David Platt · 04-08-2006, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by quickbuyman@hotm

My harddrive is fine.

Just because you keep saying it doesn't make it so.

Do you have ANY evidence to back up that statement? Have you done any tests on it? Or are you just assuming that "it's always worked, so it must be fine"?

As others have tried to explain to you, it is quite possible that your hard drive has always had some bad sectors on it. The software update was downloaded to a portion of the hard drive that was not previously in use (possibly where the bad sectors are located). When the TiVo reboots to install the software update, it now won't work properly because the new software is located on the bad sectors.

Blurayfan · 04-08-2006, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by quickbuyman@hotm

My harddrive is fine.

Without running a diagnostic check on the drive how do you know its fine. Hard drives can go bad anytime. As was stated many times the update is now trying to use a part of the drive that the original software didn't, so now the error in the drive is brought to your attention.

hitbyatrain · 04-08-2006, 08:14 PM

I'm just surprised he hasn't mentioned stock prices yet.

greg_burns · 04-08-2006, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hitbyatrain

I'm just surprised he hasn't mentioned stock prices yet.

LOL

LastPlace · 04-08-2006, 08:56 PM

Hi Everyone -

It sounds like I stumbled on a thread of folks who may be able to help me

Please pardon me if my nativity has me jumping in inappropriately

.

So, here goes...

I've got an 80 hour Tivo Series 2 that's pixelating (sp?) on both recorded and "live" TV. Also for both recorded and "live" TV it routinely stutters and pauses.

TiVo's offered to swap the unit for a refurbished one for $150 - Swapping the hard drive's got to be cheaper - do you think that would work for me? How can I learn the steps - I'm pretty comfortable with PC's but have never installed a hard drive.