Supposedly a clear and delete everything (not just a new guided setup) will clear that dreaded error message if you can get to the menu.
Cluster alert - unplugging tivo - S03
So, fair warning.
[rant on]
I just finished a 6-week remodel that including the TV wall, complete w/ 1 Series 2 tivo and 1 DirecTV HD Tivo. Upon plugging everything back in this weekend...
1) My DirecTV HD would not display live tv. Gave me "activate your account" message. Had to call DirecTV and be "reactivated". That was relatively painless.
2) Then we booted the Series 2. Gave me warning messages about not calling in in 30 days so we tried to make a call (network connected - network was up and running, the LR tivo could see the bedroom tivo and vice versa). Made the call on Sunday and left it. Monday night, I turn it on and it's giving me multiple failures - can't connect, can't download, service has been deactivated, I won't be able to record *anything* ever again, cats and dogs sleeping together. So I try again, and again and finally found the dreaded "S03" error.
After searching, I find this thread:
http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?t=332536&highlight=s03+error
I'm reading in horror that some folks have been unable to clear their machines and had to trash them. I'm starting to freak out about losing my lifetime, my upgraded harddrive, hours of recordings....
Thanks to this forum, I tried the "kickstart". Got thru the green screen then to the "repeat guided setup" and a repeat attempt to dial in. It failed, cycled thru and I tried it again, failed *again*! I was finally able to get it to work. After 4 regular reboots and attempts to connect, a kickstart (refer to thread above) and finally 3 more attempts.
This morning it looks like it's working. I've got recordings in the "to do" list.
So, here's the moral of the story. Don't leave it unplugged if you don't have to. If I had known, I would have least set it up in some distant corner of my house, just plugged in and networked. But I have 3 tivos and only had one TV operational, and not enough cable to support the additional 2 tivos.
WTF? I unplugged 4 computers, a printer, appliances, numerous devices for the 6 weeks. But my two tivos can't handle it? What a giant pain in the arse.
[rant off]
Really, this just doesn't seem right. If anyone can provide a reasonable explanation as to why this is legitimate, I'd appreciate it.
[rant on]
I just finished a 6-week remodel that including the TV wall, complete w/ 1 Series 2 tivo and 1 DirecTV HD Tivo. Upon plugging everything back in this weekend...
1) My DirecTV HD would not display live tv. Gave me "activate your account" message. Had to call DirecTV and be "reactivated". That was relatively painless.
2) Then we booted the Series 2. Gave me warning messages about not calling in in 30 days so we tried to make a call (network connected - network was up and running, the LR tivo could see the bedroom tivo and vice versa). Made the call on Sunday and left it. Monday night, I turn it on and it's giving me multiple failures - can't connect, can't download, service has been deactivated, I won't be able to record *anything* ever again, cats and dogs sleeping together. So I try again, and again and finally found the dreaded "S03" error.
After searching, I find this thread:
http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?t=332536&highlight=s03+error
I'm reading in horror that some folks have been unable to clear their machines and had to trash them. I'm starting to freak out about losing my lifetime, my upgraded harddrive, hours of recordings....
Thanks to this forum, I tried the "kickstart". Got thru the green screen then to the "repeat guided setup" and a repeat attempt to dial in. It failed, cycled thru and I tried it again, failed *again*! I was finally able to get it to work. After 4 regular reboots and attempts to connect, a kickstart (refer to thread above) and finally 3 more attempts.
This morning it looks like it's working. I've got recordings in the "to do" list.
So, here's the moral of the story. Don't leave it unplugged if you don't have to. If I had known, I would have least set it up in some distant corner of my house, just plugged in and networked. But I have 3 tivos and only had one TV operational, and not enough cable to support the additional 2 tivos.
WTF? I unplugged 4 computers, a printer, appliances, numerous devices for the 6 weeks. But my two tivos can't handle it? What a giant pain in the arse.
[rant off]
Really, this just doesn't seem right. If anyone can provide a reasonable explanation as to why this is legitimate, I'd appreciate it.
1 - 11 of 11 Posts
SON OF A BISCUIT EATER!! it did it again - with my other tivo - been unplugged for 3 freaking days!!
Try the clear and delete everything instead of a guided setup to cure this problem.SON OF A BISCUIT EATER!! it did it again - with my other tivo - been unplugged for 3 freaking days!!
Yeah - I'm doing the clear and delete and right now. The kickstart failed. I'm just so mad about this. This is the second tivo that has crapped out after having been unplugged within the last few months. And b/c they're lifetimes, I won't replace them if I can't fix them.Try the clear and delete everything instead of a guided setup to cure this problem.
I'll post back with my results.
clear and delete didn't work. I have 2 nice new doorstops. Both are weaknees upgrades, both died after being unplugged, one for 5 days, one for 5 weeks. not a coincidence in my book.
Would using InstantCake on the drives fix this problem? You would have to buy a copy for each specific model. Worth trying with a lifetime unit.I have 2 nice new doorstops.
I suspect it might. I'm pretty sure it's the drives that are bad. I'm going to look into it.Would using InstantCake on the drives fix this problem? You would have to buy a copy for each specific model. Worth trying with a lifetime unit.
The main thing I wanted to point out to all is that I've had two flawless units go bad after leaving them unplugged for a couple of days. I don't believe it's a coincidence. Just fair warning. I will figure something out. I don't plan to give up my lifetime without a fight!
thx.
Don't you mean to say you think it is the software on the drives. Surely having them unplugged didn't damage the drives themselves...I suspect it might. I'm pretty sure it's the drives that are bad. I'm going to look into it.
In our experience S03 is often a drive problem, not usually corrupt software. It is not caused specifically by unplugging a unit and plugging it back in.
However, if a TiVo is unplugged and moved before the drives completely spin down (which can take 10 seconds), then the drives can become damaged.
If the drives came from us, email us and we'll look up your order and see if you have an extended warranty or whether we can help you in some other way.
However, if a TiVo is unplugged and moved before the drives completely spin down (which can take 10 seconds), then the drives can become damaged.
If the drives came from us, email us and we'll look up your order and see if you have an extended warranty or whether we can help you in some other way.
Annenoe.. did you ever get this resolved??I suspect it might. I'm pretty sure it's the drives that are bad. I'm going to look into it.
The main thing I wanted to point out to all is that I've had two flawless units go bad after leaving them unplugged for a couple of days. I don't believe it's a coincidence. Just fair warning. I will figure something out. I don't plan to give up my lifetime without a fight!
thx.
1 - 11 of 11 Posts
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