unsubscribed Tivo HD keep powering up

2701 Views 20 Replies 7 Participants Last post by nobopyon, Dec 9, 2011

nobopyon

Discussion Starter · Dec 8, 2011

Hi, I used to subscribed Tivo (when they first came out, long time ago), and I haven't had tivo service for years, ever since I only watch TV from OTA.

Recently, I bought Sony GoogleTV box, and found out that it doesn't have connection for coax, or OTA cable, and read through GTV forum and some people use unsubscribed Tivo Box for OTA with GTV.

I purchased recondition Tivo HD box from eBay, (seller claims Tivo sent him recondition box and never used it).

OK, now I hooked up this Tivo Box to TV (HDMI), ethernet cable to Tivo, and coax cable from antenna.

Tivo will start up, then ran through to the menu, then I think maybe 5 min it's working, it will switch to "powering up... " for a long time, then goes to gray screen...

I'm wondering is it because it is unsubscribed?
or is it box possible not working? (HD failur?)?

If someone can tell just by this what's going on, please advise me!!

Thank you

1 - 20 of 21 Posts

dwit

· #2 · Dec 8, 2011

1. Definitely not related to subscription status.
2. Could be a hard drive problem.
3. Could be a power supply or cooling issue.

For the few minutes that it remains powered up, check the temperature on the "System Information" screens. Try to check it frequently to see if it rises into the danger zone(it will say so in system info). Check the back panel(or remove the cover) to ensure the cooling fan is spinning. If you decide to remove the cover, check all the internal connections, especially the hard drive, to make sure they are secure.

If you are comfortable with it, remove the hard drive and check it out. It should be a Western Digital 160 GB av drive. Also, if comfortable, go to www.mfslive.org, read and learn hot to save a backup image of the Tivo drive, while it is still working. If it turns out the drive is/goes bad, you will have the image to restore(install) on another replacement hard drive. If you happen to have a spare, working hard drive, all the better.

Whatever, run the drive manufacturer's diagnostic test scan on the suspect drive. This can be downloaded from the drive manufacturer's web site. If it fails the test outright, that is probably the issue.

If the drive and fan check out to be ok, then suspect the power supply or motherboard issues. Mother board issues are rare. Power supply issues do not seem to be too common with the Tivo HD, but it is still a possibility. Not impossible to self replace, or repair, but may require more skill and resourcefulness.

Hope this helps. Good luck.

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unitron

· #3 · Dec 8, 2011

nobopyon said:
Hi, I used to subscribed Tivo (when they first came out, long time ago), and I haven't had tivo service for years, ever since I only watch TV from OTA.

Recently, I bought Sony GoogleTV box, and found out that it doesn't have connection for coax, or OTA cable, and read through GTV forum and some people use unsubscribed Tivo Box for OTA with GTV.

I purchased recondition Tivo HD box from eBay, (seller claims Tivo sent him recondition box and never used it).

OK, now I hooked up this Tivo Box to TV (HDMI), ethernet cable to Tivo, and coax cable from antenna.

Tivo will start up, then ran through to the menu, then I think maybe 5 min it's working, it will switch to "powering up... " for a long time, then goes to gray screen...

I'm wondering is it because it is unsubscribed?
or is it box possible not working? (HD failur?)?

If someone can tell just by this what's going on, please advise me!!

Thank you

Hope you didn't pay more than about $50 to the eBay guy.

That gray screen could mean a loss of communication between the motherboard and the hard drive, or it could mean it tried to show live TV and can't find a signal.

The first thing to do is take HDMI out of the equation temporarily.

Does your TV have a composite video (yellow jack) input, or component video inputs (red, green, blue jacks)? If so, use whichever of them you have.

If there's really something wrong with the HD it should begin by putting the Powering Up screen on the TV, and then eventually go from there to the gray screen.

If it puts the powering up screen on, and then a just a few more minutes screen on, it's connecting to the hard drive okay.

What is this menu to which you refer? Are you sure it's coming from the TiVo and not the television itself or that Google TV thing?

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nobopyon

Discussion Starter · #4 · Dec 8, 2011

dwit,

Thank you for the advise.

Is there way to check the HD fail within Tivo?
I googled it and I found this site that shows you step by step to how to make Tivo to show the test result, by press and holding "pause" button on the remote, however, I can't get it work...

I mean it won't go to the testing screen...

I am not very tech savy... I'm afraid if I open the box, I might jack up the box.

I just want to make sure if it's box failur so that I might be able to ask my eBay seller to see if he can get another from Tivo, since he claimed he got it from Tivo

nobopyon

Discussion Starter · #5 · Dec 8, 2011

unitron said:
Hope you didn't pay more than about $50 to the eBay guy.

That gray screen could mean a loss of communication between the motherboard and the hard drive, or it could mean it tried to show live TV and can't find a signal.

The first thing to do is take HDMI out of the equation temporarily.

Does your TV have a composite video (yellow jack) input, or component video inputs (red, green, blue jacks)? If so, use whichever of them you have.

If there's really something wrong with the HD it should begin by putting the Powering Up screen on the TV, and then eventually go from there to the gray screen.

If it puts the powering up screen on, and then a just a few more minutes screen on, it's connecting to the hard drive okay.

What is this menu to which you refer? Are you sure it's coming from the TiVo and not the television itself or that Google TV thing?

I paid $50 including shipping...
I thought it was a good deal... not so much now...

Hopefully, if i can find a way to show him it's not working, maybe he can call Tivo for me to send another reconditioned "actually" working unit...

You might be right about gray screen might be trying to show live TV, I haven't had chance to scan the channel using OTA antenna, it goes back to "powering up" whenever I tried. (I meant it won't last long enough to finish scanning)

However, when it's on gray screen, I can't get to the "menu" screen using tivo's remote.

And the "menu" screen I'm talking about is the "Tivo"s menu.

Thanks for your advise, I will check if I have composite/component input for my TV... actually I have to see if I even have those cable....

unitron

· #6 · Dec 8, 2011

nobopyon said:
I paid $50 including shipping...
I thought it was a good deal... not so much now...

Hopefully, if i can find a way to show him it's not working, maybe he can call Tivo for me to send another reconditioned "actually" working unit...

You might be right about gray screen might be trying to show live TV, I haven't had chance to scan the channel using OTA antenna, it goes back to "powering up" whenever I tried. (I meant it won't last long enough to finish scanning)

However, when it's on gray screen, I can't get to the "menu" screen using tivo's remote.

And the "menu" screen I'm talking about is the "Tivo"s menu.

Thanks for your advise, I will check if I have composite/component input for my TV... actually I have to see if I even have those cable....

As soon as it starts up and goes to the menu (TiVo Central) move around and look at various things in the menu, check Now Playing, and System Info.

If it doesn't reboot while you're in the menus, that will tell us something.

But seriously, HDMI introduces unnecessary complication at this stage.

$50 including shipping isn't a bad price at all.

nobopyon

Discussion Starter · #7 · Dec 8, 2011

unitron said:
As soon as it starts up and goes to the menu (TiVo Central) move around and look at various things in the menu, check Now Playing, and System Info.

If it doesn't reboot while you're in the menus, that will tell us something.

But seriously, HDMI introduces unnecessary complication at this stage.

$50 including shipping isn't a bad price at all.

I contacted the seller about the issue, and asking for if this unit still have warranty for it.

As it turned out, it's still within the warranty time frame, and seller already called and opened the claim for replacement for me already.

I just have to call in and get my replacement... yes!

So... you say HDMI isn't the best connection for the Tivo?

I eventually want to connect this tivo to sony GTV box... while receiving OTA channel (i understand I won't get any EPG info).

lpwcomp

· #8 · Dec 8, 2011

If the TiVo is coming up far enough so that you get the menus, then it is almost certainly some problem involving the disk drive. Rebooting after 5 minutes indicates that it is trying to record live TV and hitting a bad spot in the disk.

As to getting a working TiVo - why on earth would TiVo replace it for you when you have no plans to subscribe it? Your beef is with the person from whom you purchased it. TiVo was not involved in the transaction and has zero responsibility and less than zero incentive.

nobopyon said:
Is there way to check the HD fail within Tivo?
I googled it and I found this site that shows you step by step to how to make Tivo to show the test result, by press and holding "pause" button on the remote, however, I can't get it work...

I mean it won't go to the testing screen...

Is this the site you went to? Note that you must follow all of the steps. 1. Unplug the TiVo. 2. Wait 15 seconds. 3. Plug it back in. 4. Hold down the pause button. 5. When the yellow and red lights come on, release the pause button and enter "54" on the remote. That should get you to the hard drive test menu.

Note that the above instructions are for the TiVo HD and HD XL, model 652xxx. If you actually have a Series 3 HD (model 648xxx), then you release the pause button when the yellow light comes on.

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L David Matheny

· #9 · Dec 8, 2011

nobopyon said:
So... you say HDMI isn't the best connection for the Tivo?

HDMI is fine, and that's probably what you'll use eventually. But HDCP (copy protection) used by HDMI can cause various problems, and you can sidestep those problems by connecting some other way until you get the TiVo working.

nobopyon

Discussion Starter · #10 · Dec 8, 2011

lpwcomp said:
If the TiVo is coming up far enough so that you get the menus, then it is almost certainly some problem involving the disk drive. Rebooting after 5 minutes indicates that it is trying to record live TV and hitting a bad spot in the disk.

As to getting a working TiVo - why on earth would TiVo replace it for you when you have no plans to subscribe it? Your beef is with the person from whom you purchased it. TiVo was not involved in the transaction and has zero responsibility and less than zero incentive. Is this the site you went to? Note that you must follow all of the steps. 1. Unplug the TiVo. 2. Wait 15 seconds. 3. Plug it back in. 4. Hold down the pause button. 5. When the yellow and red lights come on, release the pause button and enter "54" on the remote. That should get you to the hard drive test menu.

Note that the above instructions are for the TiVo HD and HD XL, model 652xxx. If you actually have a Series 3 HD (model 648xxx), then you release the pause button when the yellow light comes on.

I do not know if they will replace the bad box that is warranted or not just because I'm not going to get subscription from them, I guess I will find out once I call them.

Seller of the box emailed me that he opened a case for me, and all I need is call in and tell them the issue so that they will replace it...

You are right, I may missed the step to get to the testing screen, I will have to try again...

lpwcomp

· #11 · Dec 8, 2011

nobopyon said:
I do not know if they will replace the bad box that is warranted or not just because I'm not going to get subscription from them, I guess I will find out once I call them.

Seller of the box emailed me that he opened a case for me, and all I need is call in and tell them the issue so that they will replace it...

Let me get this straight. The seller got this unit from TiVo as a refurb, never used it, sold it to you but it is still under warranty? And it just happened to be DOA? Maybe I am being overly suspicious, but this whole situation sounds very unlikely. If he gave you a TiVo case number, you need to verify with TiVo that it is legitimate and that it actually refers to the TiVo in your possession.

nobopyon

Discussion Starter · #12 · Dec 9, 2011

lpwcomp said:
Let me get this straight. The seller got this unit from TiVo as a refurb, never used it, sold it to you but it is still under warranty? And it just happened to be DOA? Maybe I am being overly suspicious, but this whole situation sounds very unlikely. If he gave you a TiVo case number, you need to verify with TiVo that it is legitimate and that it actually refers to the TiVo in your possession.

Thank you, lpwcomp, for your concern.

I did call Tivo support, and it was legit unit with warranty.
however, I called from work, so I didn't have box's serial number to give it to them, but they did say they sent him (seller) the reconditioned box.
It comes with 90 days warranty.

HOWEVER, as you mentioned it, I have to sign up for no comittment subscription service for $12.95/month with them in order for them to replace the unit. (if they determin it's not fix-able).

I guess I'd just sign up for it for a month, then see if I can get them replace this non-working unit.

It might fix itself once it's activated...?

mattack

· #13 · Dec 9, 2011

Wait, gray screen.. couldn't it actually be going in standby after the boot?

lpwcomp

· #14 · Dec 9, 2011

mattack said:
Wait, gray screen.. couldn't it actually be going in standby after the boot?

No. He would never see the menus. It wouldn't be a grey screen anyway unless that is what his TV goes to when there is no signal.

nobopyon

Discussion Starter · #15 · Dec 9, 2011

my tv will say "no signal" when there is no input in the source.... (samsung tv here)

I signed up for $12.99/month service, then turned on the Tivo... however, no luck, it did the same thing... just go back to power up (after the menu), then gray screen...

Unforunately, by the time I got home was too late for me to call, so I'm gonna have to try to call the support tomorrow and see...

unitron

· #16 · Dec 9, 2011

nobopyon said:
my tv will say "no signal" when there is no input in the source.... (samsung tv here)

I signed up for $12.99/month service, then turned on the Tivo... however, no luck, it did the same thing... just go back to power up (after the menu), then gray screen...

Unforunately, by the time I got home was too late for me to call, so I'm gonna have to try to call the support tomorrow and see...

When you plug in the TiVo and this menu you keep talking about comes up, does it say "TiVo Central"? Does it only come up after there's a screen that says "Welcome, powering up", followed by a screen that says "Just a few more minutes", followed by an animation featuring the little TiVo guy?

nobopyon

Discussion Starter · #17 · Dec 9, 2011

Sorry, to confuse you....

When I said "menu" it is "TV central" menu....

dianebrat

· #18 · Dec 9, 2011

There is no "TV Central" in a Tivo HD, but there is a "Tivo Central" if you're making it that far and not getting any video my first thought is that you do not have a hard drive issue since it's passing all the boot tests. My first thought? you have the antenna plugged in to the Cable TV input or vice versa...

But are you still unable to move through the menus with the remote? because that's a very different issue, but still doesn't preclude the issue above.

lpwcomp

· #19 · Dec 9, 2011

dianebrat said:
There is no "TV Central" in a Tivo HD, but there is a "Tivo Central" if you're making it that far and not getting any video my first thought is that you do not have a hard drive issue since it's passing all the boot tests. My first thought? you have the antenna plugged in to the Cable TV input or vice versa...

A hard drive with problems can exhibit these exact symptoms. The fact that it boots up just means that the bad sector(s) are not in the s/w area. When it encounters the bad sector while recording, it will reboot.

nobopyon

Discussion Starter · #20 · Dec 9, 2011

dianebrat said:
There is no "TV Central" in a Tivo HD, but there is a "Tivo Central" if you're making it that far and not getting any video my first thought is that you do not have a hard drive issue since it's passing all the boot tests. My first thought? you have the antenna plugged in to the Cable TV input or vice versa...

But are you still unable to move through the menus with the remote? because that's a very different issue, but still doesn't preclude the issue above.

My bad, I'm guessing it's Tivo Central".
I haven't been able to use it for long enough to give you correct naming convention...

I did plug in the antenna cable to antenna input.

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