Solution

Don't know if this will work for anyone else but worked for me. After suffering from daily random restart issues, for over 30 days, and after inspecting and re-seating power and HD connections, I inspected the power supply and there is one adjustable transistor, I believe, that is observed on the power supply. It was sealed in position by a white foam substance but is definitely screwdriver adjustable. This adjustable item has a one turn range before hitting limits. I turned it fully clockwise, put the HD XL cover back on and hooked it back into my system and within 10 mins, another reset.

I then took the cover off and turned the adjustable electronic component counter clockwise, put the cover back on and hooked it back into the system and the unit has not reset once since 28 Mar!!!

I DO NOT RECOMMEND this practice to everyone and I don't even know what that component controls but, for me, I was at the end of my rope for patience with this unit. I am a retired AF electronics technician and basic electronic troubleshooting fundamentals were utilized but I was facing a power supply replacement and power supplies were currently on backorder here.

There was no other change and I had tried all the power plug suggestions such as plugging in to a different wall socket even though it was plugged into an expensive power conditioner. I tried all the TiVo Kickstart codes and there didn't seem to be any issues with my HD or firmware. My gut told me to adjust it and that's what I did. To my surprise and relief, I am back in HD XL TiVo bliss!!!

Glad to hear you've got something that might fix the problem. I haven't taken a look yet for the adjustment, but I will. Any change in the heat of the unit?

Michael; hadn't really noticed an overheat issue in the past. Unit seemed as warm as my TiVo Series 3; fan was not overworking, in my humble opinion. I've really learned a lot concerning this reset issue. Part of a previous issue, with same unit, is that HD XL, with lifetime subscription, is definitely dependent on phoning home to TiVo to check whether there is a subscription; be it via phone or internet connection. If TiVo finds no subscription or cannot connect, a reset loop endures until a valid connection is established.

I had multiple issues in this troubleshooting challenge.

1. I HAD a weak wireless intermittent disconnect connection; which has been fixed. This was NOT related to the unit.

2. The EPROM battery, little watch battery, was removed and replaced because it was dead. Don't know what information that memory contains but it's there for a reason.

3. This random reset endured until quoted fix as stated.

I had a multiple intermittent TiVo electronic challenge which is the hardest kind, as you very well know. My fingers are crossed but the unit has been rock solid since item 3 was, apparently, fixed.

Any chance #2 - the on-board battery - had an effect, either way?

Michael,

From what I remember; and it's been about three weeks ago; I could not get past the initial startup screen once my dsl connection dropped. Unit either froze at initial startup screen or went into a startup loop on it's own. I replaced the battery, made sure there was a connection to the internet and the unit got past the initial startup screen to the screen that states "almost there" or something to that effect and the unit was good for awhile.

At the same time, I was running down the issue with my dsl dropouts which, in turn, caused my TiVo to restart at no specific time.

The battery definitely did stop the constant resets for awhile.

After about a week, the picture simply froze on me numerous times while watching TV through the TiVo. No input from the remote would do anything for me. If I left the picture as is, after about 5 mins, the pic would go grey. I then would reset pwr, unplugging and plug back in and the TiVo would successfully restart as long as there was a good internet connection. At times the TiVo would freeze the picture and reset on it's own and other times it would simply go directly into restart mode. The picture, and remote response, had never froze before while watching a program through the TiVo so this was new faulty behavior.

Crazy behavior and definitely mind numbing at times but HD XL has not failed me once since item 3 was accomplished.

OK - so maybe the battery had some relation, but just wasn't the real root of the problem.

FWIW, not booting without an internet connection is interesting, because at one point, a Netflix crash made it impossible to boot WITH an internet connection.

I am one happy camper....not one glitch since 27 Mar!!! I am in TiVo bliss!!!