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Series 2 DT 80hr: continuous reboot

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  • #1

    Series 2 DT 80hr: continuous reboot

    One of our DT TiVos suddenly started rebooting today. No power failure, surge (that I know of) or any other problem, it just started doing it. I asssume it's a HD problem and wonder (a) am I right, and (b) what to do.

    The symptom is that the "Welcome! Powering up…” screen appears, the sun does start to rise a little, then the machine shuts down and boots up again. I'd say it runs (on the yellow screen) for about 45 seconds before shutting down.

    Depending which of our machines this is, we may have acquired it ~11 months ago (bought a used older lifetime machine online, it arrived DOA, and TiVo sold us a new Series 2 for ~$150). If it's that machine, is it worth pursuing warranty service with TiVo? I read the warranty is 90 days labour, 1 year parts, and I wonder what that will actually cost. A refurb is available from TiVo for $80.

    We also have a couple of older machines (<3 years old), so if this unit is one of those, I assume can't be worth paying TiVo to fix when a refurb is $80.

    Is it likely the HD? Is there any chance of rescuing the data (programs and season passes) that's there? What about getting a new HD from WK instead of doing warranty service? I can probably swap a HD with no problem.

    Thanks!
    =aw
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  • #2
    Yes, it's almost definitely just the HD. A "replace" kit should fix it:

    http://www.weaknees.com/dt08.php

    I doubt TiVo will cover it, and if you pay them to swap it, you'll likely get yet another refurb. Getting, say, a 160 GB drive for $109 will double your capacity, and it'll be a new drive.
    Been here a long time . . .

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    • #3
      Thanks Michael, that's what I figured (though if the "labour" cost from TiVo were nominal, it might be worth it -- though another $80 refurb with a $30 extended warranty might be a better bet than letting TiVo put in a new HD).

      I was actually thinking of the $139 HD replacement (320GB I think). We were planning to take a TiVo with us on our drive south later this month (staying with family so easy to hook up) but instead we can take the dead one, have a WKHD waiting for us, and be even better off!

      If it turns out this dead unit really is on a lifetime plan, do I have to worry about swapping the HD? Or do they identify the lifetime machine from something else, like a chip on the mobo?

      Thanks again!
      =aw

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      • #4
        Changing out your hard drive does not impact your lifetime service.

        Comment

        • #5
          Thanks Jeff,

          Sorry I thought of another question. Your FAQ says this about Warranties:

          What is your warranty?

          We guarantee that our TiVo upgrade kits will work if installed properly in a functioning TiVo. We are happy to provide email and phone support to help you through the upgrade process, and our instructions were painstakingly drafted to make the process simple.

          ...

          All of our newly-installed TiVo hard drives come with a full manufacturer's warranty.
          Does that mean if the replacement drive is not DOA when I first power up the TiVo, any subsequent failure is between me and WD|Seagate? Are their warranties just 1 year now, or are these higher-end drives still 5 years?

          Also, what's likely to be the warranty on the dead drive inside my TiVo? Might there be a manufacturer's warranty still in effect? (my newest TiVo is ~11 months old). Or does TiVo's warranty on the unit supercede the HD manufacturer's on the drive?

          Finally, when TiVo says, "TiVo DVR limited warranty. Included with your DVR purchase. 90 days free labor / 1 year parts exchange" they don't really mean they'll let me return the HD and they'll send a new one, does it? I figured they would insist on fixing it themselves but then saw this wording.

          Thanks again!
          =aw

          Comment

          • #6
            Our drives have a six month warranty from us - well beyond the DOA stage.

            The factory drive in your unit has no manufacturer's warranty.

            As far as the wording of the warranty, no, they won't let you return it or any part of it. The warranty doesn't say anything about a return policy, just a warranty policy.
            Been here a long time . . .

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            • #7
              Thanks, it was the "1 year parts exchange" on TiVo's site (where they're trying to upsell to an extended warranty) that made me wonder if it would include a HD swap.

              =aw

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              • #8
                Yeah, but after 90 days, this applies:

                "From 90 days to 1 year from the date of purchase your DVR will be replaced with a repaired, renewed, or comparable product (whichever is deemed necessary by TiVo) if it becomes defective or inoperative. You will be responsible for all labor and shipping costs (including applicable taxes, if any)."
                Been here a long time . . .

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                • #9
                  I know this is an old thread but I forgot to come back. It turned out to be a problem with the motherboard not the HD. I think Tivo gave us a deal on a replacement machine, though in hindsight I should probably have bought a new refurb and used it for parts (having a spare/sellable remote probably would have been worth the difference in cost, but then I'd have had to store a parts machine).

                  Thanks again for the advice, just wanted to add this as an additional data point.

                  =aw

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