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TiVo Troubleshooting Guide: Powering Up Problems
Over the years, we have seen many TiVo units with a variety of problems.
We also receive countless emails from TiVo users who have problems
and are looking for solutions. We are able to solve many problems
through email; others require us to see the unit. Some problems
require TiVo owners to send the units back to the manufacturer
for repair with proprietary parts.
If your TiVo has any one of the following problems, this page
details our advice on what you can do to fix your TiVo:
- TiVo is stuck on a gray screen that says, "Powering up…"
- TiVo is stuck on a gray screen that says, "Almost there…a
few more seconds please."
- TiVo cycles between the above two screens, but never reaches
TiVo Central
Note: If your DirecTV/TiVo is stuck at 28% when acquiring the satellite
signal, see this
page.
| POSSIBLE CAUSE |
POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS |
Defective Hard Drive
In our experience, the most likely problem is a dead hard drive. While
there are other problems that cause the symptoms described above, the
hard drive is still the most likely culprit. If you have not had a thunderstorm,
electrical storm, power surge or other event that immediately preceded
the problem, then this increases the chance that the problem is hard-drive
related. If you have a standalone TiVo (Philips HDR112, HDR312, HDR612,
Sony SVR2000), then the chances are very good that the problem is hard-drive
related. |
Suggested Solutions:
• A Weaknees.com REPLACE kit
for your TiVo will completely replace your hard drive(s).
If the problem was drive-related, then the REPLACE kit will
solve it. If the problem was not drive-related, then you can
return the drive kit for a refund (less a 15% restocking fee
for returns received in original packaging and in working
order).
• Testing for a bad drive: If you are willing and able to open your
TiVo, there are several ways to test for a bad drive: (1) Test your drive
using Maxtor’s Powermax
utility (do NOT test the drive on a PC running Windows XP, however); or
(2) If you have a willing friend who has the same model TiVo, try your
drive in a friend’s TiVo.
SEE GENERAL NOTE BELOW! Note that if you boot a drive from one
Series 1 DirecTV/TiVo combination unit in a second unit, you will get
an "Error #51" message and will have to "Clear and Delete
Everything" in order to get up and running again. |
Defective Power Supply
If you recently had a severe electrical storm, thunderstorm or other power
surge, then your TiVo problem could be a blown power supply.
Generally, a complete lack of video out on power-up is a symptom of a
bad power supply. Sometimes, fans will spin, but usually hard drives wont
power up.
There is a known problem with some TCD140060 and TCD130040
TiVo DVRs as they get older. If you have this problem, when you plug in
your unit, all of the front lights will be on, but you will see nothing
on the TV--you will instead see a black screen, blue screen, or no video
at all. The solution to this problem is to replace the
power supply. See our power supply page
for a replacement part. |
Suggested Solutions:
• Replace power supply. Weaknees.com has power supplies for most
TiVo DVRs here. We can diagnose the
problem and replace your power supply. Email
us for details; power supply installation services are available. |
Bad/Defective Cable
In some cases, the problems described above can be attributed to a defective
internal cable or a bad cable connection. There are three possibilities:
(1) A bad drive power cable; (2) a bad IDE cable; (3) a bad power-motherboard
connection (DirecTV/TiVo units only). |
Suggested Solutions:
• If you have a DirecTV/TiVo unit (Hughes GXCEBOT; Philips DSR6000;
Sony SAT T60), and if you are willing to open your unit, then the first
thing to try is the cable connecting the power supply to the motherboard.
Over time, the connection to the motherboard can become loose, which will
cause the problems described. This cable is located underneath the hard
drive bay. If you have questions, please email
us or see our TiVo Upgrade Installation
instructions, which describe how to open the TiVo and remove the hard
drive bay.
• If you are willing to open your TiVo unit, you
can also replace the gray IDE cable with another cable. Any 80-wire, 40-pin
cable will do. Do not purchase a cable with a blocked 40th pin. Also note
that many 18" cables will not fit in two-drive TiVos.
• There is a cable in Series 1 DirecTiVos that can become
oxidized and can lose its connection. Removing, gently wiping,
and reinserting this cable carefully can often fix problems. The
cable is marked "Parlex" and runs from the motherboard
to the power supply - Hughes GXCEBOT, Sony SAT T-60, and DSR6000
only. For situations where cleaning the cable fixes problems only
temporarily, or the cable is permanently damaged, we now sell
new cables in our Parts
Bin. |
Motherboard Problem
In some models (Hughes GXCEBOT, Sony SAT T-60, and DSR6000), units that
hang on the screen "Almost There, A Few More Seconds . . ." often
have a blown modem. This is usually the result of a surge on the telephone
line, often due to thunderstorms. (We recommend wireless
modem jacks to prevent this situation in the first place.) |
• Only the manufacturer of the unit has replacements that will work.
Often, the unit is "totaled" at this point - it's about as expensive
to fix as it is to buy a new unit. |
GENERAL NOTES: Opening your TiVo voids your warranty. You MUST pull the TiVo’s power cord before you open the unit. WeaKnees is not responsible for any damage that you do to your TiVo and is providing this information for informational purposes only.
* Philips HDR112, HDR212, HDR312, HDR31201, HDR31202, HDR21203, HDR31204, Sony SVR-2000
** Hughes GXCEBOT, Philips DSR6000, DSR6000r, SONY SAT T-60
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