Panic ... TiVo loops startup .. is there a reset

[bandsp]

Had to drop power today, since then TiVo won't complete startup ..

Sets up the CacheCard, and goes through hacks etc

I get the 'All hacks started' message then it sits there for about a minute and then the screen goes blank(Black) , then returns to 'Welcome, Power up' screen and then the cache card and hacks again (and again .....) .....

Tried leaving power off for a while, but makes no difference ..

Any suggestions please ..

I do have spare TiVos but (One with a cachecard) but they are not set up or trained for my STB ..


Could try moving my Terrabyte altepg disc & cachecard to one of them ..

[Pegasus]

I would try forcing a disc check using "Kickstart" code 57. (And possibly also Kickstart 58 - filesystem defrag).

As follows:

When the Tivo first boots up, the left "receiving" LED light on the front bezel is green.

As soon as this left LED turns yellow, immediately, and within (2) seconds, press and hold down the yellow
PAUSE button on the remote control.

Within seconds, the right LED should turn yellow. However should you be unable to catch the change
in color or timing, you can also hold the PAUSE button down continuously during the boot-up until the
second LED comes on.

When this second LED lights up, release the PAUSE button and then press the one or two digits of the
kickstart code, i.e., either (57) or (58) - within approximately (10) seconds.

The Tivo will re-boot with the GSOD eventually appearing.

Allow the Tivo to complete its re-work when hopefully you will have resolved your problem.

[bandsp]

Thanks for that info ..

Will get onto it probably tomorrow ..

Thanks again

B

[bandsp]

Taken both options .. (57 & 58) .. screens as expected ,, shown for maybe half hour and then returned to continuous reboot ..


Is it likely to be TiVo hard/firm/software or is it the disk thats 'gone'?

[Pegasus]

Ok, next thing (yes there is a deliberate sequence to this ) to try is to remove the memory from the cachecard (or the cachecard in its entirety - whichever is easier for you). Reboot.


(Make sure you unplug from the mains before fiddling with the cachecard)

[bandsp]

I thought that taking out the memory card had fixed it ..


Went through the reboot and to the menu screen .. pressed the 'live tv' button and all worked .. few a few minutes and then ... it rebooted. ..... continually repeating that sequence.


Took out the cache card .. exactly the same symptom as without the memory card ..

At least, the cache card appears to be ok ..

B

[Pegasus]

Ok. Next two things you can try:

1) Put terabyte disc in spare TiVo and see if it boots. (Doesn't matter that it's not programmed for your STB - you just want to see if it boots up).

2) Put a disc from another TiVo into this machine (still without cachecard) and see if it boots.
(Try to not let it dial up though as that will affect what schedule the server thinks you have)

[bandsp]

Yep, thanks .. was thinking now along those lines .. but first will delete (during the short time it is working) some of my saved recordings ..the disc is over half full ..

I have now taught my spare with a cachecard the codes for my STB so the need is less desperate.

B

[Pegasus]

I had similar thoughts when I got down to 6% free on a 1 TB disc, wondering just what is all the stuff on there!

Let me know how you get on with the swaps.

[bandsp]

I was gradually able to delete between reboots until, at last, it didn't reboot ..

After a few more very slow deletes I put the cachecard back and it is now running OK but slow .. will continue deleting.

Thanks for the interest and advice that got me started.

B

[Pegasus]

Excellent! Fingers crossed.
When you finished deleting stuff I would force another disc check. Won't hurt