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View Full Version : Problem with playback of recordings only

mdanse
10-25-07, 05:27 PM
My unit plays live TV fine. On Sunday, I played back a stored football game without a hitch. However, on Monday, I couldn't play back any recordings without them stopping and freezing.

It doesn't happen on live TV. It is variable. Sometimes I can watch for a minute or two, and sometimes I can only watch about 2 seconds before it completely freezes. Then it starts again, and freezes again (time between events is variable but usually about 5 seconds). The whole unit doesn't freeze, because I can eventually get back to live TV (it is a bit sluggish).

I have reloaded the firmware a few times (0 2 4 6 8) and that hasn't helped. Interesting though -- the date on the file upload says August when I got it (on the information screen under settings). I have not gotten the recent update (hopefully in the next day or so, I am in Southern CA).

Can anyone think of anything? I really don't want to lose the recordings we have. My wife is getting really upset. I may have to erase the whole thing and start over.

I also searched but couldn't find anyone with this problem.

Mark
phat78boy
10-25-07, 05:30 PM
Honestly, it sounds as if you may have to try an erase. A corrupt/failing HDD would give these exact symptons. If you pause live TV, do you have the same issue?
mdanse
10-25-07, 05:33 PM
Honestly, it sounds as if you may have to try an erase. A corrupt/failing HDD would give these exact symptons. If you pause live TV, do you have the same issue?

Yes. I believe pausing has the same effect. I am not 100% sure (I thought about this but didn't have the chance to explicitly test) but I recall a problem yesterday while I was fiddling with things.

I thought even live TV went to a buffer on the HD? But perhaps it is split so the live feed is fine even if the HD is hosed?
phat78boy
10-25-07, 05:38 PM
Yes. I believe pausing has the same effect. I am not 100% sure (I thought about this but didn't have the chance to explicitly test) but I recall a problem yesterday while I was fiddling with things.

I thought even live TV went to a buffer on the HD? But perhaps it is split so the live feed is fine even if the HD is hosed?

When watching live TV I believe it goes to buffer and at the same time to your TV. It only actually plays of the HDD when you are not real time. If you are having problems there too, its definetly a HDD issue. Unfortunately a HDD wipe or replacement might be your only options.

You could try unplugging the box for a few minutes also. I've heard it has helped before.
mdanse
10-25-07, 05:40 PM
Is there a way to run disk utilities or force a clean up of the hard drive? Or is there a way to copy the files off the hard drive? I do have an eSATA drive that I could try to hook up. From what I read, it won't allow me to move programs, but I want to be sure.

It would sure be nice if there were a way to back up your settings at least. I hate to lose all of the customization I did, and all my "season passes" (whatever they are called now).
phat78boy
10-25-07, 05:47 PM
Is there a way to run disk utilities or force a clean up of the hard drive? Or is there a way to copy the files off the hard drive? I do have an eSATA drive that I could try to hook up. From what I read, it won't allow me to move programs, but I want to be sure.

It would sure be nice if there were a way to back up your settings at least. I hate to lose all of the customization I did, and all my "season passes" (whatever they are called now).

I really, really wish there was. There is no such utilities on the box. Therefore the only way to tell for sure is really to replace the HDD. Plugging the HR20's HDD into your home computer would not help. It is not a file system that computers can recognize and therefore you can not run utilities on it. All that can be done if plugged into a computer is to Fdisk and format it.

Being that they won't/haven't put a HDD utility in the box, it would be nice if we could back our SL's up to a usb drive. Online would be even better with a internet connected box.

Good luck.
Canis Lupus
10-25-07, 05:52 PM
Hey mdanse,
Since you do have that eSATA drive, you can hook that up to see if it is, in fact, a HDD problem.
When you connect the eSATA, the software will be installed and you will be running a separate stand-alone system, so this actually would be a good test to see of the HR performance improves when using it.

Is there a way to run disk utilities or force a clean up of the hard drive? Or is there a way to copy the files off the hard drive? I do have an eSATA drive that I could try to hook up. From what I read, it won't allow me to move programs, but I want to be sure.

It would sure be nice if there were a way to back up your settings at least. I hate to lose all of the customization I did, and all my "season passes" (whatever they are called now).