New replacement 508 Hard drive crash

[mspuhler]

After about two years, my DVR508 bit the dust with a hard drive failure. So I bought the 5.99 warranty advantage (or whatever it is called) and had a replacement shipped. So after I spend 30-45 minutes hooking it up, downloading the latest firmware and program guide and finally activating it, I start recording a show to make sure it works. After a bunch of grinding, the harddrive on this one also fails and gives me a fatal failure message.

My question is this, do these things undergo any testing after they are "refurbished'? Is it common for a replacement DVR to fail or am I just the victim of bad luck?

Hopefully the replacement for the replacement which is supposed to arrive today will work.

[finniganps]

That just stinks. Something similar happened to me. I bought a remanufactured 508 from a dealer. The receiver NEVER would record AND play back a previously recorded program at the same time. Obviously tey never tested this before they sent it out. I also sent it back for a new unit after about two months and several calls to E*. Hopefully you'll have better luck with the next one.

[Bob Haller]

E refurbs are often trouibleprone, although hard drive failure can occur to anyone, and they can get abused in transit..

I think we should start a ROO number list of refurbs and track them as they get shifted across the country. hey this box has had the same failure 4 times wonder why?

I have been thru 4 or 5 508s all hard drive failures, and now one 721 to a hard drive crash.

[finniganps]

I wonder what the track record is like for the TiVo boxes (in terms of failures)? I know I'd be really mad if mine died after 1-2 years and I had to buy a new TiVO (not covered under warranty)....

[Bob Haller]

Ahh D Tivos hard drives can be replaced pretty easy, either by buying a pre formatted hard drive or having your computer download the initial software in thwe drive.

Unlike current E boxes DTIVOS dont prevent customer drive replacements and UPGRADES:)

Some do upgrade E hard drives but it falls into the hacking area:( I wouldnt try its not worth the hassle

hey 250 gig drives have dropped in price, lets upgrade:)

[Jacob S]

So someone could buy a lifetime subscription standalone Tivo receiver and upgrade the hard drive and still be able to receive the lifetime subscriptioin to that standalone Tivo?