Question on wiping DirecTiVos prior to selling

[Ben_jd]

I've amassed quite the stash of unused DirecTiVos over the course of the last several years and am about to unload them on EBay for anyone wanting to bid on them. I plan on removing the cards and "wiping" the HD, but want some direction on the best way of doing this without cracking open the box. I want to make certain my account information, etc. is gone prior to sending them off to someone else.

What is the best method for this?

[old7]

I've amassed quite the stash of unused DirecTiVos over the course of the last several years and am about to unload them on EBay for anyone wanting to bid on them. I plan on removing the cards and "wiping" the HD, but want some direction on the best way of doing this without cracking open the box. I want to make certain my account information, etc. is gone prior to sending them off to someone else.

What is the best method for this?

There is no account information on your TiVos. The best way clear a TiVo is to do a clear and delete everything.

[OrlandoJoe]

I've amassed quite the stash of unused DirecTiVos over the course of the last several years and am about to unload them on EBay for anyone wanting to bid on them. I plan on removing the cards and "wiping" the HD, but want some direction on the best way of doing this without cracking open the box. I want to make certain my account information, etc. is gone prior to sending them off to someone else.

What is the best method for this?

FWIW, I would include the old access cards when you sell them on eBay. You have no use for them, and likely the new owners will be forced to replace them by DTV, but complete machines seem to sell better than incomplete ones. Just make sure that the units are inactivated from your account so that the buyer has no trouble turning them on.

[Ben_jd]

FWIW, I would include the old access cards when you sell them on eBay. You have no use for them, and likely the new owners will be forced to replace them by DTV, but complete machines seem to sell better than incomplete ones. Just make sure that the units are inactivated from your account so that the buyer has no trouble turning them on.Since I don't know the folks I'm sending them to, is there any way a "hacker" can cause problems for me by using my card for something?

[captain_video]

Used access cards, especially ones that are no longer in use such as the H or Hu series, are really of no use to anyone. If you have a current series access card then DTV has been known to transfer them to another account for activation, but only on rare occasions. It mostly depends on the CSR you speak to at the time of activation.

FYI - There is currently no method in place for hacking DirecTV so there's no reason to worry about your old access card being used for piracy.

[Ben_jd]

Thanks for the information ... I've decided to give a couple of the TiVos to my sister who is in an apartment complex with D* already wired to the units. She'll likely have to shut off one of the tuners (doubtful the apartment complex ran dual lines to each outlet), but can use the boxes. She'll be a new D* customer ... will they send her new access cards?

[mika911]

Thanks for the information ... I've decided to give a couple of the TiVos to my sister who is in an apartment complex with D* already wired to the units. She'll likely have to shut off one of the tuners (doubtful the apartment complex ran dual lines to each outlet), but can use the boxes. She'll be a new D* customer ... will they send her new access cards?

Most likely.