Corrupted Recordings?

[eversio11]

I've had an R15 for almost exactly one year, and I've never had any problems with it. I've heard all the horror stories related to it, but I found it to be an exceptional product. Sometimes the menus lagged, but everything in the world can't be instant.

Just last week some major problems have been popping up on my recordings. Generally within 5 minutes of watching a recorded program, the audio and video will start to get choppy, and then I'll lose all functioning power of the R15. It just stops dead with a black screen, not responding to anything (even the power toggle). The only thing to do is hit the red reset button, which reboots the R15 fine but the recording will still be corrupted in the same spot.

I thought maybe this was due to the signal, we've been getting a lot of snow lately and the dish could be having problems. But last night I watched an episode of The First 48 that I was recording, but watched it live. After the show was over, I started the recording of the same episode and it was indeed corrupted, it stopped after about 2 minutes.

This has happened on every recording for the past week, despite the channel, time, etc. Old recordings from more than a week ago work flawlessly like they always have, but any recent recording is unwatchable. This has been really trying, with new Simpsons, 24, and Office episodes. I sure hope I can get this problem sorted out before the new season of Lost returns, does anyone have any suggestions?

TIA

[evcomp]

I've had an R15 for almost exactly one year, and I've never had any problems with it. I've heard all the horror stories related to it, but I found it to be an exceptional product. Sometimes the menus lagged, but everything in the world can't be instant.

Just last week some major problems have been popping up on my recordings. Generally within 5 minutes of watching a recorded program, the audio and video will start to get choppy, and then I'll lose all functioning power of the R15. It just stops dead with a black screen, not responding to anything (even the power toggle). The only thing to do is hit the red reset button, which reboots the R15 fine but the recording will still be corrupted in the same spot.

I thought maybe this was due to the signal, we've been getting a lot of snow lately and the dish could be having problems. But last night I watched an episode of The First 48 that I was recording, but watched it live. After the show was over, I started the recording of the same episode and it was indeed corrupted, it stopped after about 2 minutes.

This has happened on every recording for the past week, despite the channel, time, etc. Old recordings from more than a week ago work flawlessly like they always have, but any recent recording is unwatchable. This has been really trying, with new Simpsons, 24, and Office episodes. I sure hope I can get this problem sorted out before the new season of Lost returns, does anyone have any suggestions?

TIA

Sure sounds like a Hard Drive issue. If you call they will most likely tell you to reformat the hard drive, and oh do you have a VCR or DVD recorder to record any content off the system. I need to invest in a DVD recorder for this very reason. Seems like they should offer an online solution to backup content, that would solve this reformatting issue every so often.

[eversio11]

Do you think cleaning up some old recordings would help? I'm only using 44% of the capacity, but I do have some of my favorite shows with recordings that are a year old. I guess I'll give it a shot, couldn't hurt.

And I have a DVD burner in my computer, but no TV tuner. I don't mind wiping the HD though, afterall, it's just TV :)

[eversio11]

Well, I went ahead and performed a reformat, tested the unit by recording an episode of port charles, and upon playback there are still the same major issues. What a drag.

[evcomp]

I see a replacement DVR in your future.:mad: I am on number 4 and have just made a deal for them to send me a new one instead of refurbished. The rub of getting a replacement is that it will be a refurbished unit, so you may inherit someone elses issues. You may also get a different series R15. I have had two 300's and a 500. The 500 was bad right out of the box, resets for no reason after a black screen is displayed.

Good luck and I hope you get a good one. :)

[eversio11]

I actually own my R15, DTV won't replace that will they?

[mocciat]

I actually own my R15, DTV won't replace that will they?

sounds like a bad drive

[carl6]

I actually own my R15, DTV won't replace that will they?

Maybe. I had one (owned unit) fail, and they sent me a free (leased) replacement, and I had to return the owned unit to get it. Call them and ask.

Carl

[evcomp]

If you own it, you can replace the hard drive yourself. Do a search, there are threads up here that explain what drive to purchase and the steps involved to get the job done. Would be better than getting into an agreement with DTV for a leased one.

[FunkyMonk93]

Just last week some major problems have been popping up on my recordings. Generally within 5 minutes of watching a recorded program, the audio and video will start to get choppy, and then I'll lose all functioning power of the R15. It just stops dead with a black screen, not responding to anything (even the power toggle).

Eversio11 - I just started having the same problem too. Based on suggestions in other threads, I did a "unplug the machine" reset, not the RBR. After I did that, I was able to watch recorded programs that were before "choppy" as you describe.

You might want to try this first before formatting.