No channels after Weaknees 250GB upgrade

[Bergamo]

The original drive in my Series 2 540040 Tivo finally died and I replaced it with a 250GB drive from Weaknees (http://www.weaknees.com/tivo-series2-tcd540040.php). I am now experiencing some very strange behavior.

After installation, the drive booted fine and I was presented with the Guided Setup. This seemed to go fine, although it was very different from when I set up my Tivo originally. Not unexpected, I guess, considering it's been 3 years since I last set Tivo up.

Now, however, things are very strange. I have no channels in my guide (it's been hours since it downloaded the guide and the system info screen says it goes out two weeks). I also cannot watch live TV - there is no signal (I get the screen with "Try these 4 things"), which is odd considering I was getting signal during Guided Setup as Tivo asked different questions about if it was changing channels successfully. And I cannot change channels, which also seemed to work just fine during Guided Setup.

What is really odd is that I can't find any way to tell it what channels I have. I used to be able to go into Setup->Channel List and mark which channels I receive. Now, when I go into Channel List, it says "This requires you to rerun part of the Guided Setup. Press Thumbs Down three times and then enter". After doing that, I'm back in Guided Setup which will eventually hang (I need to power down Tivo to get it to come back, at which point it picks up guided setup at the "enter you zip code" screen). Very strange. Nowhere can I find a way to tell it what channels I receive.

Any ideas? Did I actually get the correct version for my standalone Series 2 Tivo? Is the physical drive possibly bad? Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Mike

[WK-Jeff]

What is your complete software version?

[WK-Michael]

Thanks for the email.

You ordered the correct drive.

Have you tried just rebooting the TiVo? Have you tried redoing Guided Setup?

[Bergamo]

Thanks for the quick replies. More info:

Yes, I have tried rebooting, multiple times in fact. I have gone through Guided Setup no less than three times now. No change.

A post in the tivocommunity.com forums suggested that I resubmit my Tivo for the 8.1 upgrade. At some point I forced a connection to the Tivo service and received the upgrade from 7.3.1 (my current version) to 8.1. I got a message saying the upgrade was successful, as well as a message saying there had been a lineup change and that every single Dish Network (my provider) channel had been added. Exciting, but...

Sadly, this did nothing to change my situation. I'm still stuck with no channels available. To summarize:

1) No channels appear in the on-screen Guide. Only a message that "Your channel list has not been configured. Go to Setup->Channels->Channel List to configure".

2) Going to the Channel List menu brings up "This will require rerunning parts of Guided Setup. Press thumbs down three times, then enter"

3) After doing this, I go through confirming my zip code, my satellite provider, my tuning box manufacturer and then about 10 screens of Tivo telling me it is going to change a channel and then asking me if it changed the channel, changed to the wrong channel, or nothing happened.

4) After completing the channel changing exercise, I get the Changing Channels screen that says "You can use your Tivo remote control to change channels on your satellite box. Press Select"

5) After pressing Select, the Tivo hangs for about 10 minutes. Finally, it comes back with "Error tuning Live TV - Tivo was unable to find any valid channels in your channel lineup. Press Select"

6) Pressing Select returning me to #4 above.

At that point, I am stuck in an endless loop going between steps #4 and #5, just alternating between those two screens. The only way out is to pull the plug. Which, if I do, reboots the Tivo into the "Please enter your Zip code" screen. Odd......

-Mike

[WK-Michael]

So do you, in fact, see the channel changing in the background at that step during setup? What model of set top box is it? Is it connected to the TiVo via IR, home control, or serial cable?

[Bergamo]

Yes, the channels change just fine during setup. The set top box is branded Philips (although, via experimentation, I seem to have better luck calling it a Dish Network branded box). It is connected to the TiVo via the IR blasters.

[WK-Jeff]

Can you give us the exact model of the set top box?

[Bergamo]

The front of the set top box says Philips, there is no other model number (just a serial number on the back). According to Dish Network, it is equivalent to a Dish Network set top box model 4900.

[deparson]

I have the EXACT same issue after installing a 250GB upgrade in a TiVo branded Series 2 box (the orgional model, not the A or B) and I have tried all the same things as the OP including a full 'delete everything' restart.

My issues are 100% the same as the OP. My system was working fine prior to replacing the HD.

Please HELP! Life without TiVo is not very happy :)

FYI, I also just sent an email to WK.

[WK-Michael]

If you just installed the new drive, the TiVo needs time to both download the new guide data, and then index it. Until then, the on-screen guide likely won't be complete.

[Bergamo]

If you just installed the new drive, the TiVo needs time to both download the new guide data, and then index it. Until then, the on-screen guide likely won't be complete.

The guide isn't just incomplete, it is totally empty. As far as I can tell, it will never complete. I've been working on this for a week, now - plenty of time for TiVo to have downloaded the new guide data and index it.

Checking the system info, I can see that TiVo is connecting nightly to the TiVo service successfully. Yet the guide remains empty, stating only "The channel list is not setup. Go to Settings->Channels->Channel List." And, as stated previously, doing this forces me to repeat part of the guided setup which always ends with the "Error tuning Live TV" screen.


What does "Error tuning Live TV" mean?
Why do I always have to go through Guided Setup when I go to Setup->Channels->Channel List?
Why can't I tell TiVo what channels I actually receive via checkboxes, like I used to?


While I wouldn't wish it on anyone, it's nice to know that I'm not the only one seeing this issue.

[deparson]

Same issue here.

Here is what I have done so far...

Installed new drive and did guided setup and indexed to 100%
-Ch guide is empty
Re-did ch setup, ***TiVo locked up after the final screen on the ch changing configuration requiring me to remove the power from the TiVo to restart it at which point it went back to Guided Setup*** I did leave it for about 5 hours to make sure it was not just thinking.

Restarted TiVo, same issue
Cleared/deleted everything option and repeated guided setup, indexed to 100%, same issue

Allowed TiVo to sit overnight and connect, connection normal, same issue

Forced a connection, DLed ok, same issue.

Everything else seems normal but the Ch. guide is EMPTY meaning you can't record anything and you can't change the ch. at all.

HELP! Should we be sending our HDs back? If so, can we cross ship to reduce downtime?

The guide isn't just incomplete, it is totally empty. As far as I can tell, it will never complete. I've been working on this for a week, now - plenty of time for TiVo to have downloaded the new guide data and index it.

Checking the system info, I can see that TiVo is connecting nightly to the TiVo service successfully. Yet the guide remains empty, stating only "The channel list is not setup. Go to Settings->Channels->Channel List." And, as stated previously, doing this forces me to repeat part of the guided setup which always ends with the "Error tuning Live TV" screen.


What does "Error tuning Live TV" mean?
Why do I always have to go through Guided Setup when I go to Setup->Channels->Channel List?
Why can't I tell TiVo what channels I actually receive via checkboxes, like I used to?


While I wouldn't wish it on anyone, it's nice to know that I'm not the only one seeing this issue.

[deparson]

I have no idea what the problem was or why it is now fixed but it is and my TiVo is working 100% with its new drive.

Thanks to WK for their support and if you are ever thinking of calling TiVo technical support don't. Not only do they have very little knowledge of their products but three people I talked to (all native English speakers) were simply rude when I asked simple questions about their 'advice'. One hung up on me and the others had no intention of doing anything other than reading their script.

Anyway, I am a happy TiVo user again but I have to believe there is something really wrong with the company given the general 'feel' of there customer support group. Job cuts? Buy outs? Who knows but something is not right.

[Bergamo]

Glad to hear things started working for you. I just requested a Return Authorization number and was packing my drive up for a return when I saw your message.

I'm going to hold off mailing the drive back and will give it one more shot. Hopefully things will work out. I'll post my results (it'll be a week or so, as I'm out of town right now).

[Bergamo]

I was finally able to find a solution to this problem - TiVo seems to have issues with my particular ZIP code. Based partly on the suggestion of another TiVo user, I decided to rerun Guided Setup from the beginning using a nearby ZIP code (close enough that it would have the same Dish Network lineup as where I live).

And wouldn't you know it, everything started working beautifully. Thanks to everyone who offered suggestions. I really appreciate it.

[bnv]

I have the EXACT same problem same model going to the 250gb disk and Satilite--- no channel list after several attempts after an upgrade to version 8. I have tried a couple of other zip codes ( although mine used to work fine two years ago) and that has not worked.


Is this zip code the problem or is it a bad image from Weaknees? I live in San Diego area is there a zip code we know that works?

tx --- bnv

[Bergamo]

Mine used to work fine three years ago, so I'm not sure what's changed. In any case, using a nearby ZIP seemed to fix things. Other things you might try - use a ZIP code from a completely different state, or choose the other satellite provider (DirecTV if you have Dish, or vise-versa) in your ZIP. If either of those get you up and running, go back and enter your real ZIP.

[bnv]

I am working now thanks to the tips above --- thanks!

Here is my 2 cents on the problem:

There must be a bug with a new disk install shipping with version 7, upgrading immediately to version 8 and setting up for Dish Network all in the same subsequent sessions - IMHO.

If someone gets the symptoms above of no channels, here are two things to try that will probably fix it:

1. Try another local zip code or
2. Say you have digital cable and let it finish DLing/index then go back and say redo for Satellite and Dish Network - this is what worked for me for whatever reason.

Dish Network and TiVo companies have not been the best of friends lately anyway. ($70 million law suit)

bnv

[abbymagga]

I am having the same problem after installing the 250gb upgrade for a Pioneer H810 box. Please help

[WK-Michael]

abbymagga,

See the thread - we have some questions there for you.

[FromNewOrleans]

I am having identical problems as described above. I have a TCD24008A TIVO unit trying to work with a DishNetwork 311 box. I replace the harddrive and am able to get the setup screen but for some reason, no channels get listed. In fact, I am not prompted to list whether I have premium channels, etc.

I live in the 70115 area code. I emailed tech support. They suggested the same old things as noted above and I have been without success. My machine has frozen a few times after I have completed the whole set up.

I am going to try different zip codes or perhaps try with "digital cable" and see what happens.

[WK-Michael]

This seems to be a problem with older OS versions and TiVo's servers. What OS do you have? Have you given it a chance to update?