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Kickstart
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Posted by: mr1

Got the indexing failure problem, and went through tech support to get the kickstart process. Outstanding people on those phones!

I don't think that TiVo would like to see the kickstart process posted here, but there is a way to get the TiVo to make a diagnostic call very, very early in the boot process. Seems like it still needs to load the kernel and a few odds and ends from the HDD, but the process gives TiVo the ability to fix a quite badly broken unit if necessary.

Interesting foresight to put such a backdoor in the box.

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Martin

Posted by: sonnik

It's been known TiVo is capable of "phoning home" in certain situations.

I'm more interested to know if this was a hacked unit and if you made mention of it to them; if it is and you did tell them, it's a good way to gauge TiVo's attitude towards upgraded boxes. TiVolutionary has stated if you call tech support with an upgraded unit, let them know. See the moron thread: http://www.avsforum.com/ubbtivo/Forum6/HTML/000906.html

And don't anyone reply stating i'm an idiot and should know they don't like it! I'm simply interested in the circumstances of this issue.

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-sonnik
PVRHack.sonnik.com

Posted by: dd9

quote:
Originally posted by mr1:
I don't think that TiVo would like to see the kickstart process posted here,

Interesting foresight to put such a backdoor in the box.

I played around with pressing different keys at boot. All I've managed to do so far is get different lights on the front panel to light up!

I agree that there is probably some backdoor-ishness already built in at this level. I suspect the true time-setting feature is done this way.

Posted by: mr1

Yes, it is upgraded, and no, I didn't tell them. I figured that the problem was clearly defined enough that the upgrade didn't matter at this stage; L1 support knew immediately what I was talking about and ran the process right along. I further figured that, had the kickstart not fixed the problem, I would have been back to my backup file (which I keep in my second TiVo).

TiVo did indicate that they would RMA the unit if the problem didn't go away, another indication of the level of support that this company believes in - there was no consideration of the age of the unit. But it would not have been right to go that way given that it is an opened box.

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Martin

Posted by: mr1

quote:
Originally posted by dd9:

I played around with pressing different keys at boot. All I've managed to do so far is get different lights on the front panel to light up!

I agree that there is probably some backdoor-ishness already built in at this level. I suspect the true time-setting feature is done this way.

[/B]

I suspect that you would also need to be on the kickstart server list to actually get anywhere with this.

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Martin

[This message has been edited by mr1 (edited 03-03-2001).]

Posted by: Otto

I guarantee you'd need to be on the kickstart authorization list to get anywhere with this.

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Otto, Scientist, Porn enthusiast, Zen TiVo Master - Moderator - AVS Forum - Tivo Underground
"If once you start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny. Consume you it will!" -- Yoda

Posted by: Wild_One!

What is this about kickstart ? is this a last resort for a major f** up tivo ? Is this the same as a GSOD type of thing ?. can they reinstall a new image for you http://www.avsforum.com/ubbtivo/smile.gif

Mine is working fine still but you never know what is waiting for you in the morning. btw what is the longest running Tivo ?

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Now if I can just figure out how to pause my work... or fast fwd to the end of the day

Posted by: Dunk

quote:
Originally posted by Wild_One!:
Mine is working fine still but you never know what is waiting for you in the morning. btw what is the longest running Tivo ?

I bought my Philips 14-hour in in Nov '99, and it was the first one received at my local Ultimate Electronics. (I've never had a problem with it, and just this week upgraded it, after 2.0.1 update, to 82-hour unit.)

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Philips 12Hour, Upgraded w/IBM 60GB
TiVo Vers. 2.1.0-Z15

[This message has been edited by Dunk (edited 03-03-2001).]

Posted by: Alexander

quote:
Originally posted by Dunk:
I bought my Philips 14-hour in in Nov '99, and it was the first one received at my local Ultimate Electronics. (I've never had a problem with it, and just this week upgraded it, after 2.0.1 update, to 82-hour unit.)

I bought my 14-hour Philips on Sep. 24, 1999, and it's been running fine ever since.

For reference, the Philips TiVo was launched somewhere around Sep. 16, 1999. Before that, TiVo sold TiVo-branded TiVos since around March 31, 1999.

(While doing research for this article I came across an interesting link: http://www.planetblue.com/PB_Websit.../1999/tivo.html Anyone seen this? Sounds like it does a better job explaining what TiVo does than the current ads. http://www.avsforum.com/ubbtivo/smile.gif )

Alex