TiVo Community Forums Archives - Stuck in Reboot Loop even after upgrade

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Stuck in Reboot Loop even after upgrade
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Posted by: hadams

Someone please help! I have searched all over the message boards but haven't found an answer to my problems.

My troubles began several months ago with my Philips HDR31202/original 30gig (bought a couple of years ago) started to randomly reboot. The problem seemed to intensify until recently we couldn't watch live or taped TV without popping a blood vessel. After finding no luck with Tivo cust svc, I looked to these message boards for a suggestion.

As I looked at other people's postings, the one theme consistent throughout the boards was that it was probably a HD issue and I should upgrade my HD. I went out and bought a 40gig HD and proceeded to go through the Hinsdale upgrade instructions with Mfs Tools 2.0. The goal was to backup the Tivo drive onto the FAT 32 partition of my PC's HD (running W2k) and restore it onto my new HD. A bit of a learning curve as I had never done anything like this before but never-the-less it worked.

I placed the new unexpanded HD into Tivo and it appeared to work. I let it run for about 10 mins, pulled it out and put it back in my PC to perform the capacity upgrade. This worked flawlessly and I then returned the new HD to Tivo and waited for it to boot up.

This is where I seem to be stuck. It just goes through a continuous rebooting with an occasional green screen. A couple of times the Tivo did boot up to working order only to go back into the reboot loop after a few minutes. This is the same problem I was having prior to upgrade. I have gone through the restore and expand process a couple of times with no success.

I have checked that all of the cables are connected correctly and that the HD jumper is positioned correctly. This leads me to believe that its not a HD issue but a software problem.

After spending an embarrassingly huge amount of hours on this I am begging for help. Any suggestions as to how to solve my problem??????

- Howard

Posted by: Robert S

Investigate your power supply - problems with that can be /weird/. Start by checking the cables, especially the one powering the mainboard.

weaknees seems to be good with powersupplies.

Posted by: hadams

yes, checked the power connections and everything appears to be connected properly. This occured to me early on as each loop/reboot appeared to be a quick turning on and off and back on of the power. This was so quick but I could see that the fan would almost stop then start up again. Like a loose plug in a light that flickers on and off.

Is there anyway to look at the HD message logs through Mfs Tools? I can look at these logs when Tivo is working through the backdoor commands. Perhaps this will pinpoint the problem.?.

Posted by: Robert S

You can't read the logs with MFS Tools as that only does backup/restore/expand functions.

However, it's not hard to get at the logs. You can use the backdoor codes to read them on the TiVo if you can get it to stay up long enough. Alternatively, if you boot a byteswapping TiVo boot disk (anything other than MFS Tools 2.0) you can mount the TiVo's /var partition and use cat or more to read the logs.

There's a fair bit about how to do this (both methods) at the start of the Fixes thread. The log files you want will be in /var/log, which will mount as something like /mnt/log on your PC.

I don't know how to diagnose PSU problems, but I agree that it's not a hard drive issue and it's definitely not a software problem.

Posted by: hadams

Why do you say that it's definitely not a software problem? I believe that the software is somehow forcing a reboot. ALthough I can't get to the log screen right now, I did note from an earlier sucessful reboot that one of the error messages in the log states:

Dbgc-mcp[109]: Tmk Fatal Error: Thread died due to signal –2
Dbgc-mcp[109]: Invoking rule 834: rebooting system

Any idea what "signal -2" refers to?

Other error messages refer to not being able to run "mfs"

Could the Tivo software somehow be currupted? Is there any way to get a clean image? What are my options?

Thanks for your help!

Posted by: Robert S

You have the same software load as half a million other TiVo users, they would probably have noticed if their TiVoes were rebooting. It's not likely that the software has become corrupted, but it is possible that the partitions that store the Guide DB and recordings are corrupt, although that should force a green screen, not just a reboot.

The messages about 'mfs' tend to corroborate that. You might be able to fix this by forcing mfsfix to run by running 'mfsassert -please'. You'll probably have to add this command to rc.sysinit unless you have a bash prompt on the TiVo. If you search this Forum and the Underground for mfsassert you should find some useful threads.

You can certainly try downloading an image and restoring it either over your current drive or a new drive.

Posted by: enigma2175

quote:

Dbgc-mcp[109]: Tmk Fatal Error: Thread died due to signal –2
Dbgc-mcp[109]: Invoking rule 834: rebooting system
Any idea what "signal -2" refers to?

A "Signal 2" under Linux (or any Unix for that matter) is a SIGINT, which sends an interrupt signal to the process. It is the signal that gets sent when you press Control-C on the console while a process is in the foreground and is also the default signal for the kill command. On the Tivo if something kills a TCL thread the Tivo will reboot. It appears that is what is happening to your Tivo. When I have seen this message in the past it usually has a process name listed in the messages above it. For example (a couple of instances from my log files):

code:
Oct 19 22:57:47 (none) TvMomCs22Sink[136]: Tmk Fatal Error: Thread TvMomCs22Sink <136> died due to signal -2
Oct 19 22:57:47 (none) TvMomCs22Sink[136]: Tmk Thread Backtrace: 1aa90ac 1aa79c8 1c6f09c 19322e8 1c6e0c4 1c6dde4 1c686b4 
1c6b968 1c6bfbc 1c5fc24 1c60714 1c6c408 
1c6ce00 1c5d3ac 1933f58 1ba21c0 1ba5590 
1ba536c 1bbac78 1bbc074 1bbc12c 1bbae20 
1ba5308 1ba56b4 1b9cad4 1b9c0f8 1b9a720 
1b94400 1b90af8 1b907cc 1b8fa18 1b8f0c0 
1b8e4d4 1b8e43c 1ce601c 1800134 
Oct 19 22:57:47 (none) TvMomCs22Sink[136]: Tmk Fatal Error: Thread died due to signal -2
Oct 19 22:57:47 (none) TvMomCs22Sink[136]: Invoking rule 834: rebooting system

...

Oct 15 03:31:34 (none) TmkAssertionFailure[130]:  (BlockFailure, line 2073 ())
Oct 15 03:31:34 (none) tivosh[130]: Tmk Fatal Error: Thread tivosh <130> died due to signal -2
Oct 15 03:31:34 (none) tivosh[130]: Tmk Thread Backtrace: 1aa90ac 1aa79c8 1aa2290 1cda374 
1ce64ec 1d37004 1d5e1c8 19b0ffc 1d35b98 
1d48968 1d363d8 1d5b184 1d48968 1d363d8 
1d37584 1d48968 1d363d8 1d5b184 1d48968 
1d363d8 1d36160 199ccec 19b13e8 19b9870 
1ba85dc 1ba79fc 1ba7d0c 19a607c 1d35b98 
1d48968 1d363d8 1d53470 1d5457c 1ce648c 
1ce61d4 1800134 
Oct 15 03:31:34 (none) tivosh[130]: Tmk Fatal Error: Thread died due to signal -2
Oct 15 03:31:34 (none) tivosh[130]: Invoking rule 834: rebooting system

Can you look a few lines above where you got the entry you posted to see what process is actually dying? It seems to be dbgc-mcp, this is (AFAIK) the database indexer. If this is the process that is dying there is most likely a problem on the MFS partition that mfsfix cannot handle. The solution would seem to be restoring from a backup that does not have the MFS partitions included, or skip the MFS partitions on the restore and have MFS Tools make you new ones. I don't know exactly how this is implemented in MFS Tools (or if the latter is even possible) perhaps someone more familiar with the application will chime in and give you the specific syntax.

Posted by: hadams

Well I am still having the same frustrating reboot problems with Tivo. To date I have performed the following steps:

1. Backup of HD and restore to new larger HD
Same problems as described in above postings with intermittent rebooting of Tivo. Sometimes the I would get the green screen (for a few seconds), sometimes it would just get caught up in the reboot cycle, sometimes it would work properly for at most about 30 minutes. The logs don't even look up-to-date with info.

2. Replaced power supply
No change to above symptoms.

3. Restored clean copy of Tivo OS to old HD (first performed low level format)
After 1-2 reboot loops, I am able to make it to the Guided setup screens. Makes the first call to get the cable info but reboots during second Set Up call. Sometimes it doesn't even make it that far. After that it gets caught up in the reboot loop again.

4. Restored clean copy of Tivo OS to new HD (first performed low level format)
Same results as #3.

This would lead me to believe that this is not a HD or power supply problem but something wrong with another piece of hardware. Can anyone provide a suggestion as to what to look for next?

- Howard

Posted by: jwelch1523

Howard,

If this is a test, I'm stupped. Although I admit that I am by no means a Computer or TIVO expert. However, I am in the electronics field, like fixing my own stuff and have the EXACT same problem on a 1 yr 2mo old Sony Sat-60T.

Mine started about a week ago. the play back speed would vary as if a computer was processeing something in the background, then reset , then work for about an hour. After reading your post I decided to do a complete reset. After 3 hours ( that means the power supply was working for 3 hrs straight) I got the initial start up screen. I went thru it till it said call Direct TV I let the screen play for an hour. Fast forwarding and rewinding a different times at different rates. And it worked perfectly. I went back to the setup so it could make it's calls and it could not connect. It would dial and I could hear the modem thru my phone. Ironically, as I was doing this direct TV called and wanted me to sign up for the Starz package. I said I would love to but it dosen't work. Anyway, I tried to reconnect with different settings, differnent phone lines, and different jacks. In the middle of one of the calles it started the rebooting then came up with the green screen that states that a Major error has accured and to leave it connected to the phone line for 24 hrs... then it would reset at different times.

After reading what you wrote, knowing what I've done and to me it screams, mainboard componet failure. I've written it up as a lost cause. I went to Sony's customer service page and found a service center 15Min from me. (Philly) and the unit "qualifies for the 85 flat repair fee" .

Now, I don't know what qualifies it ( I only gave the model number and date of purchase) or weather this means I drop by, give them mine and I get a rebuilt one or I wait a couple of weeks and hope they fix this one. I'll keep you informed.

The web site is http://www.sel.sony.com/SEL/service/service.html

Let me know if this is just a test too.

Jim

Posted by: hadams

Not sure what you mean by a "test"???

Unfortunately I have a Phillips not a Sony but thank you for trying to help. I am thinking that something is fried on the motherboard. Unless anyone else has a suggestion, I guess I will have to make the call to Tivo and see if they can somehow repair the unit.

- Howard

Posted by: jwelch1523

Well, I think I've got it.

I don't know if you are still checking this anymore. But I'll post it just in case someone else has the same problem. The problem is the hard drive. I repeat it is the hard drive. Now I know we have different units but hear me out. I found out there is very little difference between all the tivo's and ours had the EXACT same problem. After reading another post and going to weaknees.com i decided to check my hard drive as is. I ran the full test in powermax and I got an error. I did the full reformat and the error went away but smart drive still shows an error . So I got a 120GB REPLACEMENT hard drive and gave it a try before I sent it in to purgatory for 6 or 7 weeks. I ordered it on sat and I had it on Tues. I put it in and presto it worked like a charm.

Now to tie up the loose ends. 1. you stated "Restored clean copy of Tivo OS to new HD (first performed low level format). I don't know what you meant by "clean copy". If this is the copy you got off of the original hard drive it could have been corrupted. If it's not, then get another copy. That is why I got the replacement hard drive and not the upgrade. It comes with a copy of the software.

2 the modem error I stated in my post is fixed by adding ",#034" that is comma,pound, zero, three, four. From what I can tell that slows down the modem because the 800 number has issues.

3. What to do with the old hard drive. Do not throw it away. run powermax. It will give you an error code. send it back and get a new one. and install it as the second hard drive.

4 What I meant by "test" was a joke. It seemed that whenever someone would post a solution it would be all sure (kind of like I am now) and you would come back like one of my engineering professors would in college. ("no that wasn't the problem but you do see a burnt trace.") I guess you would have to be there.

Anyway I am 100% sure the original problem is the hard drive corrupted the software and you copied it onto the new hard drive.

Jim

P.S.
I don't know who created this web site (tivo goddess?) but I Love you.

Posted by: hadams

Jim -

I really want to believe that it is the hard drive but with all the different scenarios that I have run, I think (I repeat I THINK) that its something else. Let me clarify the HD process that I went through:

1. Backup of old HD image and restored image to new larger HD

2. Tested (no reported problems) and performed low level format on old HD (created clean slate)

3. Found a site that had backup Tivo images and restored this "clean" copy onto old HD

4. Tested (no reported problems) and performed low level format on new HD (created clean slate)

5. Restored same "clean" copy of Tivo OS to new HD

I received the same results with all above scenarios; the dreaded reboot loop. I would love to say that it was the HD or corrupted software that was causing the problem, but logic appears to be ruling that out.

Contacted www.digitalrecorder.tv who claim they repair Tivo's and after hearing what I had done to date, suggested I trash it and buy another one.

Thanks for your suggestions.

- Howard