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Can't Boot HDR212
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Posted by: dgselby

Have read many threads on this subject. The problem is as follows:

1. Everything powers up
2. Cable (no box) and TV connected to RF in/out.
3. TV receiving signal whether Tivo powered up or not.
4. No apparent burn smell or components
5. Fan runs all the time.
6. Green light on Tivo front panel is on.
7. Hard drive running.

Here is what I have done:

1. Replaced from a working, "booting" Tivo- hard drive, ribbon cable, power supply

2. Observed that the front panel green light is on but after 4 minutes it turns to yellow.

I have reached the conclusion that it is the mother board. But since several threads have indicated that outside of the vast number of modem failures there seems to be few other problems reported.

I am posting this in as last attempt to solve this problem before I use this unit for parts or throw it far far away!!!!

Input very much appreciated.

Thanks

David

Posted by: DaveLessnau

Just to clarify: you have your cable from the wall hooked to the RF input of your TiVo and then the RF output of the TiVo hooked to the RF input of your television. Your television is tuned to the same channel that TiVo is set to output to (probably Channel 3). You see programming. Do you see the TiVo menus if you push the TiVo button? How about the TiVo noises (bloops)? You say the green light turns yellow. Are you sure it's the green power LED on the left and not the recording/dialing LED on the right (i.e., do you see a green LED AND a yellow LED)?

Posted by: dgselby

Thanks for the quick reply. Before I answer your questions, I'll go back over the steps one more time. It's the simple little thing sometimes that trip you up so I want to be sure I did'nt miss a "little thing".

Thanks again.

David

Posted by: dgselby

Re-checked everything:

1. Cable from wall hooked to RF input on Tivo
2. RF output from Tivo to RF input on TV
3. Tivo and TV set on channel 4
4. TV displays current channel 4 program whether Tivo power on or off.
5. No Tivo menus. Tivo doe not even get to "a few more minutes".
6. No "bloops"
7. Green LED on left turns yellow after 4 minute's. I also observed on my other Tivo that the same left LED turns yellow momentarily when the left or right navigator arrows are used.
8. The right LED is never on. I know it is red for recored and yellow for dial up.

Thanks again for the input.

Posted by: DaveLessnau

On the off-chance that the TiVo is stuck in Standby, hit the TiVo button (which you probably already did). The thing that I really don't understand is the left, power LED going yellow. The only time I know of when that would be yellow is if BOTH the LEDs go yellow: it's in a self-test mode that it goes into when it gets IR input during boot. I don't know why only the power LED would be yellow. Again, on the off-chance, clear the room of all IR sources (remotes, IR extenders), pull the plug and reboot.

About the only other thing I can think of is it's a port problem. If you've got the ports on your television, hook the TiVo to the television via the RCA and S-Video ports to see if the menus are coming through on them. You'll also have to change the video mode of your television from TV to something like Video1.

Posted by: DaveLessnau

You sent me a Private Message on this, but the public forum is the best place to post it (so other people can chime in). So, I've copied it here:

"...changing the output to RCA video out/into TV got me a signal to the TV.

1. Hard drive unplugged I get "your recorder is starting...". This must be inbedded in the motherboard.

2. Plugged in the hard drive and restarted. I get the above message immediately then 8 sec. later a "blip". The screen goes blank for a split sec. and the above display appears. 8 sec. later the cycle starts all over again.

3. I swapped the power supply from a fully working Tivo, problem still the same. As I stated in the outset, I am using a known working hard drive and ribbon cable.
4. It seems the system is trying to go into boot mode every 8 sec. Each time following a "blip".

5. I hit the Tivo button several times at various stages with no response. On a working Tivo, the left green LED turns yellow whenever a remote button is hit.

6. I tried carefully tapping some of the components on the motherboard in hopes that a loose solder joint might be the problem. No change

7. I feel I have made progress with your help. Any further suggestions?
..."

OK. At least you can work around the apparently broken RF output jack (check the cable, too). If you know the drive is good (i.e., it works in another TiVo -- it's the same type, right?), then I'm down to checking the internal drive/power cables (again) and making sure the drive is jumpered properly. Assuming these were both single drive TiVos, then make sure the drive is specifically jumpered to Master. If it's already jumpered as Master, try the Cable Select setting. I believe I've read a post or two here that some drives prefer the Cable Select in some situations (I believe that's for WD two-drive systems, but I'm probably wrong).

Posted by: dgselby

Thanks to Dave Lessnau I have made some progress in diagnosing this problem.

The following is in answer to Dave,s suggestions of Dec. 24th.

1. Checked the power cable again. in fact I swapped out a tested power supply. No change.

2. Checked the jumpers on the drive ( known and tested drive with 3.0. I tried both DS and CS settings.

3. The left LED is not lit. Previously is was green and then turned yellow after 4 minutes. Neither front LED.S are on.

4. The LED on the underside of the drive flashes and then the TV screen "blips" for a second as if it was going to the "just a few more minutes" but it reverts back to "your recorder is starting up".

All suggestions appreciated. It has become a challenge to get a definitive answer to the question "is the motherboard DEAD?"