Just to clarify the process, unplug the Wharfedale from the mains, connect the serial cable up, start HyperTerminal and then start the file upload. Finally, plug the Wharfedale in and then the file upload should start. Basically, the Wharfedale only looks for the file upload signal when it is first plugged in to the mains.

Since you got the bootloader info once, then you should be ok and shows the serial settings are correct. Presumably you did save these to a profile in HyperTerminal and load that profile each time? Do also ensure the protocol is set to 1K Xmodem when sending the file.

From the instructions you’ve given above it looks like I don’t need to wait for the bootloader info to appear in order to start the file upload. Is that correct?

The Serial settings are okay, I gathered that myself when I first saw the bootloader info. I couldn’t save a profile in HyperTerminal at that time as like I said HyperTerminal crashed on me while I was trying to upload the software file. And I’ve not been able to view the bootloader info since then even though the Port Settings are correct in both HyperTerminal and the Device Manager.

I did make sure that the protocol was set to 1K Xmodem when attempting the file upload.

Is it really important to view the bootloader info before I attempt to upload the file?

If so then how much time should I allow for the bootloader info to appear when I first plug in the box while it is connected to the PC/Laptop?

The bootloader text is unimportant - the main use is to show the serial link is working ok. When you start the upload and plug the box in, it is normal for the bootloader text not to show, but the upload should start instead within a couple of seconds, and the progress should be indicated in the HyperTerminal transfer window. If the transfer doesn't start, then there is something wrong. Did it start at all the first time you tried when HyperTerminal crashed?

Presumably the Wharfedale is still coming up with FAIL as before? It sounds like some sort of problem with the serial link to me, if you cannot get the bootloader text to show when plugging the box in (forgetting about the software upload for now). Check the drivers for the USB/RS232 adaptor.

No, the file transfer did not start at all the first time when HyperTerminal crashed.

It was still coming up with the FAIL message as before yesterday.

But today I’ve been messing around with my USB to Serial adapter and it finally started working in a different USB port on my PC as COM2. I skipped the step of waiting for the bootloader info to appear and just went ahead with the file transfer. I then turned the box on for the first time and to my surprise the file transfer went through successfully. The box is now working like normal with the green light now turning on - result.

I then saw the bootloader info appear after the file transfer completed successfully. Then I disconnected the USB to Serial adapter and put the box in standby (red light) and then unplugged from the mains. I closed down HyperTerminal and saved this configuration on my PC. I then re-fitted the HDD in the box and turned the box on again and all is working as before.

Many thanks for your help futaura. Your software file and your instructions have resurrected my dead Wharfedale TU250DTR 250GB TUTV+ box.

... And proves TUTV were responsible for the initial failure.

Glad you got it sorted - another box saved from landfill, for now .

I'm just chuffed that I managed to get it working again simply by buying an adapter from eBay for just £1.73 (along with the free software and instructions on the Internet). I'm glad that I didn't throw the box away. I had a feeling that there might be a solution on the Internet one day which is the reason why I kept it all that time. And I was proven right.

The HDD recordings are still intact and still playable. The box records new programmes as normal.

I've now updated the box to the latest software v7.09. Hopefully this will now prevent the FAIL problem from occurring again.

One quirky thing I've noticed about this new software is the LPS Low Power Standby feature. When I enable it and put the box in standby, the HDD spins down and switches off but then a second later it switches on and spins up again and the box mysteriously turns itself on and tunes to BBC One.

If I disable the LPS feature and put the box in standby then the HDD continues to spin away until I unplug the box from the mains (as it used to a couple of years ago). Is this normal behaviour? I was hoping that enabling the LPS would actually achieve the desired effect i.e. spin down and switch off the HDD all together to preserve energy.

I know this thread is really old, but thought I might try my luck! My box showed 'fail' when switching on. I used the software download and a RS232 cable and once this was done the box seemed to work... except that about 1 minute after switching on, it freezes up (whatever you're doing) and then reboots itself. Seems I can access all features but only for about 1 minute. Got pass on checks e.g. HD. I did get it to last about 5 minutes once, but then it froze up (left it for hours) and eventually I unplugged it. Any advice?

If you can get into the box I would recommend trying both a hard disk format and a full retune to reset the box back to defaults. That should clear out any dodgy information still held in flash memory or on the HDD.

Thanks for the reply. I did the factory reset and that seems to have done the job. Only thing is I lost my recordings which were still there before the reset. Still not sure what the cause of the original problem was!

Digihome TUTV DTR250GB was showing FAIL. I followed instructions from above and now it's working perfectly. However some observations in case helps others.
The instructions at one point refer to a .BIN file but it was a .LBS file and that threw me until I checked it out on the internet.
In Windows XP HyperTerminal appeared to be absent. However searching in Help & Support on the START menu led me to it.
HyperTerminal response was nothing like that shown in the instructions. I think it only showed a $ and then when the transfer was complete showed something like $-$.

I used the 4.34 release of software which was the only one listed for this model.

The Digihome initially appeared not to respond to the remote and only with difficulty to the buttons on the front. However over the space of 24 hours it became responsive to the remote and is now as good as ever. All recordings were preserved.

I'm very grateful to all those who take the time to provide advice.

Thanks for this thread.

Helped me recover a Wharfedale 320gb box that was reading as 'FAIL'.

Only £1.15 for the cable from ebay. Used Windows 8, downloaded Hyperterminal from here;

http://h0w2.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/h...windows-8.html

Also found these helpful when assigning COM ports:

http://www.windmill.co.uk/usb-serial.html