I have just tried to update my HDR-2000t 5gb to software version 1.01.06 to no avail.
I have followed the instructions to the letter, made sure the file on the usb stick was not in a folder and that the file name was correct. I have also used 3 different makes of usb sticks, used the front and back usb ports but nothing happens when the pvr is powered on. Yes --- I did 'immediately press the 'V' button and also tried the continuous tapping of the 'V' button but still nothing.
The TV picture appears, there is no indication of any update info being applied and superimposed on the TV picture I get 4 boxes labelled 'Video', 'Music', Photo' and 'Copy' which, after a few minutes disappear.
I did phone Humax and the nice man listened but could offer no help. He did say that he understood that the update I was trying to apply would be available via the aerial at the end of the month and I should hang on until then.
Has anyone else had this problem?

I think it's pretty unlikely that they would be doing an OTA update?, as it costs them a fortune - they seem to have all but died out now, and the update is already 7 months old.

However, by some strange coincidence, I actually updated an HDR-2000T this morning - it worked fine first try, although I had no on-screen messages on the TV at all, just the front LED lighting up 'purple'.

What file system is the USB drive using? If it is anything other than FAT32 the Humax won't read it.

I hope the OP was pressing the V on the box and not the remote!

Between the time of downloading the file to my PC and getting round to putting it on a USB, my HDR 1800-T updated itself to 1.01.06. It is plugged into the router so perhaps Humax have done away with OTA.

Hi Nigel,
can you tell me how you used the 'V' button. I know its the one on the box and not the remote. Did you press it only once or did you rapidly tap it and, if so, how fast and for how long? Were you actually pressing it when you switched the box on? These may seem like obvious and perhaps a little silly questions to be asking but with no on screen indication that anything is happening contrary to the instructions how does one know when to stop?

The usb sticks were formatted FAT32 and were all brand new, one Kingston, one Sandisk and an old generic nameless wonder I found in a drawer!

Do you suggest that I try again and just leave the stick in the slot to see what happens? as I did that on at least 4 tries -- left it in the slot for 15 minutes but must admit did not notice any colour change on the front light. Did you use the front slot or the slot on the rear. More silly questions, I know, but I spent nearly an hour trying every combination I could think off with no luck.

I found that my HDR-1800T (cut down version of the 2000T) updated the software only after I pressed the front standby button after switching it on from the mains, and then frantically tapping the V button. When you start the box from the mains, it'll turn on (blue light), then it'll spend some time to get the time and whatnot, then it'll turn off back to standby (red light). Try after it shuts down (red light) to tap the standby button on the front of the box, then quickly tap at that V button. That's how it worked for me, after I couldn't get it to update after turning it on via the mains like the instructions say. I tried the standby button, and it worked for me. Might work for you.

Another idea if that doesn't work, as mentioned above, is to connect the box via an ethernet cable to your router. Leave it on at night, and it should update itself via the net connection at around 4:30am when it checks for updates (it might do it sooner for online updates). When you start your box in the morning or whenever, hopefully it should tell you that it has an update ready to install. Follow on from there.

Hi Nigel,
a very strange thing has happened, yesterday I connected my box to the internet via a powerline set and, after posting my questions to you I went back and checked System Info and found that it had updated itself to the new software without mentioning a word so my problem has gone away. Joy is unrestrained!!!

Thanks to all who took the time to reply to my, now solved, problem.
A propos of nothing does anyone know if the new Freeview Play upgrade will apply to our Humax recorders or just to 'smart' TV's?