We need to co-ordinate our actions:

how many of us here have problems?
have you logged a call with Sony helpline?
did you get a reasonable answer (I suspect not)?
log times & dates

Yes, I agree. Some of the recent lock-ups have resolved themselves - when given enough time. Example: when I pressed the 'title list' button, nothing happened (suggesting a lock-up), but 5 mins later the list appeared.

I have made an exciting discovery re the lock-ups/software bug on the 710/910 models, as discussed here

I tried setting a recording for a programme on E4, and the timer icon also appeared on the same programme an hour later on E4+1. This is on both my 710's and my 910.

However, I've tried the brand new RDR-HXD560 (80GB) at home to see how it performed. When setting as above, the timer icon does NOT appear on E4+1. This suggests that maybe Sony have sorted the software on the new range and that will be no lock-ups AND no blank recordings of channel '0'.

The RDR-HXD560 has some new interesting features and some missing ones:

Auto timer extend (can add 1,2,5 or 10 mins to end of recordings automatically). Sounded great, but haven't got it to work so far!

Series Link (an option to record every programme in a series). Sadly this relies on the broadcaster transmitting specific information, and I couldn't find any programmes at all that it would work on.

No intelligent chaptering. Whereas the older models would cleverly sense the ad breaks and place a chapter mark there. The new model doesn't do this, it just marks every 6 minutes.

I've only got a couple of weeks to see how things pan out, before I decide what to do.

Why, oh why can't Sony just give us some new software/firmware like this?

My 710 locked up again last night (somewhere between 8 and 9pm I think - I should have noted it down really) - did anyone else have the same experience?

Well i've phoned up Sony(08705 111 999 (England, Wales & Scotland) 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday ) and a Gentleman on the other end of the phone said thats he'd not heard of this problem before!! emm! some how i don't believe him! the evidence is quiet clear by the number of us just on this forum alone that theres a problem with both the 710 & 910 and im sure theres hundreds if not thousands of other people out there that are having the same problem as us. and yes it locked up again last night on ITV1 but unlike the previous times i didn't noticed a new channel listed!!
Any way if its its any help heres that number again
08705 111 999 (England, Wales & Scotland) 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday
you can also find it here http://www.sony.co.uk/view/ShowArtic...site=odw_en_GB

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Last edited by It's only me : 11-08-2006 at 17:11

Bloke called back from the local service centre to say he had no news yet as Sony Technical were out of office until Tuesday next week.

Mine locked last night and for the first time it failed to record a timer event (10.30 BBC4 Charlie Brooker's Screen Wipe).

I also noticed that the box was flashing "INFO WRITE" for at least an hour this morning and refused to do anything else. When I rebooted a lot of the EPG was missing.
Last edited by rad10 : 11-08-2006 at 17:21

I called Sony at lunchtime today and spoke to Alison, who hadn't heard of the problem, and said that she herself owns a 710 which also hasn't had the problem. Let's hope it does, and soon, so that a Sony employee is on our side!

I asked what the current firmware version is, and having spoken to her supervisor, she said that "it doesn't work like that". I said I didn't understand, but got nowhere. Evidently the updates are broadcast by DTG (see the timetable on http://www.dtg.org.uk/retailer/download_schedule.pl)

I can't see anything relevant on that timetable.

My next step is to call my local authorised repair centres (there are quite a few nearby) and ask if they've had similar calls from other people ... and what they suggest.

Mines only locked up 3 times since last sunday, tuesday wednesday n today everytime its done it i have unplugged it for ten mins then plugged it back in this might be helping the situation cause its not doing it like it was last weekend. I have only had it since last friday is it worth getting it replaced if its a bug in them ? the replacement might be as bad.

One or two of those lock ups were more of a go slow i noticed to. It seems to totally freeze for about 5 mins then all of a sudden comes back to life.

It all seems too common to be a hardware fault - more like a design or software issue.

We purchased our 710 back in December and have had it lock up 2 or 3 times since then; until yesterday and again today when it is becoming a bit predictable!

Both times, I am told, was after watching a recording, which was then erased and an attempt then made to change the channel being viewed. Both times, complete and total lockup at that point. No response to front panel buttons or remote control. Had to hold down the on/off on the machine to get it into recovery.

This time I have also decided to format the disc (not that I think that will stop the problem) and I also unplugged the mains for a short while after the formatting was done and the machine in stand-by.

Think I may be phoning the retailer tomorrow, as this is more hassle than expected for the money.

I phoned the shop where i brought mine from last monday was told sales would ring back they never did so looks like ill have to phone again on monday.

Just phoned them again didnt think they were open on a sat but i got an answer n was told someone would phone me back again today. lol lets see if they do.

Well its 6.20 pm n no call so dont think ill get one now.

I have had my 710 for about 2 months now and its has locked up about 10 times. Interestingly, it only locks up on days when I have edited a film using the delete A-B funtion. I will not use this functionality for a month and see if it happens during this time. I agree with someone else, you said that if any of us call 'Phony' (sorry I mean Sony) then we should get the ref number and detail it here...
Jacko3

FWIW, I don't think I've ever used the Delete A-B function, but I've still had lockups. My latest cunning plan was to leave the unit disconnected from the power overnight (from about midnight to 10am). I've also changed the command mode to DVD1 instead of the default DVD3 (this is a bit of a grasp at a straw rather than scientific). Anyway, no lock ups since then ...

Since i unplugged mine from the mains its not locked up as much as it did b4 that but it has still locked up about 6 times since i 1st did it last monday but b4 that it locked up about 15 times in 2 days. So actually unplugging it for a while prolly helps but doesnt stop it from locking up still at times by the looks of it.
Last edited by bekko2006 : 14-08-2006 at 13:03

I have only recently started to use A-B Delete, and the lock-ups were happening before that. However, no problems since last thursday - touch wood.

i am being sent another one on thursday lets hope this ones better. I had to phone sales again they didnt phone me like i have been told they will twice before.

rad10 did you get my email i sent you on saturday ?

I just called the sony 'help' line again - they say they have no record of this as a known fault, and that it must just be a coincidence that several people on this board are experiencing the same problem. hmmm. They've directed me to take it to my local sony service centre to have it looked at - so despte my sceptisism, in the absence of any other options off I go...

Coincidence - my arse!

There are far too many people having this problem for it to be a coincidence.

I have 2x 710 models + 1x 910 model - it's happened on all 3 machines.

Too Right, my 710 & my fathers 910 as well!! They all saying the same thing! might be an idea to phone this sony help line and ask the simple question " has anybody else had any simular problems or is it just me" on different days and see if they still saying that they haven't heard of such a problem
Last edited by It's only me : 16-08-2006 at 20:21