Hi

I have posted here before about my digihome pvr160 crashing.

I have now worked it out that it mainly crashes when the hard disk is nearly full.

Does anyone else have this problem?

The obivious soloution is to delete programs before the hard disk gets anywhere near full, but there is no warning of when the disk will crash so not quite so simple.

Does anyone have any ideas on how to retreive programs once the disk has crashed?

Done the restart by holding down the standby button for 5 seconds and it comes up with hard disk needs reformatting.

Thanks in advance

Helenthemum

I've never experienced this, but then again, I usually keep my HD empty enough to fulfil expected recordings. Do you use the "auto discard" feature in the prefs? If not, sounds like it might be useful to you.

Are you still using software v3.5? If so, I'd say the first point of call would be to update the box to v5.3. If it isn't a software glitch, then I guess another possibility is that the HD is defective in that it could have some bad sectors which are mapped to the latter part of recording space. But still, I'd recommend updating to v5.3.

Thanks for the reply, and i did quickly scan my previous posts and the answers provided.

Basically I am still on software 3.5. I have tried and tried to update it with no success.

The auto update feature never updates, and when I manually serach for an update it says it cannot find one.

While it is frustrating to lose 50 hours of recordings and have to reformat I am (sadly) getting used to it which actually shouldn't be an acceptable situation.

If there is anyway of upgrading the box easily (beyond using the menu--setup--configuration-receiver upgrade--scan for upgrade which doesnt work) I will be all ears.

Failing that I may have to return it to the shop, as if i can find the receipt i have 14 days until the 12 months are up.

The last OTA update for the T810 was broadcast back in February, and there haven't been any since, and I doubt there will be any in the future either . The alternative is to manually update the box via a serial cable and PC. There are threads describing this process and links to the required files.

However, I'm only guessing that this could be a software issue, and even if it is, I have no way of assuring you that it is fixed in v5.3. As I say it could equally be a faulty HD.

Therefore, if you can find the receipt I'd suggest you return it to the store. If that's Argos, you may find that they will send it off for "repair" - so, do make a note of the serial number on the bottom of the box, and the serial number on the HD (should be visible through the vents on the underside of the PVR), so when you get it back you'll know if they changed the unit and/or HD - probably they won't have and it will not be fixed at all (I could write an essay on this subject ).

The v3.5 software certainly is prone to crashing, and if your box is out of warranty, I would consider updating to the v4.9 version which is available, look at the other updating threads as futuara suggests, particularly the twin-record threads. You would need to get hold of a null modem cable and feel confident enough to upload the firmware from your PC.

I have had a few of these boxes with the early software, and updating has cured the box locking up.

Hi Helenthemum.

Sorry this post is a little late - you might have resolved the problem by now.

I still have a copy of the Firmware Version 5.3 given to me by Vestel-uk for the older Digihome PVR80/160 (T810 hardware). You won't get an OAD for this unit anymore, I should imagine, since the model has moved on to the DTR80. It is quite easy to update the box though, using the RS232 link at the back of the box, and a PC. If I could send you an email, I could attach the folder I have containing the original 5.3 bin file to download to the box, and some details as to how to go about doing it (if MSWord is a problem, I will re-save the file as a plain text 'notepad' file). Please let me know if you would like me to send it. I don't have the earlier 4.9 version, mentioned though.

Hope this helps.

Kind regards,

Tim (Nottingham).

That said, if the unit is still under guarantee, I'd be inclined to return it in this situation. I mean, even after updating it the problem could still occur (e.g. if the HDD is faulty), and by which time the guarantee may have run out, and then you'd be stuffed.

If the retailer in question is Argos, and this is a tip for everybody I guess, be sure to ask them exactly what was done to repair it when collecting it, after it has been sent off for repair. The first time my PVR80 was sent off, nothing appeared to have been done (didn't ask on that occasion), and the second time they reformatted the HDD and "extensively tested" it. Doesn't inspire much confidence when among the faults that they were supposed to fix were the 8-day EPG being more like a 4-day EPG with disappearing channels and the infamous bottom of picture (black bar at bottom of screen) missing bug. Of course, the latter is a software bug, and the former is probably a hardware limitation (if not a software bug), so I knew they would not be able to fix it unless they had some software newer than v5.3 which fixed these faults (which they appeared not to have). As you might have guessed, I'm not one of Argos' greatest fans after my recent experiences with them .

Tim,

I (like many?) had the 5.3 software on their T810 machines but upgraded to the twin record software available on the web - you should be able to find links by searching this forum. The 4.9 single record software is also available on the web but if I do ever wish to go back to single record it might be nice to have a copy of the 5.3 software. As it seems this is unlikely to be broadcast for OAD updating, could you make this more widely available? Thanks.

Hi Kohare.

Sorry for delay in post response!!!

I feel bad about making firmware I have been entrusted to by Vestel in good faith, generally available to all. I might, one day though, ask if I could set up a small web site to make firmware available more easily, since Vestel don't seem to wish to do it themselves.

Having said that, I will very gladly indeed pass the firmware onto whoever wants it, on a one-to-one basis by email, as I have recently with the newer DTR firmware.

If I can help by giving you version 5.3 (or the recent DTR80 firmware which I have also been fortunately provided with), please email me, or send me a PM with contact details, and I will send it as an attachment.

Hope I can be of some service.

Tim.

Hi Tim, I PM'd you a couple of days ago, I wonder if your User CP is set up to alert you of PMs. There's absolutely no rush, but I thought I'd mention the alert option, just in case you weren't aware of it...

I'm sorry you're not too well again

parthena x

By the way, I have again asked my contact at Vestel if I can make the v5.3 software available to download, especially if no further updates are planned for the T810. Here's hoping I at least get an answer this time.

I've just had this crashing thing happen to my T816 with the 2.4 software. Ouch! It started when there was only a few hours spare on the HDD, and hard locked the device so that only unplugging from the wall got it going again. It kept doing this, mostly when stressed (recording 2 and watching 1 already recorded, though sometimes when recording 1 and watching 1 or just recording 2, never when simply watching).

I have returned it and got a replacement. Hopefully I will have better luck with this one. I always have auto-delete on, but it crashed anyway. Here's hoping they aren't all broken!

Did you lose all the recordings too (due to it needing to reformat the HDD), like the original poster?

No, actually, I didn't. It did trigger a disk check on powering back up though. Of course I lost the recordings when I had to return it...

I did start to get a bit of stuttering during playback, at around the same time as the crashing instability started. Doubtless this is linked. Not a constantly, but enough to be very annoying.

I never unplugged it whilst it was writing to the drive. It should have been, of course, however during lock the drive was spinning but there was no seek noise.

I'm wondering if they all do this. Can anyone confirm that they definitely do NOT have this problem?

To test: If your box is almost full (around 6 spare hours left, but testing with 5 or less would make it a great test), set a line of recordings for the next few hours and watch another station. Now pause that station for a minute, then play it timeshifted.

Right, now leave it like that for a few hours. Go do some reading.

Anyone manage to avoid getting locked? It happens more often than this test might suggest, but these conditions should be sure to trip up a faulty system. Consider it a burn in test. Can anyone help?

David P Dooley would like the v5.3 software i am having problems with digihome pvr160 it pauses and no control buttons work i unplug it and it restarts also lose sound on recordings this corrects itself if i rewind it. As described HD is usually full when i have problems. Whould i be better taking it back to Argos.
Regards David P Dooley.

any chance of getting v5.3 am having similar problems.
Regards Dave P Dooley.

Check this thread - somebody will be able to send you v5.6 (new discovery ).