Philips DSR6000R green screen with severe problem message

[SilvrDrgn]

I just checked my Philips DSR6000R via my Slingbox AV since I am on vacation. I believe it had updated itself to the 3.5c software, and after that I had to reapply the CacheCard drivers via the "nic_install" CD/program because it stopped showing the CacheCard driver screen during bootup. The unit worked fine after doing that for quite some time (at least a couple of weeks). I then went and am still on vacation.

Checking my DTivo with Slingbox, it is now stuck in a reboot loop. After booting and showing the CacheCard driver screen, it shows the "Almost there" screen and then a green background with large letters saying a "Severe problem has occurred. Please wait 3 hours while the system tries to repair itself ..." It then reboots itself after showing that screen briefly and starts the whole reboot cycle over again. This keeps repeating indefinitely. Well, I don't know if Tivo sent out another update while I am on vacation or not. There is no way for me to figure out what happened since I'm not at home. In any case, my DTivo is basically inoperative again since it's stuck in the reboot loop. I will very likely end up reimaging the drive with my older Instant Cake CD (3.5b version I believe). Once I get everything working again, then I'll have to figure out how to totally disable the Tivo updates since I don't want this happening again.

Questions:
1) Where is the green screen with the severe problem message possibly coming from (i.e. cause)?
2) What are some suggestions for trying to fix it without losing the recorded content on the drive? (If I need to reimage and totally start over losing everything in the process, so be it.)
3) Anyone know how to disable the updates that Tivo sends out from applying to my DTivo (this assumes after successful InstantCake installation)???

Thanks!

[Lou Jacob]

Questions:
1) Where is the green screen with the severe problem message possibly coming from (i.e. cause)?
2) What are some suggestions for trying to fix it without losing the recorded content on the drive? (If I need to reimage and totally start over losing everything in the process, so be it.)
3) Anyone know how to disable the updates that Tivo sends out from applying to my DTivo (this assumes after successful InstantCake installation)???

Thanks!

1. The green screen is an indication of software corruption. But the cause could be any number of things. In most cases, a failing hard drive can be the cause of the green screen, but in your case, I think it may be something else (read on)...

2. Its likely that you have already lost, or will lose what is on there; reimaging, may be your only option.

3. Yes. The details are complicated; but with that said, InstantCake already does that for you (for this particular model) if you are using the 3.5b or 3.5c version. Of course, you also need to follow the recommendation of leaving your phone line unplugged, and/or not making the daily call over the network, either.

Now, as for your specific problem... you did not mention a few things; hate to assume, but without the data, I'll assume the "worst case"...

Firstly... the drive(s) in your unit - larger than 137GB? if NOT, then it may very well be a hard drive problem...

Secondly... if your drive(s) is/are greater than 137GB... you mentioned re-installing the networking drives, but did you install the LBA48 kernel; either by using CopyKern or by some other method?

My guess is that you didn't replace the kernel, and that would definitely cause a problem if you have a drive that is larger than 137GB. You can try using CopyKern off of the LBA48 boot cd, but the extent of the corruption may be too much - only trying will tell. If it doesn't work, using your InstantCake CD to reimage will do the trick -- then just leave your phone line unplugged and don't change the dialing options and the unit shouldn't upgrade in the future.

Check out this thread (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?t=297372) at TiVo Community for more information and specifics on this very problem -- the first post should address the issue in its entirety.

[SilvrDrgn]

I will take a look at the information at the Tivo Community thread you posted. Thanks for that!

My apologies for not including the needed information. My DSR6000R is a single drive unit. I had previously upgraded it from the standard 40GB drive to a 160GB drive. So, yes, the drive is bigger than 137GB, obviously. However, at the time I purchased it, the InstantCake CD that I bought already stated that it supports drives bigger than 137GB. It's shown here -

InstantCake CD ISO download description (http://www.dvrupgrade.com/dvr/stores/1/product1.cfm?SID=1&Product_ID=72&Category_ID=5&page=prod&type=Model&ModelID=78)

Do I still need to use CopyKern or some other method like you mention even after installing via InstantCake? Or did the Tivo 3.5c update replace my kernel after the fact with a non-LBA aware kernel ???

I believe at the time of my InstantCake purchase, the version of Tivo software on the CD was 3.5b, but I'm not sure about that. Recently Tivo sent out 3.5c and my unit upgraded to it automatically which disabled the CacheCard drivers (I reactivated them with the "nic_install" CD/program.) I thought that I had the Tivo updates turned off, and I did not have the unit plugged into a phone line. I must have screwed something up with disabling the over the network updates. In any case, it was working fine for quite a while until this problem. (On a side note, the NetReady installation from the InstantCake I bought did not completely work properly. I had to unlock it manually, unless it's supposed to be that way by design?)

Another question:
I think the main reason for the Tivo 3.5c update is for the change in Daylight Savings Time configuration. If so, I will certainly fork out another $20 for that update of InstantCake. Does the current version of InstantCake for my unit have that??? Or can the daylight savings time update be applied manually to my unit after reimaging it with the InstantCake 3.2b software I have?

[Lou Jacob]

The InstantCake CD that I bought already stated that it supports drives bigger than 137GB. It's shown here -

InstantCake CD ISO download description (http://www.dvrupgrade.com/dvr/stores/1/product1.cfm?SID=1&Product_ID=72&Category_ID=5&page=prod&type=Model&ModelID=78)

Do I still need to use CopyKern or some other method like you mention even after installing via InstantCake? Or did the Tivo 3.5c update replace my kernel after the fact with a non-LBA aware kernel ???



Correct; All versions of InstantCake for this model have had LBA48 support for a very long time -- but if your unit updates itself, then you'd need to replace the kernel with CopyKern because the kernel distributed by TiVo is not LBA48-aware.


I believe at the time of my InstantCake purchase, the version of Tivo software on the CD was 3.5b, but I'm not sure about that. Recently Tivo sent out 3.5c and my unit upgraded to it automatically which disabled the CacheCard drivers (I reactivated them with the "nic_install" CD/program.) I thought that I had the Tivo updates turned off, and I did not have the unit plugged into a phone line. I must have screwed something up with disabling the over the network updates. In any case, it was working fine for quite a while until this problem. (On a side note, the NetReady installation from the InstantCake I bought did not completely work properly. I had to unlock it manually, unless it's supposed to be that way by design?)


Correct. With 3.5b (btw, its the 3.5b version that included the DST updates) we set things up to turn off updates by default and to suppress the "nag" message reminding you to make the call. If you changed your dialing prefix to ,#401 then its likely your unit called out and initiated the update...


Another question:
I think the main reason for the Tivo 3.5c update is for the change in Daylight Savings Time configuration. If so, I will certainly fork out another $20 for that update of InstantCake. Does the current version of InstantCake for my unit have that??? Or can the daylight savings time update be applied manually to my unit after reimaging it with the InstantCake 3.2b software I have?

No, the 3.5b update had the DST changes in it; we really don't know what 3.5c offers. If you purchased your InstantCake within the last 90-days, your account should show the updated version (3.5c) being available. Lately, if we come out with a minor update, we update peoples accounts, and as long as you've not exhausted your download account, or its expired, you can redownload without having to repurchase.

[SilvrDrgn]

My account is showing "InstantCake for Philips DSR6000 (3.5c)". So, it appears that it has been updated. I will redownload and use that to rebuild my DTivo unit again. Thank you very much for the help!!

[SilvrDrgn]

I forgot one more question...
With the phone line disconnected and the network dialing disabled by default, how does one order Pay Per View movies with the unit???

[Lou Jacob]

I forgot one more question...
With the phone line disconnected and the network dialing disabled by default, how does one order Pay Per View movies with the unit???

This is documented in the release notes (http://www.dvrupgrade.com/dvrupgrade-support-center/?mod_id=2&id=115); here is the excerpt:

Important Note
If your unit is configured with a drive larger than 137GB, your software has been modified with a special "kernel" that allows the TiVo operating system to recognize all of the capacity of these larger drives. As a result, any updates to the DirecTV software on your unit, could cause problems. With this in mind, we've configured your unit so it will attempt to not automatically receive updates from DirecTV WITHOUT your knowledge. In order to do this, we've configured the system to "think" its making its daily call to DirecTV even though it is not doing it. In addition, we've adjusted your phone dialing prefix and call waiting prefix with the *# characters, just to prevent your unit from accidentally dialing. Naturally, you can still connect a phone line, and if you'd like to have your unit dial out you can do it at any time by editing those characters. BUT WE RECOMMEND YOU JUST LEAVE YOUR PHONE LINE DISCONNECTED and with that in mind, we suggest you just leave things be and if you have problems with pay per view events, you can still order them from the DirecTV web site, or just by calling 1-800-DIRECTV.

[SilvrDrgn]

"I see," said the blind man. Thanks a bunch!

[BruceS]

If you are asking how the box becomes authorized to view the show after you have contacted D*, the authorization is sent to the box by satellite.

[SilvrDrgn]

All right ... I reimaged the drive with the updated (3.5c) InstantCake, and all is well and working again. The final thing that I want to do is disable all software updates coming from Tivo. I was planning on editing the "rc.sysinit" file and adding these lines to it in the appropriate places above their respective "if" statements:

export swupgrade=false
export upgradesoftware=false

However, when I try to save the file to the drive (I'm accessing it via the CacheCard network interface while my DTivo is running), I get a "Filesystem is read-only" error. I see that it is mounted like this:

/dev/hda4 on / type ext2 (ro)

So, how do I go about making the file edit while my DTivo is running, or can't I do that? Do I have to remove the drive again, put it in my PC, boot up with a CD (which one?) and edit it that way???

I've read about doing this same type of thing with a bootpage parameter, but I don't fully understand it. Also, there are two software upgrade variables listed in the rc.sysinit file. Wouldn't two parameters be needed on the bootpage thing?

[Lou Jacob]

All right ... I reimaged the drive with the updated (3.5c) InstantCake, and all is well and working again. The final thing that I want to do is disable all software updates coming from Tivo. I was planning on editing the "rc.sysinit" file and adding these lines to it in the appropriate places above their respective "if" statements:

export swupgrade=false
export upgradesoftware=false

However, when I try to save the file to the drive (I'm accessing it via the CacheCard network interface while my DTivo is running), I get a "Filesystem is read-only" error. I see that it is mounted like this:

/dev/hda4 on / type ext2 (ro)

So, how do I go about making the file edit while my DTivo is running, or can't I do that? Do I have to remove the drive again, put it in my PC, boot up with a CD (which one?) and edit it that way???

I've read about doing this same type of thing with a bootpage parameter, but I don't fully understand it. Also, there are two software upgrade variables listed in the rc.sysinit file. Wouldn't two parameters be needed on the bootpage thing?

Why are you not content to use the mechanism we've already put in place?

[SilvrDrgn]

I am using that. The phone line is unplugged, and I have left the dial prefix's to their default values this time ("*#" I believe). However, I have also read over on Tivo Community that some boxes have experienced software upgrades regardless of the above. They appear to be getting their upgrades over the satellite now. So, either the rc.sysinit file edit or the bootpage parms are still needed to prevent them.

[SilvrDrgn]

Any comment or input on my last post? Can software updates be received by DTivo units solely over the satellite? If so, how do I prevent them? Or did I just misunderstand the information that I read under this thread at Tivo Community -> Series1 DirecTiVo Software Update (3.5.0) Migration Thread (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?t=297372&highlight=migration+thread)

[SilvrDrgn]

(bump) Any input per my previous messages??? Thanks!

[Lou Jacob]

As far as I know, the update will not happen if your unit does not complete a daily call (either by phone or network) after the upgrade slices have been received and loaded into the database.

We've only had a few customers accidentally receive the 3.5c update, and all of them confirmed that their units were either connected to the phone line, or were set up for daily call over Internet. We do have many many kits in the field and none of them have just updated to 3.5c, as far as I know.

So... as for claims of the 'immaculate' upgrade elsewhere, I have a feeling that these are not well-founded observations; I'm open to the notion that at some point DirecTV/TiVo may change the upgrade mechanism to happen without that call triggering the install, but I've yet to see that...

[SilvrDrgn]

OK, thanks for the input! Appreciated!