More than likely yes.

Most likely an expensive door stop. I'm willing to bet that the 9200 you just bought has already been replaced with a 9241/9242.

Indeed, just chatting with a National Installer today, they have had 2 calls this week to install already swapped out 9200's.

Bell TV should be asking Customers what receiver they just bought and verify it can actually be activated before a poor Tech has a wasted journey for $0.

I moved on the weekend and the people that moved out left a 9200 in the basement. The software is v150 (from mid 2007-08), and it has an outdated smart card... what do you think the chances are I could activate it? lol

No chance. BTV is disabling current 9200s and replacing them. They will not activate any old boxes.
If the previous owners still have it active on an account they might be able to get it exchanged.

With the old Card, I would say no chance of activation even for the people who just moved out.

Your options would appear to be, connect it to a Sat feed and OTA Antenna to use it as an OTA PVR, or rip out the Hard Drive to save or sell for a replacement part for the 9241/42.

No chance. BTV is disabling current 9200s and replacing them. They will not activate any old boxes.
If the previous owners still have it active on an account they might be able to get it exchanged.
I'm well aware of the 6100/9200 situation. I'm guessing that it hasn't been used in 3-4 years, judging by the old software, the fact that they were in the house for about 4 years and there's no dish on the house and the most recent recordings on the PVR are from 2008. It's a shame to waste a perfectly good receiver. I'll probably just wait until I get a dish put up and use it as an OTA PVR even though there are only a few OTA channels available here.

My sister just bought a house and the previous owner asked if she wanted the Bell boxes he had (4 3100 and 1 6131). She said she didn't want them as she was planning to subscribe to Videotron.

It turns out the previous owner left the boxes there. I took a 6131 home and it works fine, but Bell will not transfer it to my account until the previous owner removes it from his. However, we have tried unsuccessfully to contact the owner but cannot reach him.

Is there any way to get this transfer done without breaking any laws?

Call Bell back and ask to escallate the issue. The previous owner should have stopped their subscription with Bell by now and Bell may activate the STB for your services. If the previous owner is still an active account, you'll probably have to wait until they are inactive.

Bell should still get permission from the previous owner before activating on another account. Lets face it, there is no proof they are not stolen at this stage.

Previous owner just needs to call Bell and say they sold them.

She said she didn't want them
we have tried unsuccessfully to contact the owner but cannot reach him.Which is it - him or her? If a divorce or separation this could be messy. Perhaps BTV can contact the owner if you can't?

Pinza is correct in that without the previous owner saying that the unit is "sold" it could be stolen, although unlikely if the timing of the end of the subscription coincides with the timing of the STB "transfer". Perhaps you can try harder to contact the previous owner? Some people stop their Bell subscriptions, but hold onto the STBs in case they go back, so it's not automatic that BTV transfers the activation (in case of stolen goods as mentioned before)

Which is it - him or her? If a divorce or separation this could be messy. Perhaps BTV can contact the owner if you can't?

Pinza is correct in that without the previous owner saying that the unit is "sold" it could be stolen, although unlikely if the timing of the end of the subscription coincides with the timing of the STB "transfer". Perhaps you can try harder to contact the previous owner? Some people stop their Bell subscriptions, but hold onto the STBs in case they go back, so it's not automatic that BTV transfers the activation (in case of stolen goods as mentioned before)
"She" would be my sister who purchased the house.
"He" would be the previous owner of the house.

I am confident that there would be a direct correlation between the previous owner cancelling his account and my call to Bell to activate the 6131.

I'll call Bell again and see what can be done. Thanks everyone for your input.

Cancelling an account is one thing, telling Bell that the receivers are sold and therefore free for activation, is another.....

Well, that was easy.

I called into Bell and spoke to the first rep who answered. I explained the situation he put me on hold for about 3 minutes, and that was that. He said he overrode the system and transferred the 6131 to my account.

Then he broke every rule in the book.

Good for you.

Bad for him, if they ever audit that phone call, unless during the 3 minutes, he actually got hold of the old customer and just gave you that story to impress you....lol.

The fact that service address was remaining the same may have given the CSR the motivation to go alittle further, after all Bell does tell those that are moving to leave the dish behind in hopes that the new owner will transfer over to Bell.

My concern as the person getting the receivers,... would be if there was an outstanding balance on them. So all normal procedures should be taken to protect all, but I am glad to see it has worked out.

Today I got a Bell 9241 PVR in a storage auction. Will this work if I sell it to a Bell customer, or could it be locked or have some other type of catch that doesn't allow it to be used? Thanks.

Call bell and give them the RID off the back and Smart card number. Ask if it is free and clear and can be added to an account.

That would be the R00 # from the rear.

90% of the 9241's I see are Rental Units and are therefore NOT free for resale, they belong to Bell.

The only useable part if that is the case would be the Hard Drive/

And maybe the remote;)