I have a 5900 PVR for more then 2 years and yesturday I got a message say "a serious hard drive error" Just wondering if I can get some advice on how to aproach this problem. Can I replace the hard drive if everything else fails to fix this problem? Thanks

Hard reboot (Unplog and plug it back)...if not replacement!

Before spent money on replacement, google supported hard drives (there is a list, not every HDD could be installed) and check your local comp.store if you can buy one (usually it is not easy to find one - they are old.) If you lucky, google how to marry new HDD to your IRD.
In my case I made a replacement as soon as I get PVR by purchasing the same model HDD and copy the old one to the new one sector-to-sector (man dd).
If it is too complicated, get 9200 - the best PVR ever.

YOu might want to post he error code as well as differnet codes means different problems.

It could be a corrupted, usable hard drive. In that case the solution could be as simple as reformatting the drive with a PC. (Google "dishmod forum") If it is a total hard drive failure, a replacement may be available from hard drive resellers but it may be better/cheaper to get a replacement receiver from EV. If the unit is not too old, a drive replacement may be available, under warranty, from the drive maker.

So I tried to wipe out the Vram and now the receiver doesn't work at all. I can't get any channels or even get into the dish pointing settings. I try to do a dignostic test but it locks up. any suggestions? I don't have the receiver plugged into the phone outlet, maybe I have to do a software install since I wiped everyhitng out?

Sounds like what just happen to my PVR at home...and they replaced it since I was under warranty because i'm renting

If you are renting or if your PVR is less than a year I would call BEV and get a replacement

If not i'll call an add DISH CARE, not mentionning the problem. It would cost you 6$/month and you have to keep it for 12 months minimum (72$). You call 21 days later (or more not to look suspicious) and say you have a problem. We ship you a new one, and 12 months later you could cancel DISH CARE

You can also get refurbished 5900 for 149$ + 12$ shipping & handling throught our TECH 3 agents

Thanks for the advice. How do I get ahold of the tech 3 agent. Also do they sell the 9200? I mine aswell upgrade!!!

9200 unit is now in stop sales...you can rent it for 20$/month, or you might get lucky and find a store that still have some in store

dont buy one, unless it is 50% off
they are releasing new HD pvrs, soon, or so they say...

9200 unit is now in stop sales

Again? Bell customers, and potential Bell customers, had to live through this shortage in Feb/March.

Or, as the other poster suggested, this is because the "9200+" with a larger hard drive and MPEG-4 capability is about to hit the stores. But last word from Bell was this wasn't coming till Q4. Hopefully that does NOT mean severe shortages till Oct 1.

thanks guys, so how do i get my hands on a refurb 5900 from this "Agent"

i would check the online classifieds (probably easier, and cheaper) but make sure to get the serial #'s to make sure it is on a clean account, with no $ owing
if not, go into any local bellworld, and buy one, $299 last time i checked....

In March of 2006 I purchased, from Radio Shack, a 5900 PVR because Expressvu refused to sell me a unit (policy change right?). Earlier this month the hard drive on the pvr pooched with error 0459. I called the sky dish help line, after checking these forums for tips, and the tech walked me through resetting the unit with no success or change in the drive status.

The tech offered a refubished 5900 for $149.00 plus shipping which seemed like a reasonable deal so I agreed. I mentioned to him that once I got the new unit I would pop the old one open and take a peek, perhaps salvage the hard drive since they usually have five year warranties. He said nothing.

Today, I finally got the new pvr and much to my surprise I find in the box a note and a return packing sticker telling me I have ten days to send them the failed unit or they will charge me full price for the replacement. That's in the $300 range if I recall correctly.

Can someone please confirm this for me? Did I read that wrong or am I really required to return my pvr, not a rental from BEV but one I purchased and own, to BEV or risk being charged again for a unit I already own?

Any input or advice would be really appreciated right now. I'm feeling somewhat ripped off in that the tech who offered the refurbished unit never mentioned anything about the requirement to send it back and it seems quite unfair that they can refuse to sell me the unit and then demand it back if I pay for a refurb.

Thoughts? Comments?

I belive the papers are right...you have to send the unit back as weare sending you a "replacement" unit. Otherwise, client woudl just call in and get refurbish units instead of new ones. I will make sure of that Monday, when I get back to work and post the answer for you.

Why didn't you take DISH CARE? It would have been cheaper for you, it would have cost you only 72$...

Thanks for the speedy response. I'm thinking dish care is where to go next although from the way the tech presented it I was making an outright purchase and not swapping. If I'd been aware of the swap conditions I would have gone the ebay route and just picked up another unit. Thanks again for the info.

When an out of warranty receiver needs replacing you have 2 choices. Either buy a new unit at full price or accept a refurb in exchange for the old unit at a reduced price. EV will probably repair your old unit and give (sell) it to someone else. You can try to get the hard drive replaced under warranty instead of paying EV $150. OTOH, if the replacement drive isn't exactly the same model it might not work. The new drive also needs to be specially formatted before it will work in the 5900.

I'm not sure that Dish Care is such a good deal. Read the contract first. The list of exclusions is so long, I'm amazed anything ever really gets covered. (OTOH, *C covers everything, no questions asked for much less than $6.) I've never had an EV receiver fail and that covers a fairly long list of hardware over 4 years... 3100, 5800, 5900, 6000 and 9200. There are lots of older receivers in service that have never had problems as well. Having a new receiver fail after 15 months is bad luck. Good luck with the refurb. Renting is probably a better deal than Dish Care for a 5900.

If he sends it back it would definetly gets refurbished...and sold to another client with out of waranty reciver that needs one or to replce a defective rental unit

I've never had an EV receiver fail and that covers a fairly long list of hardware over 4 years... 3100, 5800, 5900, 6000 and 9200.
There are extremely common and well known defects in the 2700 (tuner components), 3100 (tuner chip) and 5x00 series (tuner and HDD).

Thank you one and all. I guess I get to chalk this one up to a tech who volunteered not quite all of the details of the deal.

I am a bit surprised at the failure of the hard drive, it's a Seagate. Since becoming involved in the computer support world in 1990 I have never had a hard drive fail in a pc I've owned and I've owned quite a few.