Device Name Not Updating and Deactivate / Activate Option
Hello everyone – I am requesting some advice / help as I have asked for support from TiVo Australia and it is taking a really long time (5 days and counting). This is a long post (sorry) so please don't feel you have to answer all of it - short suggestions are fine.
I have recently bought a TiVo 663160 off eBay and as a former Topfield 5000 owner I am VERY happy indeed.
My concern is that the Device Name is not appearing in the Status Information screen on the TiVo even though I have renamed it over a week ago on the web site. It still says something like <Rename this device at mytivo.com.au> or something similar. I am keeping it simple and using the name TIVO (no spaces, numbers or special characters).
I have restarted the TiVo using the menu option and manually connected. I have even gone through Setup again as well but nothing changes. FYI I am using Ethernet (not wireless) to connect.
Is this normal? Has anyone else had this issue? Should the name appear? Will it ever appear? How can I get it to appear?!!
If it is not showing up does this mean there is a minor fault with the unit? Note that apart for the No Name issue, it works fine – the online TiVo Genie programming transfers down perfectly.
In case this helps with the answer I should add that I got the former owner (who was leaving the country) to change the password on their TiVo account. I then merged his account in to my own account (that I had already created) and then transferred the machine to me that way. I am wondering if this could be the source of the problem.
Later I found out that he could have Deactivated it and then I could have Activated it. Not sure though if this is recommended. Should I have done it this way? (for future reference)
I have some other questions about resetting the unit back to factory state as well.
Because I only bought the 160GB model I am replacing the drive with a 1TB drive (Samsung HD103SI). Have already popped that in for testing and it works just fine but I don’t want to do anything permanent without getting some more info and advice. I understand that the new HD invalidates the warranty etc. but there is no warranty to worry about now.
To make sure there are no issues I intend to do some form of “factory reset” and get the machine back to an “As New” state and then set it up again from scratch. Yes - I lose my recordings but I would rather make sure everything is right before I insert a new hard drive.
I am looking for some advice and help as I have contacted TiVo support and as I said, they are very slow to respond.
My choices are...
1. Deactivate Machine and then Activate it. This looks scary and the manual says not to do it unless you are deactivating permanently so I am very concerned about this one. My concern is it won’t come back up again!
2. Do a Clear and Delete Everything
3. Do both! (as in “I say we nuke it from space – it’s the only way to be sure”)
So what do you think would be the best approach?
My big concern is that if I insert the new hard drive and then do a Deactivate / Activate, then if I ever need to use the old 160GB hard drive again it won’t work. Does anyone know if this might be a problem?
BTW one final question (sorry!). How do you find out your MAK number – do you only get it if you have purchased the HNP (I haven’t yet)? Is the HNP worth it if you have an iPhone and want to watch stuff on that?
Sorry this is so long but TiVo support is not working for me so you guys are the only ones I can turn to.
Any advice / comments would be very much appreciated.
Simon
