Question about Service Status change and upgrades.

[jasch]

Hmmm. Because of a problem with the expiration date of my credit card, I noticed yesterday TiVo was unable to charge me this month, so my TiVo's Status (on the System Information screen) showed: 6: Past Due, 5 Days remaining.

I fixed my expiration date yesterday, the account shows "In Good Standing" on their website, yet after 12+ hours (and several forced calls) my TiVo still shows the same status.

I called TiVo, and after 50 minutes on hold (estimated time 20 minutes), I was told that an 'upgraded' needed to be downloaded by my TiVo before my status could be updated. That I should keep forcing the call, until I get "pending restart" and let the upgrade take place.

Now before I go any further, my TDC540 is hacked, and I have upgradesoftware=false in the bootpage parameters. Mainly, because I prefer to upgrade on my own terms and only if the upgrade seems worth it (it seems than with every new release, my TiVo just responds slower each time).

My 9.1 upgrade has been sitting for weeks on my MFS, but I don't want to upgrade at this time, because I am sure it breaks MRV with my other TiVos (DTivos), since MRV on 9.x is different.

So, my question is: Is the TiVo service agent correct in that if I don't apply the upgrade, my TiVo will just stop working in 5 days thinking my account is past due (because the status will not update), or was he just making it up?

I've had a TiVo hacked since 2.x days, and this is the first time I am being forced to update in order to continue receiving service...

Thanks in advance.

[PlainBill]

You might seeing two different problems. Fixing the credit card problem should have resolved your subscription problems. However, there are known problems with running a TiVo that is not running the current software. At some point it will be unable to receive guide information, and presumably status updates. I suspect that is what is happening to you.

PlainBill

[justdoit]

Though I my credit card did not expire, Tivo refused to download the Guide data until I took the 9.1 upgrade (manually) which I did. I don't have any problems now. I also applied the superpatch and recording Unencyrpted.

[Dave20042004]

I too have been holding back with 8.3 on my lifetime sub'd TCD240 since October 9th. Didn't want to lose Tivoserver and MRV with other remote tivos running 4.01b (all running their respective versions of Superpatch).

Well, my lifetime sub'd unit seems to be keeping up with guide service OK. It remains at 13 days of guide service available but today I lost MRV (incl HME, Music & photos etc.) All of these features now show "Inactive" on the System Information page. I rebooted just to make sure. I also checked my account status online and it still shows "Transfers Allowed".

Since I have upgradesoftware=false I don't understand how this could have happened. Does this make any sense or is there a better explanation?

TIA,
Dave

[jasch]

Apparantly upgradesoftware=false has no *practical* effect on SA units, only on DTivos.

The flag does prevent your unit from upgrading, but at some point the SA TiVo need to upgrade in order to continue working 100% (compared to DTivos which can remain in X.X version forever).

[Jamie]

See this (http://www.dealdatabase.com/forum/showthread.php?t=41782) sticky.

[ScanMan]

It remains at 13 days of guide service available but today I lost MRV (incl HME, Music & photos etc.) All of these features now show "Inactive" on the System Information page. I rebooted just to make sure. I also checked my account status online and it still shows "Transfers Allowed".

Since I have upgradesoftware=false I don't understand how this could have happened. Does this make any sense or is there a better explanation?

TIA,
DaveMost likely your HMO, MRV keys expired and the "features" are no longer functional until you upgrade and get new keys.