Sky+ Problems

[annavc]

I had Sky+ installed about 12 days ago and I've already had to have engineers out once as it just refused to turn on and wasn't recording or doing anything. They sorted it but told me it might happen again - it just has. They offered to replace the box with a reconditioned one but I've just paid �100 for the brand new box with a 1 year warranty and their offering to replace it with a 2nd hand one wth a 3 month warranty which apparently have a tendancy not to work properly either.

Does anyone else have this problem with their Sky+ box -
its just sitting there with the standby light on but refuses to turn on. Any ideas if I can sort it without getting engineers out again - I can't take any more time off work.

Any help much appreciated - thank you.

[vinrex7]

The dredded sky+ strikes again. there have been loads of posts on here about the same problem. mine has done it and been replaced, and still does it now and again.

as far as them replacing your box and giving you a recon one, i think thats standard practice for them. But you should still get 1 years warranty.

Just keep nagging them and tell them that you can't keep taking time off work so you'll have to cancel your subscription and they'll offer you alsorts to stay. just be firm and tell them your not getting messed about anymore, it worked for me.

[annavc]

Thanks vinrex7 I will hassle them. You say yours still does it sometimes - do you have to get an engineer out when it does or is there some way you can sort it yourself?

[Morticiah]

I do get a similar problem, but probably not as bad as yours by the sound of it.

Mine does the failing to turn on or off about 2 a month (though it's been twice this week).

I switch it off at the mains, and leave it for about 10 mins, then switch it back on again. So far this has worked every time - though it makes lots of loud whirring noises a takes ages to 'update'?

Looks like I can expect to be in the same situation as you guys in the near future! Boy will there be fireworks if they offer me a Recon box!

Mort

[Mattk]

if it was installed only 12 days ago then surely you are within the 'cooling-off' period.they should replace it like for like ie brand new sky box with brand new sky box.

[sarah_louise]

Lots of info so keep scrolling

How to fix the system fault yourself
How to fix the system fault yourself
UPDATE - The Sky engineer talked me through how he fixed the system fault, and said if it happens again I can try this myself. Interestingly, when I explained what I'd read online about the problem, he said "that sounds about right" and that they see the problem a fair bit. (NOTE - according to this site's stats, hundreds of disgruntled Sky customers find this site each day by searching Google for this problem, so you're nto alone)
WARNING - following this advice is totally at your discretion and anything which happens to your digibox as a result is your responsibility, not mine. You will lose all recorded programmes from your Sky+ Planner.
Firstly, call Sky* tech support and they will talk you through performing a system restore over the phone.
If the problem persists, unplug the digibox from the mains power. Press and hold the 'left' and 'right' navigation buttons on the front of the digibox whilst you plug it back into the mains. Continue holding the buttons in for about 20 seconds, and when the ring of light on the front comes on, press the 'select' button on the front of the digibox (between the left and right buttons you were holding). The Sky+ recording logo lights will spin backwards and, according to the Sky engineer, this will "clear the hard drive".
Once this is done, unplug the digibox from the mains power again and this time press and hold the 'back up' button whilst you plug it back into the mains power.

[sarah_louise]

Continued
. Continue holding it for about 15 seconds until 3 lights on the front of the box come on and you get a full-screen message saying "Updating system software. Do not disconnect mains supply or satellite dish."
Leave the digibox doing its thing for about 10 minutes and it should be fixed! Try pausing and recording things again... hopefully you've just saved yourself �65.
If you've not been so lucky, call Sky* again but remember that if they try to charge you for an engineer callout, just ask to cancel your subscription and they should offer you a free callout to fix the problem - you're more valuable to them as a paying customer than the cost of an engineer callout

FIX2
I have spoken with a Sky engineer today at my home and you know what to do if your Sky+ is acting up? 1. Try a major software download reset, unplug your box then press and hold the 'back up' button on the front, plug your box back in while holding the button for over 10 seconds until a black and white update screen appears, your Sky+ box will then download all previous updates which may have been corrupted, and your box may be fine, this cures 90% of all aforementioned problems.

Option number 2 though.... Open up the back, find out the make of the hard drive and go and buy a 1.6GB hard drive from a PC shop (yes they are exactly the same hard drives that are in your home PC), fitting is a doddle, a few screws to release it and reconnection of the ribbon cable. The drive updates itself and off you go. You do need a small Torx screwdriver to get the rear panel off. There you go, a Sky+160 box for well under �100.

[annavc]

THanks everyone - that's all really useful. After being left turned off at the wall overnight then turned back on at the wall in the morning and left all day while I was at work, by the evening it seemed to have sorted itself out and came on no problem. Its been working fine all weekend. At least I now have some ideas if it happens again. Many thanks.

[SteveSxx]

Sarah-Louise
Surely a 1.6Gb HDD would only give you a Sky + 1.6 not a Sky +160
Sorry.........