Lockec at Welcome... 06 ??

[VideoDave100]

Hi All,
I think my unit needs to go to the shop, but wanted to see if folks here had any ideas.
My unit HDD500 worked fine for about 4 months, then got a message something like "hard driver error, will attempt to recover." or similiar. After that message on TV, the front panel went to Welcome... and stopped at "06." Power cycles did get it to come back once and I could watch recorded pgms, but it would not record new ones. But that didn't last eigher. Now power cycles just give a "Welcome...  06" message on from panel and no response any other way.

Anyone any ideas, or is it to the shop?

Thanks in advance
Dave

[FPEMiller]

Sorry to say, but from everthing I have read on these forums.... yep is sounds like it's time for a visit to the Sony Repair Shop for a new hard drive. 

If you do get it to respond (reboot) past the 6, the only the thing I would suggest is get to the menu that allows you to reformat the hard drive, sadly this will delete all your recordings.

Regards
MK

[dragonxbs]

sounds like your only option is to try the front panel menu since you can't get the sony to boot...

(courtesy of spiff)

Hidden Front Panel Menu --- Warning:  This may be dangerous - use at your own risk!!!!

            When the unit boots up, the instant Welcome appears, press and hold Menu and Format simultaneously. Keep holding until the display says Repair?. Release both keys.

            Then press and hold one of the following keys:

            * Format to get Clear NVM? (NVM = non-volatile memory)
            * Select to get Zero HDD? (resets CPRM code? does not appear to modify the disk itself)
            * Exit to get Wipe Unit? (performs both a Clear NVM and Zero HDD in one operation)

            Release the key.

            Once one of the above questions is displayed, there is a lengthy confirmation step to actually execute the operation. You'll notice there's a 1 displayed above the operation name.

            1. Press and hold Guide until the number changes to a 2 (takes about 5 seconds).
            2. Release Guide and press Exit until the number changes to a 3.
            3. Release Exit and press Format until the number changes to a 4 - the operation will then begin.

[Bill C]

            * Format to get Clear NVM? (NVM = non-volatile memory)
            * Select to get Zero HDD? (resets CPRM code? does not appear to modify the disk itself)
            * Exit to get Wipe Unit? (performs both a Clear NVM and Zero HDD in one operation)

What does Clear NVM do? Does that wipe out your TVGOS software?

[VideoDave100]

UPDATE: Thanks to the help, I did the "repair" HDD function, and it got partial operation of my unit back. The unit powers up normally etc. and asked for my zip code and all. BUT now I'm not getting a clock or listings. A full power off overnight got nothing, not even the clock. The tuner is working as I can manually tune to my normal stations, but's that's all.

I will attempt the G* test to see if I'm getting VBI info (maybe the transition is messing up my local TVGOS xmtr? - I'm in sacramento CA area).

Does anyone have any other ideas? Thanks in advance

[DC5745]

I recently encountered this problem.  Sometimes if your power button is jammed this could be the problem.  Also if you just go into the repair menu by pressing format and menu simultaneously during bootup to get into the repair menu without repairing can also solve it

[videobruce]

I was just going to start another thread and I saw this.  (I don't sit close enough to be able to read the smaller text on the front panel, so I never saw that count-up before until now.)

Before I begin, let me say I don't have a CC and this isn't a record only lockup as what was stated in the other thread.
My situation is this, The unit stops responding to remote or front panel controls. If it is playing, it just keeps playing, if recording, it keeps recording. I can't pause, stop or turn it off. The first time it happened I was scrolling through TVGOS (no playback at the time) and the unit went into record (as scheduled). I then noticed I lost control. I had to power cycle the unit to get it back (it doesn't freeze at 6). It happened twice again, while just playing.

Today, after watching three programs from different channels, the unit stopped responding again. No warning when it happens, only after you try to use the remote (skip, pause etc.), is when you know there is a problem.

[Sony250Guy]

Today, after watching three programs from different channels, the unit stopped responding again. No warning when it happens, only after you try to use the remote (skip, pause etc.), is when you know there is a problem.

Unfortunately this is quite common on the DHG. From my experience this will get worse and worse until you do some kind of reset. This will prob. mean you lose everything that is on your HDD currently.
You can try clear NVM from the secret menu and see if unit still locks up. As stated: DO THIS ON YOUR OWN RISK.

[videobruce]

I did the 'Clear NVM' and it appears to have solved the problem. It didn't affect anything on the HDD and initially it appeared not to affect the channel grid, but I then started loosing the listings. I believe I had to do a 'Artec jump start' to get them back, but I don't remember (too many other things going on at the time).

That never happened to me before. This was a used machine I just received and thought there was a 'hidden' problem the seller didn't tell me about.

[Sony250Guy]

Yes, it is a hidden problem, only it exists for every DHG owner 
Glad to hear you are up and running again, btw. I still have problems getting the grid back here: http://www.spiffspace.com/forum/index.php?topic=251.0
250Guy

[videobruce]

It's hide very well since it never happened to me after over 3 1/2 years of ownership.

[Sony250Guy]

We might never know the answer for this, but this may be a combination of the usage pattern of the device and the TVGOS listings (for example, recording a lot of HD shows and keeping markers in them)