Sky+ HD hard drive problems

[bigboss]

It looks as if my Sky+ HD's hard drive is dying, with many of my previous recordings shown as "failed".

My options are:

1) Replace the hard drive: how much will it cost? Can I do it myself?

2) Buy a new Sky+ HD box: I've been offered a Sky+ HD 2TB box for £185 brand new. Is this a good deal?

3) Is there any way way Sky will replace my box for free, or for a nominal price? How much will they charge?

 

[Dave_]

It looks as if my Sky+ HD's hard drive is dying, with many of my previous recordings shown as "failed".

Tried a planner rebuild? This can sometimes cure problems with failed recordings etc.

My options are:1) Replace the hard drive: how much will it cost? Can I do it myself

The price of an HDD. Needs to be an AV/CE rated one which use less power and produce less heat. Yes.

2) Buy a new Sky+ HD box: I've been offered a Sky+ HD 2TB box for £185 brand new. Is this a good deal

I personally wouldn't pay that for a Sky box

3) Is there any way way Sky will replace my box for free, or for a nominal price? How much will they charge?

It's worth calling CS to see. Very much pot luck as to whether you get through to an agent that can offer a 'retention deal' though (Agents are limited to how many deals they can offer in a given month)

If not the standard service call (£65) covers box replacement. It will be a 'refurb' though.

 

[bigboss]

Thanks! How do I do a planner rebuild?

I tried these steps but didn't help:

http://www.skyhdsolutions.com/planner-rebuild/

 

[bigboss]

Got it by just playing around a bit (don't know how!)! Rebuilding now.

 

[bigboss]

Rebuild didn't help.

 

[michael hoy]

It is very easy to replace the drive, I have replaced one of mine in the past.

Tutorial here.

 

[RobinKidderminster]

Rebuild didn't help.

Rebuild won't bring back failed reordings but maybe prevent future ones? I guess u knew that. Does the info on failed recordings point to the problem?

 

[jjbomber]

It looks as if my Sky+ HD's hard drive is dying, with many of my previous recordings shown as "failed".

3) Is there any way way Sky will replace my box for free, or for a nominal price? How much will they charge?

This is a weird one. On my account I can but the box for £149 witha Sky+ HD contract for 12 months. If I log on to my Mother's account, she can get exactly the same box and contract for just £49. Both are on self install.

 

[mikey2008]

It looks as if my Sky+ HD's hard drive is dying, with many of my previous recordings shown as "failed".

3) Is there any way way Sky will replace my box for free, or for a nominal price? How much will they charge?

This is a weird one. On my account I can but the box for £149 witha Sky+ HD contract for 12 months. If I log on to my Mother's account, she can get exactly the same box and contract for just £49. Both are on self install.

I got the 2TB box in December for £149. I tried to bargain with them on price but they wouldn't budge on price even though I've got a full subscription and HD multiroom.

 

[bigboss]

Thanks all. I've seen a few ads on gumtree selling brand new 500GB boxes for £30-35. It's cheaper to buy that, than replace the hard drive.

 

[BIGBERNARDBRESSLAW]

Looks like a good option BB, but you could ring Sky and talk to them to see what they will offer you.

Exactly the same thing happened to me, and so I rang Sky and told them that my box had failed, and because of this there was no point paying for their service anymore, so I want to leave.

They offered me a new 500GB box for (I think) around £65 if I fitted it myself. I tried to get a 1TB box, but they did refuse that unless I paid around £150. I dug me heals in, and eventually got an engineer out to replace my dish and wiring, and a new 500GB box for nothing.

It's worth trying that route as long as you're prepared go the whole distance, and not back down.

 

[bigboss]

Thanks BBB. I think I'll try that. Youview isn't a bad option in itself. So I can ring Sky cancellations & see what they offer.

 

[AnotherJoe]

Replace the hardrive. Its dead easy to do - just get a 1.5TB 3.5'' SATA drive.

Note that the normal HD sky boxes only support up to 1.5TB. You can install a 2TB but it will only show as 1.5

The hidden menu with rebuild and other options is reached by pressing services,0,0,1,select

 

[GSB]

BB think it would be worth calling sky,i got a 2tb box for £49,self-install.

 

[849bagman]

Hello, just joined what seems a very helpful site. I have a nw message from Sky: SKY playback and recording are not available! Tried the disc rebuild: Message Planner cannot be rebuilt in discless mode. Think the disc may have failed , but no previous problems.

It is a Samsung with 1Tb drive approx 3 years old..

Am I looking at a disc replace ( happy to do this , it's basiclly a computer) or a new box !!???

Cheers