RED flashing light on a Thomson DTR not fixable!?

Result. Topup TV are sending free replacement at no charge. All I have to do is hand over old one when carrier delivers.

wiltshire man
May 2009

Finally after my 4th phone call I got told that my disc is corrupt & needs a replacement box.(gee I hadn't figured that one out after doing the reboot proceedures a thousand times!)
I could have a FREE replacement if I signed up to TUTV for 12months at £9.99 a month...no thanks didn't like it wjhen I tried it! or a replacement for FREE but with £20 p&p fee...no thanks I didn't break the machine.
"Well Madam it is over 12 months old & out of warrenty!"
" Yes sir but I did expect the thing to last at least 2-3yrs minimum as I didn't break the bl**dy thing you guys did!...thats ok, don't worry about it..I'll just take it to Trading Standards!"
"Hang on a moment madam please, while I speak to my supervisor!" a few moments later..
"We can deliver you one in 3-5 working days, if you just hand over your old box, we'll give you a replacement"
"What no p&p charge?"
"Not on this occasion Madam!"
So we await replacement box ;o)

maria
May 2009

Lets just double check that,

Power off 20 secs,
Hold st by button on unit, put mains back in.
when any light flases release std by button.
press up, down, left, right. in quick succession.
wait about a minute.
switch on normally, with remote.

hope this helps.

Finetuneplus.com
May 2009

Since Monday the 4th of may i have have been called to countless Thomson DTRs with the orange light problem.
The official cure from Thomson is-
Power off for 20 secs,
Hold St by button (on front panel of unit) untill light flashes, release st by at once.
Then press up,down,left,right - in quick succession.
Wait about a minute and switch on.
This has worked well for me.
The red light fault is faulty hard drive and requires replacememt.
As far as i know this was caused by copy protection software uploaded to these machines.
Also, watch out for this one, after switch over the digital multiplexes will change, mostly back to your original grouping, (B) for us here in cental scotland, so no aerial upgrade will now be required!!

Finetuneplus.com
May 2009

Thank you very much. I was about to take my box back to Argos when I found this website and followed the instructions on http://www.topuptv.com/help+centre/setup+and+troubleshooting/Fail+boot+up#Fail+boot+up and it worked.

Nigel
May 2009

Same problems with my Thomson box,this only one off many problems. I will never have anything made by this company in my home ever again. I have a family friend who own's a farm and am giving serious consideration puting the Thomson box in there midden after-all it is the only place for SH*TE!

Joyce 13 Lanarkshire,Scotland.
May 2009

worked for me tip keep presing (up down left right) for about 60 seconds then press power button mine just come back to lift good luck

darren
May 2009

Just had to share this with all you frustrated people who are having trouble with your Thomson box. I too have a box that wont stop flashing an orange light at me and was told by the technical team at Topup that it was unrepairable (and just coincidence that it happened on the same weekend they sent dodgy software to our boxes). They told me my box had died and that i would have to pay £49.99 for a refurbed one. However perseverance pays !! after my 3rd call to Topuptv i spoke to an advisor (peter) who told me they are now going to replace my Thomson box next week YIPPEE ! ! !

Sarah
May 2009

I'm very grateful to this forum for saving me from a nasty 'domestic' and possible charge of GBH. When the DTR became stuck on amber, "her indoors" accused me of wasting money on rubbish, stopping her watching Corry, losing her recording of Strictly etc etc. I was despatched to beat up the retailer and demand money back, but luckily found this thread before going out.
Seriously though I'm alarmed to discover that the future working of the recorder depends on downloads from TopUpTv, a company who I pay nothing to. Is there any way of getting the software downloads via the internet, keeping a non-corrupt version and loading it to the box via a computer ? There seems to be a USB socket.

Jeff
May 2009

Answer for Bruce & doc'd on another thread is that the file system on the disk is UNIX EXT2 not a Windows one.
Even when you copy the files using freeware into Windows the file extension .TRP appears to have a proprietary CODEC which you can't get. So, you can't view on a PC.

MSL
May 2009

Thank God someone else who knows how i feel, i have had exactly the same problem it surely cant be a coinsidence can it. How many more of us is there?

Sarah
May 2009

Hi, Ive just experienced exactly the same problem as yourself. I purchased at approx the same time as you. I took out the hard drive and replaced it with another,and it worked ok. Also ive tested the hard drive with the hard drive manufacturers software (seagate) and the hard drive tested ok...my problem is my computers or ide interfaces are not identifying the hard drive as a drive so a format of the unit im finding awkward...dont worry its just a matter of time until i solve the problem...i too have reservations about the upgrades automatically downloaded.

Bruce
May 2009

sorry this is the number I rang: 08444 159 159

http://www.topuptv.com/help+centre/setup+and+troubleshooting/#Fail+boot+up

maria
May 2009

... actually do you really mean Thomson or TopUpTV??

MSL
May 2009

Hi Maria,
Have you got an EMail or number to contact Thomson? I got no joy the route I took but would also like to pressure them re. Sale of Goods act etc

MSL
May 2009

UPDATE:Have managed to get through to Thomson as someone mentioned that even though the box is out of warrenty we still have consumer rights!!!!!!!!
Anyway Thomson are now offering to replace those boxes over a year old for FREE ...but at a cost of £20 for p&p & handling, I personnally have refused to pay as why should the money come from me if the fault lies with them or the broadcasting for uploading a corrupt file...I have given them a week to get back to me to see hwo was at fault & what other offer they can come up with before I go to Trading Standards!

maria
May 2009

Same for me on May 4 at 9.40 pm during Film Four, the box (bought last August) just froze and that was it. Have tried holding on/off button while plugging in but no response.

Philip F
May 2009

when you let go of the standbu button press the arrow keys in sequence but repeat it 3 times. It should do the job. It worked for me.

f_bernardo
May 2009

The reboot on their website will not work for me! Has anyone else managed to get it to work successfully?

KC
May 2009

manage to fix mine following intructions.
http://www.topuptv.com/help+centre/setup+and+troubleshooting/Fail+boot+up#Fail+boot+up
thx for the info, thx a lot!

P
May 2009

unplug the box for 20sec. press and hold standby button on the box while plugging it back in. As soon as the amber light flashes let go and press up,down,left and right arrow keys in sequence 3 times. The amber light will stay on and the green light will start flashing. In approx 60 sec the box will turn on by itself.

f_bernardo
May 2009

I did have the same problem 3rd of May!!
Box bought on the 08/03/08, dodgy software update.
Topup TV is shite!!, I had a sweet Thomson DHD4000 no problems at all, upgraded for a Thomson DTI6300-25 supported by Topup TV and what can I say!!

Paulo
May 2009

if you are trying to get through to Tompson....don't go through to Technical-just press the numbers as though you are a subscriber wanting to add new channels...believe me you get through alot quicker! & they can still help!
I am now awaiting the arrival of a brand new HUMAX PVR9150T as the reviews look good & I shall then take great pleasure in taking a sledge hammer to my Thomson one! ;o) unless anyone else wants it ????

maria
May 2009

The reboot on their website will not work for me! Has anyone else managed to get it to work successfully?

KC
May 2009

Thanks for the tip, Maria.

Just fixed mine too by following the instructions at:

http://www.topuptv.com/help+centre/setup+and+troubleshooting/Fail+boot+up#Fail+boot+up

Cheers

Colin.

Colin
May 2009

I have a Thomson DV3 with a 250 gb.
Switched it off on Sunday 3rd May. On switching it on again on Monday 4th May, found that it was stuck in standby mode.
It's only 14 months old and was working fine before I unplugged it!

Colin
May 2009

I have the exact same problem on the same date and I am unable to get through to the helpline

Maria D
May 2009

Have a look at
http://www.topuptv.com/help+centre/setup+and+troubleshooting/Fail+boot+up#Fail+boot+up
It fixed mine today.

m
May 2009

EXACTLY the same, 4th May!!!
More than a coincidence that everyones seems to have broke on the same day.
Thomson box is one of the worst things I have ever bought in my life.

Percy
May 2009

Yes had the same problem red/orange light flashing them all lights flashing. So turn of at plug left for 1hr, now it will not come on at all. Have emailed but no answer yet

wiltshire man
May 2009

My box has the same problem. Only mine has locked up on the 5th May 2009. This has be be an updated software problem. Suppose I will have to buy a new box but will seriously think about it. Not only have we lost all the saved programmes but have lost all confidence in topup tv.

Adrian James
May 2009

Same problem and have just returned mine to Tesco. Just 11 months old and have receipt. They dont have the 160gb in stock, have had to pay extra £17 for the 250gb box. The box is ugly and black and square, not like the rounded edge silver flash unit I took back, hey ho! but need a recordable freeview, and dont want to use SKY!!
Looking in new manual it does give some instructions on rebooting the system when your DTR fails to respond, the 2 scenarios which maybe worth having ago with are as follows:
scenario A - continuously flashing red LED. The following sequence may restore the box to factory settings without losing any saved programmes.
Turn off your box at the mains or unplug,
Wait 5 seconds,
Turn the box back on at the mains or plug in WHILE pressing and holding the front panel power on button for 10 seconds. (all LED lights should come on for 3 seconds).
Wait 45 seconds for the box to complete the reset. See if this works!
IF NOT TRY
Scenario B - Which will lose all saved recordings.
Do the same procedure as above, but instead of pressing power on on the front panel press the menu button on the front panel for 10 seconds.
Hope this may help.

JLeddy
May 2009

My box is 14 months old and became faulty in the evening of 4th may. It keeps going through reboot procedure but not actually ending on green or standby.
There seems to be a lot of reports on this site of similar happenings on 4th May.
I would contact them again.
What is the telephone number of Thomson or Topup?

gripper
May 2009

This is exactly the same problem as me, just so happens my box too is just over 1 year old!!! also not under warranty :( will definately never buy another thomson box........ EVER

Andy K2
May 2009