Playback problems & tech suppoort

chrisparr · 27-06-2008, 10:33

Hi all,

I've done a search and can't find posts covering this issue (or I'm using the wrong search terms).

I have big issues with my V+ service at the moment. No problems at all with live TV, however recordings I've made of late don't play back properly. I get a blocky picture and jumpy audio (or no audio at all). This has alway happened once in a blue moon, but never bothered me (most shows have repeats within the week nowadays).

The problem is that this is now happening with about 19 out of 20 recordings!, and has been for the last 2 weeks, so I called tech support.

After getting cut off twice!

I got through to someone who said they would need to format and re-partition my hard drive sometime during the next 24 to 48 hours, and they couldn't phone me to say when they were about to do it! I was a little miffed, but accepted that.

Anyway the reformat didn't happen, but they did call me to say the reformat wouldn't work and it was a nation wide issue. They said it has been a known issue since last year and have been developing a software fix for it (she said the release date for that fix has been and gone, without the release).

I pressed the rep on this and she basically admitted that VM can't see an end to this problem, and she can only say that they are working towards a fix. She said it could be fixed next month or next year!

I can't put up with this for that long, and if this is nation wide there must be scores of people on here with the same problem.

Does anyone else suffer from this?

Later

C

nomadking · 27-06-2008, 10:43

It is possible to re-format yourself. You will lose all of your current recordings and even the Series Links. I have successfully done it myself.

How to reformat your V+ (TVDrive)

chrisparr · 27-06-2008, 10:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by nomadking

It is possible to re-format yourself. You will lose all of your current recordings and even the Series Links. I have successfully done it myself.

How to reformat your V+ (TVDrive)

If the problem doesn't go away, I may try that (I've tried resetting many times).

If a reformat doesn't work, I'm going to push them for a new box. Essentially if this is a software problem, not everyone has it. Ergo; a) The software on my box has somehow become corrupt, and b) There are boxes out there with working software.

If they refuse to give me a new box I'll just leave. I know the V+ box is technically better than Sky+, but what's the use in having it if I can't play back what I record? I'll just move to sky.

C

nomadking · 27-06-2008, 11:05

Maybe the software change they are refering to, is the ability to remotely re-format the drive, otherwise it would require an engineer visit.

chrisparr · 27-06-2008, 13:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by nomadking

Maybe the software change they are refering to, is the ability to remotely re-format the drive, otherwise it would require an engineer visit.

They said they would be able to reformat and partition the HD remotley. I questioned their ability to do this remotley and they said they could.

The software fix is specifically for the issue I reported (or so they tell me).

C

spiderplant · 27-06-2008, 20:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrisparr

Anyway the reformat didn't happen, but they did call me to say the reformat wouldn't work and it was a nation wide issue. They said it has been a known issue since last year and have been developing a software fix for it (she said the release date for that fix has been and gone, without the release).

That's utter nonsense. There is no such known issue. If a reformat doesn't fix it, you need a box swap.

I'd love to know where they get this stuff from.

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrisparr

They said they would be able to reformat and partition the HD remotley. I questioned their ability to do this remotley and they said they could.

That bit is true. They can reformat remotely, but you may as well do it yourself using the info that nomadking posted.