home Fix label Video label_important DTT Receivers category Thomson

Why wont my thomson freeview turn on?

My thomson freeview box just turned it self off the other day and has a constant flasing red/orange light and wont turn back on!! I have dis-connected from the mains for over 12hrs and plugged it back in and its still doing the same!!!

Damien Wilson, April 2009

home Fix label Video label_important DTT Receivers category Thomsondone

my one 4 light are flashing,it looks like it's trying to run a sequence.Mine happened when I unplugged it 4 few minutes last nite. I don't know if it has to do with today digital swichover. I tried all this stuff,no amber light.Thomson said they deal just wiv businesses,Tvtu said won't help since I'm not subscribed

debs, April 2012

MINE IS NOT WORKING I HAVE A SOLID RED LIGHT THAT FLICKS NOW AND AGAIN TRYED EVERYTHINK FED UP !
CAN ANY ONE HELP
THE SYSTEM IS A DTI 1000

DONNA, September 2009

Anyone solved this 'flashing amber light' problem?????? Spoke to Top-Up and they seem to think this is a fatal hard disk error and that there is nothing I can do...not happy..especially if it is one of their updates that has caused this.

Just to clarify--- my problem is a very fast flashing AMBER light, which NONE of the fixes solve. Seconds after powering back on it starts again, no other lights at all just straight into the flashing amber.

=((((, July 2009

Re: Dave Edwards above, I used your fix, bought a new IDE drive, cost a tad more than £31, my husband has fitted it and guess what, the light is still flashing, any clues - what could have gone wrong.

kathlit, May 2009

Ha
I was given one as a present it went wrong within 8 months. My mother (who gave me the thing died) but as it was within warranty the company did replace my gift with another. This one went off (along with what now appears to be many other peoples) much faster than the original faulty one. New one was 5 months when it shut down. Because the new one is within warranty the company has agreed to take it back and see if they can fix it. If they cannot fix it they will have to give my mother a refund which should be interesting because she died in October ......

Honeysmummy, May 2009

I have had 3 of these utterley rubbish Thompson boxes now sine the service launched in 06. The stupid thing just keeps doing the same thing keeps freezing again and again. I contacted Consumer Direct and told them about the problems and they have advised me of the following:
under the supply of goods and services act 1982/common law scotland this provides that work should be carried out with reasonable care & skill and goods supplied as part of this service should be of satisfactory quality. If they fail to provide this(which they clearly have) then the trader can be held in breach of contract and seek compensation as a result of the breach. I was advised by them to write a formal letter stating my complaint stating that their attempts to replace the box have clearly failed and request that they provide a refund. I have been advised to demand a reply within 7 working days and say that they provide me with a reasonable outcome as if they are unable to do this then ultimatley it will be up to a judge to decide in court. They also told me that as i purchased the box on my card that unser section 75 of the consumer credit act 1974 this makes the card company equally liable under the suply of goods and services act and that it is adviseable to contact the card company of the problem. It is about time that top up tv are held accountable for their failings as the service provider and that they make renumeration to those people that they have clearly let down.

adrian cook, May 2009

my earlier comment was wrong!!! the simple fix didn't work. as my thomson box was more than 6 months old it won't reset properly, the tv guide is ok but the series link function has disappeared. John Lewis did a full 'restore factory default' restart and the 'series link' has gone. They spoke to Thomson and apparently there's nothing that can be done.

chris corrigan, May 2009

take it back to your dealer. a software patch was sent out about 2 weeks ago that messed them all up. needs a full system reset

Chris Corrigan, May 2009

I ment hear not here, Its not just my box thats going crazy!

Kev, May 2009

As mentioned below, DONT RESET THE HARD DISK! I had the solid amber light etc. Just pull power lead out for 20 secs, hold in the standby button then put the power back on STILL HOLDING IN THE STANDBY button, then when you see first light push MENU then OK fairly quickly and then sit back. The amber light will change to red after roughly 5-10 mins. I think this back dates the software or something. But at least it doesnt lose all your recordings! Ps I had to do this twice as my box went crazy when rewinding a program (pic froze, could still turn box on and off and could here sound of program, pic was all messed up so i pulled out power then got another amber light so repeated the above process, still working....)

Kev, May 2009

I have had the thompson DTI1600 for 1-2 years now. This has been the first major problem with it. I even got a second box ( only one was affected by the amber light problem).

In all fairness I am happy with the box and the service I have received. I was upset at having to erase several hours of recorded library shows, but I think that TOPUPTV have explained there was a proplem and lets hope it was a once off. I am going to continue my TOPUP subscription.

After all I wanted to erase most of the recorded stuff that I hadn't got around to watching and propally never ever would.

Annoyed, May 2009

Hi
I got a flashing amber light (not flashing red, not solid amber). Tried all techniques here without joy, but this site is a really useful resource.

I got a text message from TopUpTV acknowledging there was a problem.
I called the Sales line to cancel Setanta and vent a bit of anger, only to be offered a replacement 6300 box for £20. Told them I wanted a free one, which afterbeing put on hold for 30 seconds he agreed to. The catch is I have to sign up to Setanta for another 12 months (£11/m) with the first 3 at £4.99. Not an ideal solution admittedly, but I subscribe anyway, so it suited me. Obviously for Freeview users only, there's no incentive for TUTV to offer a free box.

For the record I called on Wednesday afternoon and the (refurbed) box arrived Thursday afternoon by courier. Quite impressive.
Hope this helps.
Marcus

Marcus, May 2009

mine took a few days to download the EPg and series link.......have patience...it should come back like mine did!

r, May 2009

Right, I think we've established that there's a possible fix for this problem by pressing various buttons etc.
If (like me) your hard disc actually dies completely or even if you'd simply like more recording time on the disc then it's VERY EASY to replace the drive within the box! Go to any internet retailer such as ebuyer and buy yourself a cheap IDE hard drive suitable for any home PC (MAKE SURE YOU BUY IDE AS SATA DRIVES WILL NOT WORK!). I bought a 250GB Samsung Spinpoint for £31 delivered (much better drive than the 160GB Seagate that was originally installed). Dismantle the freeview box and remove the dead drive. Connect up the new drive and screw it back into the box using the plastic frame the original drive was housed in., the leads will only fit one way so you don't have to be a PC builder to get this right! BEFORE putting the whole thing back together test that the new drive is working by powering up the unit as normal TAKE CARE AS THERE ARE LIVE COMPONENTS IN THE BOX. The unit will flash orange then several green then go to a solid red light. Power up the unit, scan for channels EPG etc. once the setup is complete try the recording facility. There's no need to worry about formatting the drive as the box takes care of all that. 20 minutes and you will have a new improved machine with bigger storage! Hope this is of interest!

Dave Edwards, May 2009

Hi Can any one help? my box crashed on sunday and i managed to get it back on using the up down left right method but know my record series link has gone, it only shows a few programes in the tv guide and wont accept some programmes when i want to record them. i have tried to phone top up tv only just to be cut off befor speaking to any one.????

claire, May 2009

spent the last 3 days trying to contact tutv only to be cut off after hanging on the fone for 15 mins each time just got my box working thanx to information given from other users left right up down subscription will be cancelled though

vin, May 2009

re: to my previous message, go to www.topuptv.com and they have now acknowledged the problem and given the solution (up down left right) but you can only find the helpline number and website if you go into the menu on your box, and if you can't get it working, how can you find the number, coz it's not in the manual (i keep them all) so i will also be contacting watchdog as i have lost all my recordings of Hustle and i'm no very depressed!

vodkahead, May 2009

my box did same thing on tuesday morning the left right up sown solution worked but lost all my recordings and now series link wont work, what's the point of spending money on something to make a seive headed person like me remember that my fave prog is on, when now i have to sit down and trawl though radio times every week!!! aaaarrrggghhhh!!

vodkahead, May 2009

Same happened to me on May 3rd - started shopping for a new box before I found this site. Menu-Enter fix didn't work, but up-down-left-right did, tho of course I lost all my saved programmes. The software update that seems to have triggered all this did fix the FF-RWD bug,but caused my box to crash more, and Ilost favourites. I wish TUTV would leave my box alone, I neither want or use there service!!

I'll look out for watchdog,tho I can't series link it anymore grrrr!!!!!

Another Annoyed, May 2009

Thanks for the help guys. This was my last resort before chucking my box in the bin. Thomson/Top-up TV should just direct people here if they can't be bothered to help people themselves. All it would take is an answer message saying what David and others have said.

Think I smell a rat with them sending out an update that crashes boxes.

Ian, May 2009

my series link is back now....and 14 day epg...just needed time i think

rach, May 2009

The Menu OK solution helped me Thanks

Alan, May 2009

it is important you press them in sequence 3 times. Good luck!!!

f_bernardo, May 2009

here is the link. copy and paste it on to your explorer bar. I did find doing 3 times solved it straight away.

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

f_bernardo, 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

Mine did this today (5th May). The standby, up, down, left, right solution worked but I've lost all my programmes which I'm totally gutted about. Serves me right for not putting them on DVD as I meant to. The series link function has gone now though. Can I get it back?

Helen, May 2009

So so angry I've got the same problem - can't ring anyone either have thomson gone bust or something??? Complete waste of money i've tried the instructions repeatedly and nothing happening at all. Ready to throw it though the window now!!!

mug, May 2009

I have had the same problem this morning i've have resetting to the pervious version of the software but for some reason now everything seems to be slower than before Has anyone else had this problem?

alexei, May 2009

This thread has split into this latest recoverable failure to boot issue after the original issue of the flashing red light, which signified BOTH s/w copies have been corrupted. So, nothing to go back to or for it to run for it to listen to any commands if the light is constantly flashing. Nothing written anywhere has recovered from the constant flashing red light, I believe.

The idea of Smudge to copy off the recordings for viewing in Windows will not work I hear as the recording is done with a proprietary CODEC that nothing can recognise & one you cannot obtain. Latter even though the files have a file extension suggesting it is a known format. Unless Smudge has an answer??

So, good luck to those who have only suffered loss of recordings but at least got the box back!

MSL, May 2009

Mine too on Sunday flashing amber lights, second box after returned the old one 2 months ago, Tesco have finally put a discontinued sticker on them now, I phoned up Thompson to make recommendations on software updates when first bought as it is crap, How hard can it be to write a program to record TV....

JB, May 2009

ive reset it...now i dont have series link and only 8 days epg..any ideas?

rach, May 2009

Just to everyone that is tryin to do this and cant. It is quite simple, the insrtuctions are shite.

1. disconnect the power from the box
2. reconnect the power to the box
3. at the same time as you reconnect the power, press the front-panel standby button repeatedly
N.B. the amber light will stop flashing and appear 'steady' quickly after this
4. as soon as the amber light goes steady, press the following sequence of front-panel buttons in brisk succession:

Up, Down, Left, Right.

as soon as you start pressing the power button, the amber light goes solid after the first press, then up, down, left, right and the amber light will flash once successful! Then wait for the red light to come on!

Little bits like that help alot!

Craig, May 2009

1. Remove power to the unit by removing the power cable from the back of the box. and the ariels and the scart lead

2. Wait 20 seconds and then restore the power cable while holding in the standby button on the front panel of the box.

3. Release the standby button immediately when you see a lamp flash on the box's front display, and then immediately press the following front panel arrow buttons in this sequence:

- Menu
- OK

Note: you have to do this quickly and in sequence

4.The Orange light will flash and the STB will then reboot and should return with the previous version of software.

if this fails keep trying. When the Red standby light appears connect the machine back up to your box.

The other Thomson machine I have in the house is working o.k. and its EPG is the 14 day original EPG not the Free-view+ 8 day EPG so I decided to reset the EPG [on the problem box from freeview+] to the original 14 day EPG and guess what... The box freezes. When I try to restart it eventually... the EPG is still set on Free-view +.

After another restart....

The box eventually came back on with the 14 day EPG . I then did a chanel scan (menu 1..) and this found all 6 multiplex frequencies.

It then installed TOPUP software and that seems to have made it a bit more responsive.

Maybe there is a conflict between version 3.59 and the Freeview+ 8 Day EPG ??

Anyway one thing if reseting the box using the standby {menu} {ok} buttons It seems important to have the scart lead removed - maybe even the ariel leads. It has been very random but if the scart is in nothing seems to happen. If at first you do not succeed try and try again

Annoyed, May 2009

I have had the same problem, i have 2 of these boxes, and one went off on sunday afternoon, and my other one went off sometime over saturday night. I have reset them both, but have lost all my recordings and am very annoyed with this, as this is not the first time it has happened, last time i bought a new box. Thomson doesnt seem interested in what you have to say and are very unhelpful.

Trev, May 2009

Thank-you Richard.
I have had the same issues with my 160gb today.

I was contemplating just taking it back to Asda for a refund (its only 6 weeks old!).

Its a shame TUTV doesn't allow us to 'opt in' to updates, that way of we're happy with what we have, we carry on regardless!

Simon, May 2009

Just got back from a few days away from home, my box was doing very much the same as everybody has described above. I had a solid red light, the box would not respond to anything I did on the remote and every few seconds a green light would flash a few times then it'd go back to the solid red light.
Nothing but the full reset would work, got the box back up and running but I've now lost EVERYTHING!!
Sod this, I knew I should have got SkyHD..

Really Narked Off TopUpTV Customer, May 2009

Mine has done the same didn't bother with Thompsom helpline as judging from my at least 4 dealings with them before, (they have no idea just suggest buying another), got solution previoulsy and this time from the internet, worked both times but have lost all my recordings, so for the second time Thompson updates software it goes wrong and I loose out hpefully it will be on Watchdog am keen to know how they intend to replace my recordings

M S Buckle, May 2009

thanks for the fix....mines working now...gutted that i have lost all my recordings though and now have to go through setting all my series links up again. grrr....

i bet there are a lot of people stuck with these boxes and dont realise they can reset them!

think its disgusting that they can cause this to happen and some people arent getting refunds....watchdog here i come!

rachel, May 2009

Came back today from a day away and my box had done the same thing. David's fix worked for me, had tried switching off and on several times but nothing so thanks to David, but not happy about the situation. Can't believe how many people this has affected.

Gill, May 2009

Mines done the same 2 weeks out or warranty...do think i will get a chance of a refund

rachel, May 2009

My recorder stopped working yesterday evening (3rd May) and wouldn't switch on so I've just tried several fixes from above and it suddenly started working again. I did notice a few weeks ago that in the library where it tells you how much space you have left on your recorder that it changed from time e.g 12 hrs 15 mins to a percentage. Since I have managed to restart the recorder it has changed back to the time left...a sign that an update has been removed??

kmck, May 2009

Emailed Topuptv and got this reply

Dear Sir/Madam,

Thank you for contacting Top Up TV.

Please note that we are currently aware of an issue affecting some Thomson DTi6300 boxes.

If your DTR will not come out of standby and is not responding to your remote control, please try the following procedures.

Step 1: Power cycle
First of all, remove the power to the box and wait 20 seconds before restoring power.
Wait while the box tries to restart and allow 2 -3 minutes for this to complete.
Try this at least twice.
If it doesn't go to the solid green light then proceed to the next step.

Step 2: Front Panel Reset

Note: This procedure will unfortunately cause you to lose all of the recordings that you have stored on the box. You will need to be able access the back of the DTR and the front panel buttons

1. Remove power to the unit by removing the power cable from the back of the DTR.
2. Wait 20 seconds and restore the power cable while holding in the standby/power on button on the front panel of the DTR.
3. Release the standby button immediately you see a light 'blip' on the DTR front display and then immediately press the following front panel arrow buttons in sequence Up>Down>Left>Right
4.The DTR will now show the Orange LED with the Green LED flashing until the format has been completed in about 60 seconds. The DTR will return to ON automatically.
5. If requested, perform a channel scan to complete the operation.

We apologise for any inconvenience caused. Our Customer Services department can also be contacted on 08444 159 159. However, please note that we are currently experiencing high call volumes and so may not be able to answer your call as quickly as we would like.

Kind Regards,
Richard

MHP, May 2009

As I was about to launch the STB through the window after spending all day (4th May) trying to sort it, i just unplugged - 20secs, replug, then press and hold standby button on remote then as soon as red light appears so will your smile! For those going grey and about to kick the box into the stratosphere - be patient - it does work!!

Just happy now!, May 2009

hi my problem is different there is no lights at all but you can hear the system trying to do somthing but occassioally a red light will flash any help please

luke, May 2009

same here, monday morning about 6.00am. Was deleting a program when it happened. Now it just keeps trying to reboot itself but stays on amber. Have not been impressed.

JD, May 2009

My thomson 250gb box did the 'flashing lights'. then died.[today May 4th] Fortunately I took out Argos 3 year cover. They replaced it for a new style Thomson box which sems to be working ok. Sent email to Top Up asking if new box needed registering for downloads. Can they read? their reply was how to try and reboot original box and they are aware of a problem.This is my fourth box since launch.Great idea let down by poor product/software

Bill, May 2009

Mine also crashed at 11.30 on 3rd of May. Just discoverd Davids fix and it worked

Danny, May 2009

ive tried everything as above...unplugged power, on/off, in out, up down, left right, sideways, standing on my head drinking orange squash whilst humming the tune to home and away and still the chuffing thing wont work. next move is to drop kick it through the room window.

disgruntled user, May 2009

I tried DAves Method and it works but only when I had the scart and ariel disconnected from the TV and the recorder.

Then a message comes up saying "There is new software available from TOPUP TV".

When I restart box the ALOD appears again. I have gone in to the engineers menu and forced aod / software update. Hopefully this will fix it.

Annoyed, May 2009

i have tried to get mine on so many times but it is still not working.Asda in wigan say`s they have not heard of this problem and as it is out of guarantee they can`t help

marg, May 2009

Same as everone else.. evil amber light of doom!!!

Dave's Menu>on methods didnt work for me... looked on the top-up website and they are suggesting the full reset... which loses everything ggggrrrrr

http://www.topuptv.com/help+centre/setup+and+troubleshooting/Power+on#Power+on

andy, May 2009

My freeviw also went yesterday. It only rsshes when I access the library, it keeps goin through a reboot it think an then after about an hour of bein left alone it comes back on. I can go in and watch normal chanells but as soon as I go into my library to watch a recorded programme it crashes again. Very annoying.

NAT, May 2009

I have also been having problems with my recorder turning on, this has also been since yesterday 3rd May 2009. I tried to use everyone's suggestions and nothing was working so I took out the the card and suddenly it came back on with all my recordings still there, very very strange but so glad its working again.

Zoe, May 2009

I eventually managed to reset the damn box, using a combination of Adam & Dave's instructions.

Lost everything though :(

Can't say I'm particularily happy with the lack of customer service from Topup TV. Fecken retards.

--

Baskers, May 2009

the reset works & I didn't lose what was already on my box! Now why couldn't TUTV explain this or even answer their phones today?
They really need to look at their customer service. I am seriously considering a change.

teepee34, May 2009

Happened to ours too. I had programmes recording. Very annoyed. Any solutions on how to do it without losing programmes.

Dom, May 2009

Just used Adam Smart's solution - had to try a couple of times. Box now working but lost all saved programmes.

CJM, May 2009

David you're a legend! Your advice about correcting the dreaded amber light worked. Thank you very much!

Penny, May 2009

still cant get mine to work. too confusing and unreliable system. dead since yesterday

Lola, May 2009

I have the amber light of doom... 3rd of May is doomsday

tried the front panel restart (2 versions Adam Smarts and the other from the top up TV website) and still nothing. The box will happily sit there in an endless reboot cycle and do feck all.

Suggestions anyone?

--
Baskers

Baskers, May 2009

Addition to post below - Managed to re-start the Thomson box using method described in posts below, by power off, on, pressing standby, up, down, left, right - thanks very much. But like others on here all recordings lost, the second time this has happened in the short life of this box. Email to Watchdog required. Sunday 3rd May must be software virus day...

Simon, May 2009

My Thomson box croaked late on 3rd May, orange light on all the time. I have had it for about 18 months. Cheap, but a bit unreliable, like a Morris Marina or Austin Allegro car from the 1970s, the pinnacle of British Leyland engineering. Not good if software upgrades crash the box, I worked in computers for 20 years and nothing was worse than 'upgrading' which screwed things up - TEST things guys before you release these upgrades cos it is like getting a computer virus. There seem to be some very helpful posts on here

Simon, May 2009

May the 3rd and mines just died!

costa, May 2009

Nice one Dave, problem with orange light sorted.

simon, May 2009

Mine is all working again and all recordings still there thanks

Laura, May 2009

i think im going to switch to virgin

becky, May 2009

IT'S FIXED! DON'T RESET YOUR BOX! Looks like they broadcast and update or something and it fixed the box...!

Smudge, May 2009

The following worked for me and doesn't delete your saved programs -
"
If the power light on the box will not change from solid Amber to solid Red then it is possible that a problem has occurred with the current in use software. Before attempting a fix, power the box off and on at the power socket and then wait at least 10 minutes for the solid RED lamp to appear.

If it still remains solid Amber and the box will not come out of standby to ON (Green light) then this can be corrected using the software revert procedure which is done using the box front panel buttons as follows:

1. Remove power to the unit by removing the power cable from the back of the box.

2. Wait 20 seconds and then restore the power cable while holding in the standby button on the front panel of the box.

3. Release the standby button immediately when you see a lamp flash on the box's front display, and then immediately press the following front panel arrow buttons in this sequence:

- Menu
- OK

Note: you have to do this quickly and in sequence

4.The Orange light will flash and the STB will then reboot and should return with the previous version of software.

5. The box will now be running with the previous software version but it will automatically update with the latest version within approx 2 hours and you will be notified by message which will appear in the Message area within the Main Menu.

If you're still having problems please call 08444 159 159 and a member of the Technical Team will be happy to help."

David, May 2009

Hang on - someone in another thread posted that their box had recovered itself - maybe TUTV have sent an update after being swamped with angry punters - I suggest trying to connect it and reboot and try again!

Smudge, May 2009

...and by the way, TUTV's response to this seems to be "tough". Nice. If you are a small company in a tough economic climate, you really want to go and alienate a big chunk of your customers, or potential customers...good luck to them. Having said that, as they have taken about 35 versions of the software to get it even vaguely right (although 2.99 was very stable, then they released 3.01 and it was back to crashes and reboots) they are probably used to criticism... :-)

Smudge, May 2009

Bit more info: TUTV site says the software update 3.59 introduces copy protection - I bet that those of us with old Thomson DTI6300 boxes have hard drives in the wrong format to deal with the copy protection. So, using the key sequence that Adam posted, below, reformats the drive and it will work again. However, you lose all your stuff. If you really want to keep it, you need to open the box (remove 2 screws, bottom middle and rear top - don't remove any of the other screws. Prise the top up so the screw hole lifts clear of the body - leave something in there to keep it up. See those 3 tabs across the bottom, near the front - like square shaped letter U's? Prise them up a bit and gently shake it - the whole thing will slide out the back - you need to be holding the box vertically with the back facing down, though - careful it doesn't drop out!) Open the metal box - undo the screw on the top - Take out the hard drive - this needs 2 screws undoing and a couple of cables - and use something - an external HD caddy or whatever - to copy the files off. It is a Linux format drive so you will need a utility that can read Linux in Windows unless you have Linux. You can convert these files to play back in windows. NOTE THAT there might be a way to copy them from the HD while it is still in the box, but as the box will not boot...you are stuck. This will all require a certain level of technical skill - do not try it unless you understand what you are doing, is my advice!

Smudge, May 2009

Happened to me today aswell. Crashed when i was trying to put on a recording. Fix worked for me after a few attempts but spent ages on the phone to to-up tv and never even got through to an advisor. Lost every recording and every top up tv channel i had

mucka, May 2009

To get the box up and running again (without having to format hard drive and erase recordings) I disconnected the box from the ariel and the TV. I disconnected the power and turned it on. When it was booting I kept pressing the standby button on the remote I then pressed random numbers on the remote and then the up down left and right buttons on the remote. I had to repeat this (including disconnecting the power) a few times until the amber light went to the red light indicating standby. The box then responded normally when reconnected.

However if I have to disconnect the power again and restart it, the Amber light is back on... and the box wont function.... I have to disconnect all cables and start again. How annoying !

Annoyed, May 2009

Mine went today as well. What you are all probably seeing is the box endlessly rebooting. Thomson no longer seem to support these boxes and TopupTV say that Thomson send the updates? Sounds like cr*p - if Vodafone or someone updated a load of mobiles and took all the old Nokias off the network in the process, or something, there would be hell to pay - don't let the get away with it!!! you can contact watchdog here - http://www.bbc.co.uk/watchdog/gotastory/

Smudge, May 2009

All my recordings and top-up tv programmes disappered. Also contacting watchdog.

Megan, May 2009

OUR BOX WAS DOING THE SAME THING, BUT SUDDENLY THE RED LIGHT CAME ON WITHOUT DOING ANYTHING AND NO LOSS OF RECORDNGS

BRO, May 2009

Mine went off aswell on 3rd May. Thomson really need to fix this issue. Used the 'fix' and it worked. Took a few times, but got it in the end. Make sure you use the buttons on the actual freeview box rather than the remote (like I first did!). Thanks so much!

Megan, May 2009

My box went Today also. Sunday May 3rd. Maybe this is the Sunday Amber Light of Doom. I suspect that TOPUP TV 'message' is corrupt (You know the ones that appear first as the box is turned on... and are also in the 'message' menu).. The box has downloaded a corrupt 'message' from Topup TV and every time it boots it cant load this 'message' as it is corrupt. Have unplugged from signal and restarted got it back going but the message that was on my other thompson box (about CN too chanel moving to CN on 9th may nowhere to be seen). Only problem now is when I reboot with box connected to ariel and TV it freezes so have to disconnect and start again.

Annoyed, May 2009

But i will wait for new update before i wipe it all.

Kev, May 2009

Just like to add that I got the same problem also on the 3rd May. Looks like a bodged update. it worked this morning as I watched motd from last night. Can hear the hard disk spinning and stopping. Bet my box over a year old... got a load of films and dr who recorded on that box, looks like i may lose them all.

Kev, May 2009

I have the black / silver 250 box. Had same problem today during Liverpool. Lasted until after the Hearts game then shut down. Have orange light with occassional green flash. Have tried the fix but nothing. Absolutely raging as the kids will go mental when they realise their programs have gone !!! Have also e-mailed watchdog.

Find this very strange as a few folk have had this happen on the same day.

Andy, May 2009

I had the same problem at 11.30am this morning......... rang TUTV and thomson and both said that it was nothing they could do, and as the box was under a year old I had to return it to argos............

As I do not have OCD and do not keep recipts for 9 months, argos were very reluctant to change it, but after 20 minutues they gave in, and I have swapped it for another one.

very annoying though, we always get the box freezing etc, and seems a very flimsy piece of kit, my 2 year old nephew could create a box to a better standard!!!!

Rob, May 2009

Thanks for the "fix" - it worked for me today 3.5.09.
Easier than getting the old box out and returning the Thomson to ADSA...
Lost all existing recordings but could be worse.
Note - I did email Watchdog before doing this, as it shouldn't have happened!

Ian H-T, May 2009

Hey, ours did the same thing today, May 3rd 2009, constant orange light. Adamsmart's way worked perfectly for us, you do have to be very quick with it though and you do lose everything you had saved, V Annoying.
we will be attempting to take it back to tescos tomorrow as its our 2nd box and have had nothing but trouble with it.
I DO NOT recommend this box

freckles81, May 2009

My Thompson box stuck on orange and would not turn on today, I followed the instructions from Adam Smart below:-
" reboot the system you lose programs but should come back on
1. disconnect the power from the box
2. reconnect the power to the box
3. at the same time as you reconnect the power, press the front-panel standby button repeatedly
N.B. the amber light will stop flashing and appear 'steady' quickly after this
4. as soon as the amber light goes steady, press the following sequence of front-panel buttons in brisk succession:
Up, Down, Left, Right."

Worked a treat, Many thanks. This box constantly reboots so not impressed, will not be buying anything from them again!

NickR, May 2009

adam smarts way has not worked for me, but i have unplugged the hard drive and the freeview tuner is working fine, i have found a portable hard drive and am trying to make it work

Meric Inan, May 2009

re boot the system you lose programs but should come back on
1. disconnect the power from the box
2. reconnect the power to the box
3. at the same time as you reconnect the power, press the front-panel standby button repeatedly
N.B. the amber light will stop flashing and appear 'steady' quickly after this
4. as soon as the amber light goes steady, press the following sequence of front-panel buttons in brisk succession:

Up, Down, Left, Right.

This invokes a BIOS level HDD re-format and has - as I say - always worked for me. You still lose your content I'm afraid but it's a bit less bother than taking it apart.

adam smart, May 2009

Hi dudes , 3rd may , I have the 250gb black and silver top box, Got amber light on all the time , sometimes it flashes , Also a green flashing light now and again .

Alex, May 2009

Also Thanks to Simon dore on KAFKA forum
I have just noticed he posted the origional fix

worlad, May 2009

Hey Guys just found a link on how to fix the orange light problem, I have just tried it and my box is now working ok apart from the lost films etc its fine.
Heres the link and a big thanks to dendennis for posting the fix.
http://www.digitalspy.com/forums/showthread.php?p=31773855
copy and past good luck

worlad, May 2009

YET ANOTHERONE i WAS JUST ABOUT TO WATCH
LIV - NEW ON 3rd MAY COULD IT BE A UPDATE AT THAT TIME THAT HAS MADE THE ORANGE LIGHT STAY ON ?

WORLAD, May 2009

ours is the 250gb model, it froze whilst i was watching liverpool vs newcastle utd on setanta (sunday 3rd may), so i rebooted an it hasnt turned on since, i think its an update that has broken the machine

Meric, May 2009

Yup, my box dies May 3rd at 11:30 too. Silly orange flashing light. The box had lots of stupid software glitches to begin with... but I could live with them since the box was so cheap. But now, it's completely useless. Whee!

Ian, May 2009

Mine is a 250GB and it has happened this morning (Sunday 3rd May) at 11:30. I was watching something, turned it off as I left the room and it's now not responding. Every minute or so the amber light flashes, also the green one does and occasionally a red-green-red row of lights, then back to the amber. Pulled the plug for 10 minutes and no change.

Rob, May 2009

mine will not switch on, the red light is on the box, but other lights keep flasing aswell

Martin Burke, May 2009

I also experienced this on Sunday night 19th.
and now nothing but a red flashing light
I have also contacted watchdog.

Paul.... Lancs, May 2009

This has also happened to be and i have so many movies saved grr, i contacted thomptons internet helpline but they were unable to give me anyother number to contact which is super unhelpful. therefore i have contacted watch dog in the hope they will help, fingers crossed!

Charlotte, April 2009

Word for word the same reply I got!
I have manged to contact Thomson, in France it appears, highlighting how they are being blamed, the extent of impact of the s/w we are told they are responsible for. Hopefully they will react before their name & product are totally avoided. I've not had a reply to this latest EM.

Re. the s/w corruption, although updated earlier, it may only have been on the Sunday 19th that a latest pop up advert was run that could have used the latest code that came across the problem. Again, TUTV are not telling all IMO.

I have also tried contacting a national newspaper. Maybe the radio's Jeremy Vine would also be worthwhile?

MSL, April 2009

See below for the response I re'cd from Topup TV over the weekend.

Apart from maliging us all as biased, (so they are not?), they blame Thomson, saying they are responsible for software updates. However, I can find no contacts for Thomson. I've already been in touch by phone with TopupTV, they offered a new set top box for £49.00 or free if I took out a subscription. So they intend to screw, sorry charge us for something over which we had no control but which they may have contributed to ?????? Unacceptable, but not sure what choice we have.

______________________________________________
We are sorry to hear that your DTR has suffered a fatal software corruption.

Contary to what you may have read, only a very small percentage of boxes were affected.

Websites which report on these issues offer a very biased viewpoint and will criticise virtually every product or company at some stage.

Software can corrupt for a number of reasons and can affect equipment which relies on it. TopUp TV does not have any control over how and when software downloads are sent. This is done by the manufacturer of the DTR, in this case Thomson.

It is not clear, at this juncture, if this even caused the corruption in software, since the update in the software version was sent at least one week earlier.

Unfortunately the DTR is only covered by a 12 month manufacturer's warranty.

If you call 08444 159 159 any time between 8am and 10pm, an agent will be pleased to take you through the range of offers available to you.
______________________________________________

GAR, April 2009

My recorder has gone can't record programmes . The unit msg ed corupt files so i deleted all progs that were saved , but haven't been able to record since, anyone know how you reformat these things or even have a contact number for Thompson ??

Nigel Reed, April 2009

I have also contacted Watchdog about my Flashing Red Light.

Thomson appear not to have an agent in this country and Top Up TV just want to sell me a new box.

kathlit, April 2009

My Freeview box has been playing up for sometime, and up until now I thought it was on it way out as it is almost 2 years old, on the 19th it crashed in the middle of recording and shut itself down, now I have the same flashing red/orange light. I think I will contact Watch dog, and could also be worth speaking to which mag too.

Andy M, April 2009

Mine too on Sunday 19th April - no joy since.
Anyone got a solution?

Old git, April 2009

I also experienced this on Sunday night. I have also contacted watchdog.

CJH Worcestershire, April 2009

I was told the 250GB model was not affected (Rog), but I believe that refers only to the most recent, all black/no silver sash around, box.

Can anyone onfirm this - i.e. the 250Gb below is the old style box that looks the same as the 160GB model.

MSL, April 2009

Wow. I thought it was my box only but it seems to have affected everyone. I'd advise everyone to contact Watchdog.

Johnny, April 2009

TopUpTV are responsible for the s/w upgrades I understand, which are carried out over the air. It would appear they have not tested it sufficiently relative to all the various TopUpTV hardware boxes. It is TopUpTV we should be chasing, not Thomson IMHO. See the TopUpTV website for their number plus, as below, contact Watchdog too.

Only today a friend I spoke to about it told me his box (didn't have time to find out which hardware) failed on Sunday too!

MSL, April 2009

I have 250GB model and mine also has been reduced to a red flshing light. I agree, not much of an upgrade if the box if the box is unusable afterwards. I am going to e-mail watchdog also.

Rog, April 2009

I too have a crashed box bought in late 2007 so well out of warranty. Now that I see this is a major tech problem and not my fault at all I think we should all harras Thomson until they replace the boxes thehave caused to crash. Can any post a telephone/fax number, e-mail or posatal address for Thomson or their UK reps ? i can't seem to find one which, is very smart of them.

GAR, April 2009

Mine is doing exactly the same thing! It started Sunday night! Just keeps flash red and won't work at all now.

Sue Parker, April 2009

I've already contacted Watchdog too.

Spoke to TUTV yesterday to ask why 'Admin' hadn't contacted me - I was told fault exhibited only on the DTI6300-16 160GB model. The latest 250GB (different box - all black - not looking like a sky+ with the silver sash around it) 'OK'. They tried to sell me a TUTV contrcat where they would supply a new unit immediately but I don't want any more channels as I already have a backlog & no time.....

MSL, April 2009

It would really help if others are able to contact BBC Watchdog as well - as having not contacted them before, I'm not sure there'll listen to little me down in Dorset... !

Laurence, April 2009

Many threads at the bottom covering what appears could be a massive impact of their bad s/ware update. Mine went Sunday night 19th April like many others. TopUpTV have admitted a s/w issue & offerred a replacement of one of their re-conditioned boxes at the same price I could get it from them anyhow! This seems similar to the bad petrol in cars ruining engines, but TopUpTV are saying its out of warranty & effectively tough, even though it appears they've precipitated the problem. I'm awaiting a reply from their admin people.

As it was already out of warranty I have had the hard drive out as I was initially told it had failed, but I could read it on my PC. Unfortunately it uses a LINUX not Windows file system for its files, but some free s/ware allowed me to copy the files. Unfortunately no success at playing the '.TRP' (TV Recorded Programmes I think the last letter P may stand for at the end - a type of MPEG2/DVD format) files even though the player I obtained says it can recognise TRP. It may be the actual file starts/headers have indeed been corrupted, anyone?

Elsewhere I have noted these units have a susceptible power supply which doesn't last, also!

I will now monitor this site to see how this grows and look out for watchdog.

MSL, April 2009

Mine went as well this weekend. The software has got a lot better but I still think it's a flaky piece of kit. Had mine since 2007 back then you dare not do anything too technical like rewinding or trying to delete a program whilst recording another.

Adrian, April 2009

Same thing happened to our dt16300 box on Sunday 19th April at about 9.00pm.

Helpline response was tough luck go buy a new one.

Must be part of the new customer care procedure

brad, April 2009

Same over here ! It worked fine Sunday evening ( 19th April ). Tried to switch it on Monday 9 am and all I got was the frantically flashing orange light. No change since. Thought it was just our box playing up and was happy it's still within guarantee, just. Tried a bit of net research this morning and came across this site. Wow ! Coincidence, I think not. It must be them , thanks for posting guys ! Haven't contacted Thomson people yet, but I suspect their dealing with phone call overload now.

Violet L, April 2009

I've just emailed BBC Watchdog.

Laurence, April 2009

Mine has done the same. Apparently there has been an upgrade which has crashed all the boxes! Four people where in the Asda today at the same time returning them for a refund. I was very happy with mine up to now.
I have been looking for a possible solution maybe from Thomson. Has anyone any information? I only got mine last month and would like to keep it if possible.
Would think it would make more sense for Thomson to rectify the problem rather than everyone having a refund!

janson, April 2009

Same thing happened to mine three days ago. Was looking through the library and it froze. Switched it off and on and now the orange light keeps flashing. Like you I also have switched it off for various length's of time with no effect. I poped it open and had a look inside and gave it a clean up, nothing obvious to spot. I have rebuilt it and it is still the same. I think it is fushnoockered Guarantee went up in February

Marcus, April 2009

Hello - mine has done exactly the same on Sunday 19 April 2009 - did your above happen on the same day ?

Laurence, April 2009

The same thing happened to me. The flashing red light started yesterday when I tried to view the guide. I have been unable to get further than the flashing red light since then redardless of how long I turn the box off in the hope that it will reset itself.

CJS, April 2009

hi thats funny coincedence my box did the same thing yesterday flashing red light my guarantee ran out a few weeks ago typical i have it in bits right now and have the hard drive plugged into my pc not sure if its the hd thats causing the problem in stumped.

mark, April 2009

link Click here to see other fixes for Thomson.