Pioneer 531H - Program guide quit working

[jfm30204]

I had a power outage, and, when the dvr came back up, the programming guide screens were garbled and unusable. So I reset the machine and went through the initial setup procedure. At the end of this, the TVG setup page is supposed to come up, but it didn't. When I press "Tv Guide" or "Timer Rec" the LED display looks like it is trying to come up (shows the date), but it never does.

I called Pioneer, and they said to try unplugging the unit for at least 30 min when it goes off on the reset. If that doesn't work, then must send the unit in. I said that I thought I should be able to flash the firmware to fix it, but their crappy support web site does not provide any such help. They basically said, politely, that their service people have to do that sort of thing. That's when I said that, even though I like this unit, I would never buy another Pioneer, and I won't.

Anyway, I've tried unplugging the unit when reset, for at least 30 minutes, but no luck. I can record with the "rec" button, play recordings, edit recordings, and burn them to DVD, but no TV Guide or Timer Record. Any ideas as to how I might fix this without having to send it in? If I have to do that, I may as well as buy another, better supported, unit--if there is such a thing.

All ideas and suggestions appreciated.

[trhouse]

http://www.pioneerfaq.info/english/dvr630.php?player=DVR-630H&question=replace_hdd

[jfm30204]

http://www.pioneerfaq.info/english/dvr630.php?player=DVR-630H&question=replace_hdd

Thanks for the quick response and the link. I think there is some very good info here, but I have to admit that I am confused. Some questions to help dissipate the fog:

1. I see the pioneer4.zip file which is supposed to be the firmware for the 531H. Is this version 4?

2. I also see on the Multi-region Firmware page that it says to write for v 3.53 or for the multi-region version (no version stated). I did, but I'm not exactly sure which of these--or the above--I need???

3. The "Replace Hard Drive" page says how to use the firmware, but I do not know how to use it on the existing disk. Do I have to remove it, wipe it, etc, or what? Is there no way to repair/update the firmware on the existing drive with it in the DVR? I do not think the drive is bad, just the firmware corrupted.

Thanks again for the help.

[trhouse]

The TV Guide and timer functions are code that reside on the hard drive and are restored with Pioneer4. The firmware that you refer to runs the microcontroller in the 531H. They are not the same. You do not need to update the firmware to restore the TV Guide and timer function.

The 4 in Pioneer4 refers to the unzipped size of the file ( 4 MB ). There is no known way to correct corrupted code on the hard drive other than to remove the drive and use a computer running Linux to reinstall Pioneer4 into the drive.

The process will require the service disk and special remote. Even a working uncorrupted drive will no longer be recognized the moment you remove it from the unit and reinsert it. There is a CPRM code that is lost and has to be re-entered.

The process of restoring the TV Guide and timer functions is essentially the same as if you were installing a new hard drive. There is no need to do anything to the drive since the Linux commands take care of all that. The older process for installing a new hard drive was to copy the entire contents of the old drive to the new. This took about two hours. The only code needed to restore all functions to the 531H with a new drive was just the code for the TV Guide and timer functions. Once that code was isolated in the form of Pioneer4, installing Pioneer4 recreated these functions on a new drive and it took less than a second of drive time to install.

[jfm30204]

What a great resource! Thanks! Without this help, this stupid machine would be no more than a very poor boat anchor.

[bradshan1999]

Did this work for you, I have the same problem. Any advice you can give me would be great.

[jfm30204]

Haven't tried it yet. Hope to try it maybe tomorrow, and I will post the results.

[jfm30204]

@trhouse or anyone

I want to try this tomorrow. If I load WinLirc and the config file, what remote commands can I use to test the program and be sure it is working without messing anything up?

[trhouse]

I looked up WinLirc but I did not use it. I used a template posted by Mark Venture for the Philips Pronto which is what I have.

I can understand your concern. I first downloaded another template posted by someone else which was no good. Every button on the Philips worked except the digit 9. My CPRM ID had two "9's" so I was not able to re-enter it with that template. Fortunately, Mark Venture posted a link to a valid template.

[jfm30204]

So, what commands or commands can I send to the DVR to test it? Something that won't hurt anything or that I can easily back out of?

[Hkan]

If you go to: http://www.pioneerfaq.info/english/dvr630.php?player=DVR-630H&question=PDF and then locate Service Mode you will find a PDF with some commands that you can use. The Service Manual does also contain a lot of commands and decription of what they are used for, see http://www.pioneerfaq.info/index.php?question=Service_Manuals for Service Manuals

[bradshan1999]

Will these procedures work on a dvr-533 in the U.S., to restore the TV-Guide function?