DMR_85H goes U99 every day

[ktnwin]

Problem #1:
I have used my DMR-85H for about 4 weeks now and in the last 2 weeks, it shows the U99 error every night (when the machine is powered OFF).
I need to press the power ON once to get rid of this error (and it shows the current time).

The unit does not lock up as many other folks have experienced in this forum.

The only trouble is if I do not clear the U99 message, shows that were scheduled to be recorded will not be recorded.

I have not upgrade the firmware on this unit since I bought it. Sounds like I need to upgrade it. Is it enough ? Anyone has this "mild" U99 before ?

Problem #2:
I went on vacation for 7 days and I unplug this unit (no power at all). After getting home, I plug it back in and turn it ON. The TV Guide has no information to list (this is expected), however after 24 hours (leaving it OFF at night), the TV Guide should have informations. It did not.
How do I get the TV Guide info back ?

[ktnwin]

Fortunately, I discovered that I left a DVD-R (already finalized) in the machine. So I took it out. Then both of the problems mentioned above go away. Now I am happy again.
I guess with a DVD-R in the unit, anytime it comes to scheduled recording, the machine tries to write to it but can't, therefore the error U99.

[handyguy]

Its from a tvguide updating often for some versions of this machine too. Proof? Turn off the tvguide feature.

[ann coates]

I've been reading about this problem on another forum. I have the E85 as well and use the TV guide every day but luckily I have never received a U99 error.

I too have heard that not using the TV Guide fixes it, but for many people that solution isn't going to make them very happy which is understandable. I think it's pretty disgusting that Panasonic is blaming faulty hard drives that need servicing to every person that calls them about this problem. Give me a break.

[handyguy]

I wrote them & they said to give it to a service center. Yeah, right.

It seems to happen with the new firmwares, so don't update if you don't need to. Or it could simply be people not leaving the maching off long enough, which is 24 hours, to put in a NEW tv guide.

My cure is to leave it on during the day but off at night to get tv guide updates.

[ann coates]

I wrote them & they said to give it to a service center. Yeah, right.

Yeah, that's what they always say. Pathetic. I remember when the divide error caused U99's and they said the same thing "it's a bad hard drive, take it in for service" even though a couple people took the hard drive out and tested it and the hard drive was fine, of course.

Anyway, this new U99 error is not because of the firmware update because on the afterdawn site a bunch of people are getting the U99 error that use the TV guide and none of them had applied the update. In fact, they were all hoping the firmware update might fix it.

Also, I applied the update when it first came out months ago and haven't gotten a single U99 error. I leave my E85 off at all times (except when I'm using it of course - haha) and the guide downloads fine. As I said above I use the guide every day to program in shows with no trouble at all.

Some people are thinking that some of the cable companies got corrupt TV guide data in Aug or Sept because that is when the errors started happening for a group of people, but I'm not sure that makes sense really. Why it hasn't happened to me, I've no idea. It seems pretty widespread though. Just hearing about it makes me very disenchanted with Panasonic and their customer service is the pits. They won't even address the issue (other than to say their typical lame "it's the hard drive bring it in for service") and it seems a lot of people are writing them about it.

[ktnwin]

The TV guide is pretty handy to have, so I turn it ON. This way, it's easy to browse thru various programs and select them for recording.
My unit is relative new so it must have upgraded firmware in it. The only time I saw U99 is when I left a DVD-R in the unit. Once taken out (after playing or recording on it), the unit behaves well. Just one non-published trick to know.

[ann coates]

According to someone on the afterdawn site Panasonic has released new firmware today (I don't know if it is new, but they claim it is) that maybe takes care of this error. You might want to check the E85 thread on the afterdawn site or check Panasonics site for the firmware upgrade. Here's the afterdawn thread:

http://forums.afterdawn.com/thread_view.cfm/11/143317

[handyguy]

Yeah, but everything is back to normal now. Anyone got the guts to try this new FW?

[ann coates]

Is it back to normal for the afterdawn people too? They seemed to be having a lot of problems on there.

I won't be applying the new firmware. I've never received a U99 on my E85, and I've had no problems whatsoever with the TVGOS, so I'm staying away from the new firmware myself. I did apply the firmware from earlier this year though as a preventative against the divide U99 bug.

[lordsmurf]

Common problem. It cannot be fixed.
Hard drives, firmware, whatever ... never lasts.