# When TIVOs go bad. What does

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-tivos-go-bad-what-does/343239>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [February 6, 2006, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-tivos-go-bad-what-does/343239 "2006-02-06T15:04:00Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Carnac\_the\_Magnificent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Carnac\_the\_Magnificent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carnac_the_Magnificent)\
**Post date:** [February 6, 2006, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-tivos-go-bad-what-does/343239/1 "2006-02-06T15:04:00Z")

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I need to replace my TIVO, given the faint green horizontal lines on the screen and washed out color. (Tried to fix; can’t.)

About 15 months ago, I paid $200 for the unit and another $300 for lifetime service. I did NOT get an extended service contract.

Am I basically out the $500 and need to plunk down another $400 - $500 for a new 80-hour machine, or does the lifetime service transfer to a new Tivo unit?

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**Author:** ![larsenmtl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d78d45/32.png) [@larsenmtl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/larsenmtl)\
**Post date:** [February 6, 2006, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-tivos-go-bad-what-does/343239/2 "2006-02-06T15:25:25Z")

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You are probably SOL but it looks like you might have some wiggle room in getting your lifetime service transfered to a new machine:

From “TiVo Serive Agreement”:

> [@](#):
>
> Because a Product Lifetime Subscription is linked to a particular TiVo DVR, you may not transfer it to any other TiVo DVR unless all the following conditions apply: (a) the TiVo DVR is being replaced pursuant to the manufacturer’s or retailer’s warranty; and (b) the TiVo DVR being replaced is of the same make and model as the replacement TiVo DVR; and © you provide us with a proof of replacement by the manufacturer or retailer.

From --\> [http://www.tivo.com/5.11.2.asp](http://www.tivo.com/5.11.2.asp) Number 13.

I’d call and give them hell.

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**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\
**Post date:** [February 6, 2006, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-tivos-go-bad-what-does/343239/3 "2006-02-06T15:25:55Z")

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Nope, “lifetime service” refers to the lifetime of the unit, not your lifetime.

Given that, I would pursue getting it repaired, rather than buy a new one.

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**Author:** ![dasgupta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e56c9b/32.png) [@dasgupta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dasgupta)\
**Post date:** [February 6, 2006, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-tivos-go-bad-what-does/343239/4 "2006-02-06T17:40:50Z")

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No, no, no.

Call the repair line. Once they determined that my TiVo was dead, they offered to replace it for $79 bucks, which allowed a transfer of the service.

And since I had an old series2, 40Gb box, they had to replace it with a new series2, 80Gb box.

Hey, it’s at least worth a try.

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**Author:** ![Drum\_God](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drum_god/32/44_2.png) [@Drum\_God](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drum_God)\
**Post date:** [February 6, 2006, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-tivos-go-bad-what-does/343239/5 "2006-02-06T18:18:06Z")

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For endless discussion of everything TiVo, go to [The TiVo Community](http://www.tivocommunity.com). There are people there who can answer virtually every TiVo question you can imagine.