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How to troubleshoot a Sky+ HD Box (reset and upgrade)
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Last year I posted an article about how to reset and force an update for a Sky+ box (more on that here). This year, due to some requests, I am posting details of how to reset and force an update on a Sky+ HD box.
Also, as Sky has released a major Sky HD EPG software revision, the forced update is recommended for those wanting to get it ASAP.
For those wondering what a Sky HD box is click here for more info. They are just amazing if you an HD ready TV and come highly recommended!
I would like to point out some important things from the start:
- It is very unusual for a Sky HD box to go wrong. But these things do happen.
- Your Sky box must be connected at all times to a telephone line.
- Most users need not apply for a firmware update, this is only a recommended for users who are experiencing problems with their decoder.
- Lastly (the boring part, but pay attention!), thetechangel.com is providing this information in good faith, but waivers any responsibility for damage caused by these procedures.
Notes before you start
To upgrade to the latest software, you will need to force the decoder if it is failing to do so
- You must have at least 50% signal quality, or more, before attempting a software upgrade
- Make sure the satellite cable lead is tightly screwed into the decoder and not loose
- You must have your decoder connected to your Sky registered phone line, i.e. no a secondary number that they do not know about
- You are strongly advised not to run this procedure if you have already got the latest firmware available
- You must not use your phone line whilst you are doing this process
- Do not unplug the decoder from the mains whilst the software update is happening, or where it appears to have stalled / crash. You may end-up doing permanent damage.
- If you have broadband on the same phone line / number, you must make sure that you have a broadband filter at the socket that the decoder plugs into. It may also be best that you turn-off your broadband connection at your router or modem whilst doing this process.
How to upgrade to the latest Sky Firmware / Software
- Remove your Sky viewing card from the decoder.
- Turn on your TV and ensure that you can see a feed coming from your Sky decoder (if you remove the card it will most likely just give you a message to reinsert the card, but no TV images will be shown, only a blue background).
- Turn-off the decoder at the wall socket, or better still unplug it and wait one minute
- Then, holding down the ‘back-up‘ button on the front of the decoder, plug it back into the mains. Do not use the back-up button on the remote control.
- Still holding down the back-up button, count to 15, or wait until all the lights on the front of the decoder are on. A message should appear on the TV screen saying that the decoder is “Updating System Software – Please wait” – do so (patiently). When you see this message, you can remove your finger from the back-up button. Remember not to use your phone line during this period.
- Wait for around 15 minutes for the software upgrade to complete itself.
- When the update has completed the decoder will restart itself automatically. Wait for 2 minutes and 30 seconds after the red light appears. If it does not, wait for a minimum of 1 hour before turning it off and on again at the mains.
- Try watching and recording some TV and see if it works.
How to perform a full system reset on your Sky HD box
This should really only be used as a last resort. This is because all the recordings you currently have in your Personal Planner will be deleted.
- Press services on your Sky remote control.
- Highlight option 4 using the up/down arrows and press select.
- Press (number) 0, then 1, then select to access the Installer Menu.
- Highlight option 8 and press select to access the Full System Reset procedure.
- You will receive a warning advising you that you are about to delete everything that is currently in the planner. Press select to continue.
- This process can take up to 2 minutes for the Housekeeping message to disappear.
- If this is a second time do not attempt this procedure again
- If this is the first time the message has frozen follow the Connection Check Procedure below followed by the Full System Reset procedure again.
- You will see a message on your TV screen, “Housekeeping Please Wait.”
- After approximately two minutes the Housekeeping message will disappear and your Sky box will carry out the procedure and switch itself off and back on.
- Leave your Sky box on standby for one minute and then test the recording facility to confirm that this has solved your problem.
If you have come this far in the article, then final advice would be to call Sky Customer Support to book a service call.
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April 26th, 2009 at 1:15 pm
i tried this today, the pace box i have goes through the motions ok but when i turn it back on after the waiting period i still have the same EPG
April 27th, 2009 at 8:20 pm
You’ll need to have a look at this article (link is also in troubleshoot guide) which explains all: http://thetechangel.com/blogberry/2009/03/sky-hd-epg-gets-a-major-upgrade/
August 21st, 2009 at 3:38 pm
I waiting for new software so long and nothing. So… Can I force an update and upgrade my Sky+HD Box to the latest Sky Firmware with this (above) method but without phone line? I don’t have phone line.
August 22nd, 2009 at 4:48 pm
Rugo, you need a phone line in order to download the update.
If you’re outside the shores of GB then your going to be a bit stuck. I don’t think Sky allows users to dial-in from outside the UK when it checks for a software update.
August 27th, 2009 at 2:01 pm
iam trying to get back delted recordings
August 31st, 2009 at 4:39 pm
Hi, i have tried this on numerous occasions and it only downloads the old epg. I have recently had 3 sky hd boxes fail within three weeks and each time sky replaced them with refurbed old boxes with the older software……
Now have been waiting 3 weeks for the upgrade……
you would think that as we all pay so much for sky the replacements sent out would already have the new software…
September 7th, 2009 at 6:39 pm
Since this article was published Sky have now started updating Amstrad & Samsung boxes. Details here: http://thetechangel.com/blogberry/2009/09/sky-pushes-hd-epg-update-further/
September 18th, 2009 at 7:25 pm
I tried the above method on my Samsung Sky+ HD Box and also still have the old EPG? I know Sky have just started releasing the EPG for Samsung boxes but the above method, I still have the old EPG.
September 29th, 2009 at 10:30 am
@Rugo
No, you don’t need a phone line, (Well i didn’t) I just did the upgrade and it worked perfectly. The only thing that initially confused me in the instructions was that the ‘backup button’ was on the FRONT. My sky+ HD box is on a shelf underneath the television, i looked everywhere on the internet, and eventually found out that the button is ON TOP of the box, not on the front. so i pulled it out, and found it. Hope this stops any confusion for anyone else. (Especially if you don’t even know what the backup button i supposed to look like)
September 29th, 2009 at 12:04 pm
Thanks Jendo for the tip-off. I am sure it will be of help to some.
October 11th, 2009 at 9:28 pm
Thank you, very useful – but when following your instructions for upgrading software/firmware, at what stage do I reinsert the Sky card?
October 12th, 2009 at 7:15 pm
At the end when it’s started-up again ecps.
October 16th, 2009 at 8:03 am
Can anyone say if this has worked for them? The only comments are from those who haven’t had it work (other then jendo). I have just had a new samsung installed and am thinking of running the above – if there is a chance of it working!
October 16th, 2009 at 7:16 pm
I see that Jade lost his/her recordings.
Does this happen to every upgrade?
Thanks
October 19th, 2009 at 8:18 am
I tried this on Friday and (you guessed it) same old EPG! No loss of recordings or planned recordings. I might try again this Friday if nothing else happens before.
October 19th, 2009 at 10:51 am
I’ve only just had sky installed and remembered the engineer saying there was going to be an EPG update. I tried the update last night, the procedure worked but nothing appears to have changed!? One thing i did notice though is that previously when i went into the signal test section It showed 2 input signals, full strength, about 90% quality but it now only shows 1 input signal! Don’t know if this should be an issue as I can still record a program and watch another!?
October 20th, 2009 at 9:47 am
Ignore my last comment about it not showing the second input signal, it’s re-appeared now!
October 23rd, 2009 at 9:36 pm
Just tried this with my Samsung Sky+HD box… Firsty just holding down ‘Back up’ and plugging in the power did not work, i needed to hold down ‘back up’, plug in mains then press the power button. All the lights on the front came on, green amber and 2 red lights form memory and on the tv black screen with large white writing saying ‘Updating software, please do not unplug power or disconnect the satellite. This should take 10 mins’ (something like that anyway)
After 10mins ish it restarted and the red standby LED came on quite quickly. Powered up the unit but no new epg…. im sad now! i really want this new epg! thanks for the article anyway.
October 24th, 2009 at 11:41 am
Judging by how many people have posted that the upgrade is not yet available to Samsung STB users, I think we can all safely conclude that it’s not yet actually available, despite what Sky said in September.
Very confused, but I am sure there is some sort of logic in the situation!
October 27th, 2009 at 8:41 pm
ive just had sky installed and it came with the new epg with mini screen too. However the infra-red reciever did not work and had to have another box with the old epg, boo hoo.
November 4th, 2009 at 5:04 pm
UPDATE: I tried again to update my SAMSUNG HD box on Friday the 30th but to no joy. I feel like asking from some compensation as I upgraded to HD partly because I saw the advert about the new EPG and wanted it. At no point was I told that I wouldn’t get it on install.
November 4th, 2009 at 6:49 pm
UPDATE: have just come home to find an email from sky saying my new EPG is on it’s way. Do you think they read my post? I’m going to try and force the update either tonight or tomorrow.
November 4th, 2009 at 9:21 pm
From what I gather from a little research online, the following statements seem to be true.
The upgrade procedure listed above only installs the latest stable version for your box, which I believe does not currently contain the new EPG if you have a Samsung.
The latest stable version is provided in the even that the new EPG contains a fault, so that you can rollback to the previous. The new EPG version will not be considered stable until sufficient time has passed that they are confident it in.
If your box has downloaded the new EPG and is waiting to activate it over night, performing the procedure above will remove it. This means you will be waiting even longer to receive it, as the box will not be triggered again for a while.
On the flip side though, if one person (genuinely) gets the EPG upgrade for a Samsung box through the method above, this will mean that the stable version now includes the new EPG. This should mean that all users would be able to get it in the same method.
November 17th, 2009 at 3:34 pm
UPDATE: my HD box updated on Thursday the 12th of November at some point. I didn’t have to force a software update.
November 18th, 2009 at 6:56 pm
Just done the suggested update on a Samsung HD box and now have the new EPG.
November 21st, 2009 at 3:17 pm
Just did this on the Amstrad box and it downloaded the old EPG…
November 25th, 2009 at 11:02 pm
had nothing but trouble with sky hd since the new epg came through two weeks ago, first it started going through the channels slowly then froze, off/on at the socket still doing the same, phoned and the engineer took me through two different procedures, a rebuild and then the backup as described above, it is still faulty the engineer is coming out on dec 1st.
November 25th, 2009 at 11:16 pm
What type of STB do you have Robet? Amstrad, Samsung,…?
November 30th, 2009 at 9:51 pm
I’ve got a similar problem with my Thomson 902020 skt + HD box. I’ve done a planner rebuild, reset and the ‘unplug it, hold backup and plug in, lights on, update message’ thingy – but it still freezes in playback and the epg is sluggish to respond. All was well until about a week ago. The box was installed 2 yrs ago. Any more ideas welcome.
How can so many people have so many problems? How do sky get away with it?
cheers.
December 5th, 2009 at 3:16 pm
Hey. I updated my box withouth tlf ( i did not knew had to connect to tlf line ) seems to box is updated and i have new EPG etc. But they problem is i am not geting picture. Its telling me no signal when i have full signal.
I dont live i UK
What should i do ?
December 6th, 2009 at 10:39 pm
Good news re my Thomson sky+ box! Sky will give me a new one for just £30 installation fee because I didn’t buy it from them direct. That means I qualify for their current promo.
Let’s hope it lasts longer than the last box! The lesson is if you didn’t get your box direct from Sky – you can get another one for free!
December 9th, 2009 at 5:32 pm
hi there we have just installed sky hd but have found the sound very very quiet, in fact you have to turn the tv up to max to get to what it used to be ie- 100 to get the same as 20 on the old sky box its not the tv as this is brand new LED and the sound was great before the install ,,can you advice
December 11th, 2009 at 4:31 am
your above guide seems out of date as currently pressing services then 4 I end up in box office menu, can you please advise how i get to the engineer menu with this new menu? Thanks
December 19th, 2009 at 2:56 pm
Well I’ve just come home to a “No signal being received”. After trying all the Sky technical support offered I was told to get an engineer out. At time of writing I have performed a full reset and am now attempting a firmware upgrade. I followed the instructions above and whilst the four LED lights have come on I am not getting an onscreen message telling me its upgrading? So I’m not sure if its doing it or not? I’m gonna wait but am curious now have I wrecked it?
December 28th, 2009 at 5:13 pm
Hi, I have a problem with HD, which only started after the software was upgraded automatically. The HD box HDMI output is fed through my ONKYO amp. When the HD channel is selected I usually get a scrambled screen, look like a computer glitch! I have to reset the HD box and occasionally the Amp. Has any body else had these type of issues, when selecting a HD chanel after viewing a normal broadcast?
January 7th, 2010 at 7:08 pm
i have a samsung sky hd box,followed above instructions and now have the new epg.
thankyou!!!!!!!!
January 31st, 2010 at 7:55 am
I had the amstrad HD installed yesterday with the old epg. After finding this site (TV has freestat built in but didn’t want to have to keep messing about with cables in and out of sky/tv) I can report that it works! I now have the new epg and also ITV HD – big thank you.
February 4th, 2010 at 12:23 am
’socks and pants’, i am in the same situation as you. how do you get the new EPG, as mine is currently on the old one.
February 13th, 2010 at 6:49 pm
i have been repairing sky boxes for a while now. the comment from the editor to only do a reset once is not always correct, as sometimes you have to do a reset upto 4 times to clear your hard drive to get it back in working order. depending on how big your hard drive is this could take quite a while so be patient.
i have bought many sky+ hd boxes and upgraded and reset to find they work perfectly.
March 3rd, 2010 at 1:44 pm
how do i reset a old sky card thats lost some channels
March 3rd, 2010 at 4:19 pm
No idea Debbie. Best speak with Sky support.
March 7th, 2010 at 7:27 pm
Hi, a long time ago my Thomson sky + box upgraded overnight, but since then, doesn’t work until each morning I unplug the box, then turn it back on again.I press SERVICES and go into Def Transp and change frequency, then re-do this to get the proper signal so that the programme times come up and the recording and sky+is enabled.
It has had a rebuild and I lost all recorded programmes, but didn’t cure the problem.I don’t have a phone number attached, nor do I live in the UK.
Also, the firm who sold me the box, (4oo euros) put a parental lock on it without telling me the number so many things are blocked and they can’t help sort it.
1. Is there anything I can do, or must I go through the same time consuming proceedure every day?
2. Is there any way to get rid of a parental lock, or change it, when you don’t know the original 4 digit number which never matched my card?
I’d be so grateful for any help you can give, Sincerely, Katy
March 7th, 2010 at 8:56 pm
Katy, it sounds as though you’re in quite an advanced phase of troubleshooting.
Have you tried resetting the PIN through your online account (http://www.sky.com/portal/site/skycom/mysky)?
Try unplugging the box overnight, and plugging it back in the morning, rather than a quick reset.
Other than this is as far as I can help you. But, hope this is of help.