625 internal disk failure - lowest cost repair?

[ejerommel]

My nearly three year old 625 DVR's internal hard disk (Seagate 250GB ST3250823ACE) died yesterday. I twice unplugged the unit for ten minutes, bypassing the surge suppressor, did the hard disk initialization (play, play, recall) twice but no joy. I took the hard drive out and ran Steve Gibson's SpinRite disk repair utility. Basically the hard drive is dead.

I want to keep a 625. What is the cheapest way to get a working 625? I can get a replacement drive off the approved list for roughly $100. Is there a cheaper option?

 

[worstman1]

My nearly three year old 625 DVR's internal hard disk (Seagate 250GB ST3250823ACE) died yesterday. I twice unplugged the unit for ten minutes, bypassing the surge suppressor, did the hard disk initialization (play, play, recall) twice but no joy. I took the hard drive out and ran Steve Gibson's SpinRite disk repair utility. Basically the hard drive is dead.

I want to keep a 625. What is the cheapest way to get a working 625? I can get a replacement drive off the approved list for roughly $100. Is there a cheaper option?

Yes, do what I did a month ago when my 625 hd died. Join the DHPP plan at $5.95 a month, then an hour or so later call Dish Tech Support. They will walk you through a couple simple tests.

If no luck getting it working, they will send you a refurbished 625.

Once you get the replacement you have 10 days to ship the old one back with the included pre-paid ups slip.

I waited 2 months before cancelling the DHPP plan, but I imagine you could cancel it once you know your replacement works.

Two cool things: I owned the old one and according to them I own the new one. $5.99 x3 months DHPP for a functioning 625 with a new hard drive.

Tim

 

[47HO]

FYI, they changed DHPP to "Service Plan", I believe is the name, for $6/month. It now has a gotcha in that it will cost you $25 to cancel. Just something to consider.

 

[ejerommel]

Thanks for the tip. Several Dish receiver owners seem to have had good luck signing up for the Dish service plan and getting Dish to replace failed equipment. I personally feel it is unethical to add a service plan after a device dies, even though I admit it is a low cost repair option . Since I only need the hard drive I may purchase a used 625 off eBay as my low cost option.

 

[Pepper]

Maybe related to how long you've been a customer, how many late payments, how much you spend per month, but I have never had the service plan on my account and have never paid anything more than a $15 or so "processing fee" to replace a broken receiver well out of the 1-year warranty period.