RDR-HXD870 HDD/DVD recorder software update - stuck or - Factory Reset and No Freeview Guide - AGAIN

[MellowNoma]

I have 2 Sony RDR-HXD870 HDD/DVD recorders, but recently, late August 2022 it seems that Freeview have done another upgrade, on 24 August 2022 - "EarthxTV and Celebration TV launches on Freeview and other channel changes", and about that date my Sony RDR-HXD870 HDD/DVD recorders were initially stuck in the (software) UPDATE, but now I have done a factory reset to free the hardware, but the hardware has become unable to load the digital program guide, as I have now had to revert to the option of installing the channels as though I live in France or anywhere else that isn't the UK, as that is blocking the hardware it seems, as it did in mid 2013, and in 2019. This is due to the susceptible hardware built-into the  recorders, and is only a problem due to it. Sony need to get their experts together and resolve this issue ... once again!

If I choose the UK for digital reception then the channels are found, but once the easy setup is complete, and the installation menus have been closed, then the screen remains black, apart from a few brief seconds of a TV being shown that then freezes and goes back to a black screen. The channels do not load consecutively, as the channels seem to skip, so you might first get BBC2, the CH4, or nothing else, then ITV3, then QUEST, then sometimes the TV screen loads a few non-consecutive channels but no picture.

It must be YET ANOTHER FREEVIEW UPGRADE ISSUE that is blocking/banjaxing the TV channel transmission and the hardware's ability to display it.

This needs to be fixed ASAP by SONY - if the data is leaking or being misinterpreted into the hardware then it is due to faulty hardware being fitted in the first place, and it is a manufacturers problem to fix.

[MellowNoma]

@ mikewest - I have fixed a problem I had with my RDR-HXD870 DVD/HDD device's DVD-RW drive.

It took reported that the DVD was incompatible, but it now seems that it was the DVD's drive head having got ever so slightly dusty, which stopped it from reading the DVD's data correctly.

I did have to dismantle the unit down to the DVD drive, which was a bit fiddly, as you have to take, or disconnect, some components ancillary to the DVD drive itself to be able to remove the DVD drive unit, and then open it to be able to see the laser unit.

Even though it may look clean, it only needs a 'speck' of dust or something else on it to stop it from functioning correctly, so it will probably only require a very, very light clean of the lens with some isopropyl alcohol sparingly moistened onto and using just a torn off, tiny section of a piece of kitchen or (clean) toilet tissue!! 8-D

Hopefully this is all you need to do. Some screws are longer and have different threads to others so place them to one side so you know exactly where you took them out of, so it fits together easily, with little to no trouble at all.

Would be great to know if this solves your problem with your device. As of now, a small aerial dB attentuator fitted to mine solves the Freeview broadcast anomaly that caused me to write to this forum in the first place for help, so my Sony RDR-HXD870 DVD/HDD device is working as it should ... And I hope that continues to be the case for some time to come.